UN Report on Algiers Bombing Is Withheld, Role of UNDP In Lower Defenses Too

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
www.innercitypress.com/un1zacklin100808.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 8 -- The UN inquiry that was supposed put to rest issues surrounding the deadly bombing of UN premises in Algiers in December 2007 has in fact only raised more questions. The head of the so-called Accountability Panel, Ralph Zacklin, told Inner City Press on October 8 that he could not say if any settlements have been paid out, and would not confirm who was being recommended for discipline.

Inner City Press asked about UN Development Program official Marc de Bernis, who sources say failed to act on requests by UN staffer Babacar Ndiaye to install waist-high metal barricades that can be raised and retracted, and did not raise the security phase above "One," the lowest of five numeric ratings. Zacklin on Wednesday confirmed that the level had been lowered to "One" in June 2006 at the urging of Algeria's government; he said that both Algeria and the UN had engaged in "politicization" in reducing the security phase to One.

This word, Politicized, appeared in the mere four page summary that, instead of the report, was provided. When Inner City Press asked Zacklin about the word and summary, he said, that is not my summary, it was written by the Secretary-General's Office. One wag wondered if that's not the case for the Report as a whole.

So who is responsible? First Zacklin said that as a matter of due process, he would not name names. Then he said there is a paragraph in his 88-page report, which is being withheld, on outgoing Security Chief David Veness. But when Inner City Press asked if there is a paragraph on UNDP or Marc de Bernis, Zacklin declined to answer, saying only that de Bernis was reviewed. Video here, from Minute 55:57.

So where's the accountability? And if the UN is so committed to due process, why were the 54 staff members subject to compulsory interview by Zacklin's panel not allowed counsel or even Staff Union representation? "Because it was a fact finding inquiry," Zacklin said, adding that denying representation was "in accordance with previous practice" at the UN. Video here, from Minute 27:18. But why not have the right to counsel?

Since the Report is being withheld, along with the names, it is difficult to see what has changed or been fixed since the bombing. In fact, not enough was changed after the Baghdad bombing of UN premises. Just before that, a long-time staffer tells Inner City Press, UN Security refuses to consider providing a more security plane to fly the 15 Ambassadors on the Security Council. Eventually, these Ambassadors flew in a German and not UN plane. After the Baghdad bombing, UN Security apologized. Too little, too late.

For the families of the victims, what has been paid? Zacklin told Inner City Press that Ban Ki-moon spokesperson could say. She in turn merely referred Inner City Press to UNDP. But they have declined a question on October 7 for Marc de Bernis' present location and status. And UNDP has not provided the detail of payments to families of victims of a recent helicopter crash in the Congo. The UN refuses to answer questions, then claims to be holding itself accountable.

Footnote: In fairness to Zacklin, other sources of Inner City Press describe him fighting against the expulsion of UN staff from such countries as Eritrea. But to not even write or stand behind the summary of its report is telling.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1zacklin100808.html

UN's Algiers Bombing Accountability Report Is Late, Amid Music for Baghdad

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1bombs081908.html

UNITED NATIONS, August 19 -- As the UN commemorated the deadly bombing of its headquarters in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad five years ago, the supposed deadline had passed for its report imposing personal accountability for the deaths from the blast of its premises in Algiers last December. On June 24, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he "accepted Mr. Brahimi's suggestion that a group headed by Ralph Zacklin urgently examine this question of individual accountability and report its results to him within a period of six weeks."

But nearly seven weeks later, with no report submitted or released, Inner City Press on August 19 asked Associate Spokesperson Farhan Haq

Inner City Press: on the follow-up on the Algiers bombing of the UN premises, the second report, the so-called accountability report, the Brahimi report, what was the deadline for it to be done and where does it stand?

Associate Spokesperson Haq: As you know, there was a two-month deadline from the start of that body's work; Ralph Zacklin, as you know, is the head of that body and he and that group are proceeding with the work and as far as I am aware, the report is not finished yet. It’s still in the process of being finalized.

Again, Ban Ki-moon did not announce a two-month deadline, but rather six weeks, which has expired. Inner City Press has fielded complaints that the Zacklin panel's interviews were disproportionately directed at relatively lower level staff, who were not allowed to be accompanied by the UN Staff Union much less by lawyers. Personal accountability, indeed.

When the report is belatedly released, watch to see if it takes into account how concern about the investment climate in Algeria kept the threat level artificially low. Even the redacted Brahimi report issued by the UN raises questions of accountability. It states for example "the Designated Official was neither forceful nor persistent with the Algerian authorities to insist on the security measures requested of the Government." (Page 25). This Designated Officer was, in fact, an official of the UN Development Program, Marc de Bernis. As is so often the case with UNDP, de Bernis not only didn't press the host country government in any way -- he allowed himself and the UN system safety issues to be marginalized. The UN-released Brahimi report stated

"As noted in the preliminary DSS report on the 11 December 2007 attack, all contact by the UN Designated Official for Security (DO) and the Security Adviser (SA) with the national security authorities occurred through the Director General for Protocol (DGP) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). This restricted contact with security agencies was not limited to the UN; diplomatic missions in Algiers also conduct their security relations through the DGP/MFA. This is the practice in a number of other countries."

Having access to the preliminary DSS report, we find in paragraph 7 that there was an exception, for "large embassies." Why didn't the UN, with multiple agencies represented in Algeria, get for itself as much access as large embassies of its member states?

At Tuesday's memorial event, the President of the UN Staff Union stressed "the obligation of those who call upon UN staff to serve in difficult and dangerous parts of the world to take whatever action is necessary to ensure staff safety and security, including public relations efforts to cultivate the understanding that the UN is a neutral, benevolent organization." Then a four-movement composition by Steve Heitzog was unveiled. As played by the Daedalus Quartet, the music was moving. Mr. Heitzog's written "Notes" describes "an explosively ugly chord" then a "delicate theme pitched in C major that is transparent and healing." One can only hope.

Several attendees at Tuesday's service mentioned Samantha Power's book "Chasing the Flame." Inner City Press' copy is double dog-earred at page 465, where it is reported that "CNN did have a crew on the scene who at the time of the blast had been filming a press conference on the UN's de-mining efforts." Multiple sources have told Inner City Press that Ms. Power has fielded complaints that it was in fact a different network which was the only TV crew in the building at the time. Watch for the errata. And click here for Inner City Press' story on Ms. Power's related endeavor funded by Ebay's founders, "Chasing the Flame with Cheese Cubes," a/k/a fondue.

There is also word in the building of a potential settlement payment to families of victims of the Algiers bombing. We will continue to dig into this.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1bombs081908.html

UNDP Admits Improper Housing Subsidy of Eveline Herfkens, Contracting with Corimec, Vendor Barred for Bribery

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un18dervis011608.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 16 -- The poverty czar of the UN Development Program, Eveline Herfkens, never sought or received permission to take $7000 a month in rent from the Dutch government, UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis admitted on Wednesday. Inner City Press asked what Dervis plans to do about the $280,000 Ms. Herfkens improperly accepted. Dervis did not spell out any action, saying that Ms. Herfkens "is now in Maryland," and while wanting to continue working on the Millennium Development Goals, is not interested in a salary. For the record, she was getting paid $225,000 a year to work, part-time, from her new home in Maryland. The housing subsidy was "definitely against the rules," he said, adding that others, too, have attempted to take housing subsidies from governments, both in the UN Secretariat and at Dervis' former employer, the World Bank. As to the UN, he said that "exceptions, actually quite a few" had been made, and are now being reviewed by the UN's Department of Management. Video here, from Minute 22:27. Inner City Press previously covered the Department of Management's answers on this issue, and will now revive that inquiry.

Dervis left until the end of his press conference any comment on the documentary proof that UNDP continued issuing contracts to a vendor, Corimec, which was barred from business with the UN Secretariat due to bribery. This had the effect of precluding any follow-up to what Dervis said on the topic. "It was a judgment call," Dervis said. "My judgment call would probably have been different," he said, adding that he could see both side. Apparently the pro-bribery side is that Corimec had already sold UNDP one batch of tents, and that second batch could, if one squinted enough, be viewed as all part of one project, hence one procurement, pre-dating Corimec being barred from business due to bribery. This is an argument that violators of sanctions regimes all around the world may want to adopt, now that UNDP's Dervis has.

Dervis had much to say attempting to deflect blame about the Algiers bombing on December 11, saying that Algeria was asked to help block off the street but did not respond, and that it was the Department of Safety and Security which is responsible for raising the threat levels in the field. In fact, UNDP's Marc de Bernis had the authority to raise the level from one to at least three, and did not, despite requests. Dervis also mentioned, but did not provide the names of, six countries in which UN employees are told to work for home. Apparently the U.S., or at least the state of Maryland, is one -- just ask Eveline Herfkens. She's been working from home for two years, only she's been getting paid $225,000 a year. We'll have more on these stories. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un18dervis011608.html