Tony Blair's Conflicts with "UN" Quartet Role Went UNacted on by UN, As Inner City Press Asked of PetroSaudi, JP Morgan Chase

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 16 -- Of Tony Blair's many blatant conflicts of interest with his "UN" Middle East Quartet role, now the Financial Times quotes unnamed diplomats that his role may be reduced; "“He has been ineffective in this job. He has no credibility in this part of the world.”

  It is called the UN Quartet and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is one of the four. But when Inner City Press has repeatedly asked the UN Spokesperson about Blair's proliferation of conflicts of interest -- JP Morgan Chase, PetroSaudi, countries -- the UN has said, absurdly, to ask Blair's office if these are conflicts. 

  (This is the same UN which has done nothing about a Cote d'Ivoire diplomat openly selling UN Peacekeeping positions in Haiti and DR Congo, as exposed by Inner City Press - a UN that claims to have "zero tolerance.")

 On November 10, 2014 after it was reported that Tony Blair's company has a 41,000 pounds a month contract lobbying for PetroSaudi, while Blair is the envoy of the UN / Quartet on the Middle East, Inner City Press asked the UN if this isn't a conflict of interest. Video here.

 UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq first said the question should be put to "Tony Blair Associates." Inner City Press asked if it isn't a UN determination to make. Haq replied that it is for the Quartet, for which he would not speak. And now?

   In November 2013 Tony Blair was in the UN talking about terrorism.

  Inner City Press asked then, can't there be conflicts of interest between this work and the money he receives from banks like JPMorgan Chase (which just settled predatory lending related charges for $13 billion), and from countries like Kazakhstan?

After the UN repeatedly refused to answer this question when Inner City Press asked it, at a stakeout on Thursday Inner City Press put it directly to Blair: can you address the potential conflicts of interest?

Blair replied, "There never is" a conflict of interest. He did not answer about the Quartet, but only his foundation, which he says is "separate" and works in 35 countries.

He concluded before walking away that "I just point out that I actually spend the vast bulk of my time on pro bono work." Video here.

Vast bulk is what percent? And what is Kazakhstan paying $11 million for? Who else is paying what?

Back on March 14 of this year Inner City Press asked the UN spokesperson:

Inner City Press: Tony Blair, who has a role in the Quartet and for the UN in the occupied territories, is receiving a salary of $11.7 million a year from Kazakhstan. And I wanted to know whether this could be viewed as any kind of a conflict of interest, whether apparently he doesn’t file at least a public, financial disclosure. I wanted to know whether he does, given his UN role, do a financial disclosure to the UN and whether direct payment by a Government could be viewed as a conflict of interest given his role, his UN service.

Deputy Spokesperson: We’ll have to check on that, Matthew, I don’t have anything on that.

[The Deputy Spokesperson later said that Mr. Blair is not a staff member of the United Nations, and that any questions on this issue should be referred to his office.]

Blair's office doesn't respond. But on November 21, 2013 when Inner City Press asked, Blair did respond -- sort of -- that "I actually spend the vast bulk of my time on pro bono work." So what is Kazakhstan paying $11.7 million a year for? Watch this site.

   

On Middle East, Quartet Speaks from Munich, Serry Outgoing, Mladenov in the Wings

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive follow up

UNITED NATIONS, February 8 -- The Quartet from Munich has just released this statement, nine days after Inner City Press first reported that Robert Serry was being replaced for the UN on the Quarter by Nickolay Mladenov:

Representatives of the Quartet – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United States Secretary of State John Kerry, European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, and UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson (representing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon) - met in Munich on February 8. 

Recalling its previous statements, the Quartet discussed the situation in the region. The Quartet underlined the importance of the parties resuming negotiations as soon as possible, with a view to reaching a just, lasting and comprehensive peace on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, the Madrid Principles including land for peace and the agreements previously reached between the parties. A sustainable peace requires the Palestinians' aspirations for statehood and sovereignty and those of Israelis for security to be fulfilled through negotiations based on the two-state solution.

To that end, the Quartet recalled the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative - with its vision for a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict - and the vital role of Arab partners. The Quartet will remain actively engaged in preparing for a resumption of the peace process in the coming period, including regular and direct outreach to Arab states.

Pending the resumption of negotiations, the Quartet called on both parties to refrain from actions that undermine trust or prejudge final status issues.

The Quartet underscored the importance of ensuring that the acute fiscal challenges faced by the Palestinians are addressed and of supporting Palestinian institution-building efforts.

The Quartet is deeply concerned over the difficult situation in Gaza where the pace of reconstruction needs to be accelerated to address the basic needs of the Palestinian population and to ensure stability. The Quartet Principals stressed that donor funding is critical. They expressed support for the recent joint letter by Egypt and Norway, as well as the joint statement by the Secretary-Generals of the United Nations and the League of Arab States, urging donors to disburse as soon as possible their financial commitments made at the October 2014 Cairo Conference, including the funding of UN agencies carrying out vital operations in Gaza for both the refugee and non-refugee populations. 

The Quartet Principals expressed their warm appreciation for the tireless work of outgoing UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry.

The UN's new Middle East coordinator will be Nickolay Mladenov, Inner City Press was able to report exclusively on January 30, with sourcing from Permanent Representatives that the letter, which Inner City Press saw, had gone to the Security Council.

  Of this exclusive report, at least 11 hours before any other mention, Inner City Press on February 2 directly asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, including though what process and timing Mladenov is to be replaced in Iraq.

    Dujarric declined to confirm, despite the Secretary General's letter.Video here. Only later did the UN confirm, and others report.

    Earlier, Inner City Press reported that Mladenov was leaving his post as UN envoy to Iraq; before that, Inner City Press asked Robert Serry how he was remaining in the Middle East post past Ban Ki-moon's stated five year rule, and despite PNG (persona non grata) threats from Israel. Now, the switch is being made.

  The hint, as to Iraq, was as Inner City Press exclusively reported, the UK's attempt to pick Mladenov's successor. That was opposed, and rejected. Now, after a “rude” call from UK Prime Minister Cameron to Ban Ki-moon, sources say rather than Cameron's first pick Andrew Lansley, UK candidate Caroline Spelman is in the lead.

  Picking Mladenov's successor in Iraq is in its final stages, and we will have more on that soon. Watch this site.

   

ICP Asks UN if Tony Blair's Contract With PetroSaudi Is a Conflict With His "UN" Work, UN Won't Answer, Says to Ask Blair Or Middle East Quartet

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 10 -- After it was reported that Tony Blair's company has a 41,000 pounds a month contract lobbying for PetroSaudi, while Blair is the envoy of the UN / Quartet on the Middle East, Inner City Press on November 10 asked the UN if this isn't a conflict of interest. Video here.

 UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq first said the question should be put to "Tony Blair Associates." Inner City Press asked if it isn't a UN determination to make. Haq replied that it is for the Quartet, for which he will not speak. Ban is a member of the Quartet. What is Ban's view? We will continue to ask.

  Nearly a year ago in November 2013 Tony Blair was in the UN talking about terrorism.

  Inner City Press asked then, can't there be conflicts of interest between this work and the money he receives from banks like JPMorgan Chase (which just settled predatory lending related charges for $13 billion), and from countries like Kazakhstan?

After the UN repeatedly refused to answer this question when Inner City Press asked it, at a stakeout on Thursday Inner City Press put it directly to Blair: can you address the potential conflicts of interest?

Blair replied, "There never is" a conflict of interest. He did not answer about the Quartet, but only his foundation, which he says is "separate" and works in 35 countries.

He concluded before walking away that "I just point out that I actually spend the vast bulk of my time on pro bono work." Video here.

Vast bulk is what percent? And what is Kazakhstan paying $11 million for? Who else is paying what?

Back on March 14 of this year Inner City Press asked the UN spokesperson:

Inner City Press: Tony Blair, who has a role in the Quartet and for the UN in the occupied territories, is receiving a salary of $11.7 million a year from Kazakhstan. And I wanted to know whether this could be viewed as any kind of a conflict of interest, whether apparently he doesn’t file at least a public, financial disclosure. I wanted to know whether he does, given his UN role, do a financial disclosure to the UN and whether direct payment by a Government could be viewed as a conflict of interest given his role, his UN service.

Deputy Spokesperson: We’ll have to check on that, Matthew, I don’t have anything on that.

[The Deputy Spokesperson later said that Mr. Blair is not a staff member of the United Nations, and that any questions on this issue should be referred to his office.]

Blair's office doesn't respond. But on November 21, 2013 when Inner City Press asked, Blair did respond -- sort of -- that "I actually spend the vast bulk of my time on pro bono work." So what is Kazakhstan paying $11.7 million a year for? Watch this site.

   

Tony Blair, Asked by Inner City Press of Payments from JPM & Kazakhstan, Says He's Vastly Pro Bono

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 20 -- Tony Blair was in the UN on Thursday talking about terrorism; he represents the Quartet on Palestine and Israel.

But can't there be conflicts of interest between this work and the money he receives from banks like JPMorgan Chase (which just settled predatory lending related charges for $13 billion), and from countries like Kazakhstan?

After the UN repeatedly refused to answer this question when Inner City Press asked it, at a stakeout on Thursday Inner City Press put it directly to Blair: can you address the potential conflicts of interest?

Blair replied, "There never is" a conflict of interest. He did not answer about the Quartet, but only his foundation, which he says is "separate" and works in 35 countries.

He concluded before walking away that "I just point out that I actually spend the vast bulk of my time on pro bono work." Video here.

 "Vast bulk" is what percent? And what is Kazakhstan paying $11 million for? Who else is paying what?

Back on March 14 of this year Inner City Press asked the UN spokesperson:

Inner City Press: Tony Blair, who has a role in the Quartet and for the UN in the occupied territories, is receiving a salary of $11.7 million a year from Kazakhstan. And I wanted to know whether this could be viewed as any kind of a conflict of interest, whether apparently he doesn’t file at least a public, financial disclosure. I wanted to know whether he does, given his UN role, do a financial disclosure to the UN and whether direct payment by a Government could be viewed as a conflict of interest given his role, his UN service.

Deputy Spokesperson: We’ll have to check on that, Matthew, I don’t have anything on that.

[The Deputy Spokesperson later said that Mr. Blair is not a staff member of the United Nations, and that any questions on this issue should be referred to his office.]

Blair's office doesn't respond. But on November 21, 2013 when Inner City Press asked, Blair did respond -- sort of -- that "I actually spend the vast bulk of my time on pro bono work." So what is Kazakhstan paying $11.7 million a year for? Watch this site.

   

On Gaza, Russia Asks Meeting of Quartet, Member of Which "Blocks" SC Statement

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 19 -- After the Gaza consultations called at noon by Russia in the UN Security Council ended, Russian Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin came out to explain.

  He slammed "one member" of the Council for saying it will not agree to the draft press statement Morocco introduced "as early as Thursday night." He said that the country, which is clearly the United States, justified its position as an attempt not to undermine moves in the region to de-escalate the situation.

  Churkin questioned how the Moroccan draft press statement could undermine such efforts, adding that Russia might introduce a Security Council resolution, and wants a ministerial meeting of the Quartet.

  Inner City Press asked Churkin, if the same country blocking the press statement is a member of the Quarter, what could the Quarter accomplish?

  Churkin replied that the Quartet shouldn't have been inactive so long, that its inaction may have contributed to the situation. He said that another Council member arrived Monday with mere oral amendments to the Moroccan draft. He called this a "laid-back approach."

  Germany's Permanent Representative Peter Wittig, when he left the Council, emphasized that any statement should also call for stopping the rockets from Gaza. He said that his country has proposed amendments to the Moroccan draft. It is not known, yet, if these were in writing or merely oral.

  After the Security Council finishes it pre-scheduled debate on piracy, around 6 pm on Monday, Churkin said the Council will have consultations again on the Moroccan draft. Watch this site.

As Tony Blair Takes Work in S. Sudan, Alongside Gaza & JPMorgan, Conflicts?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 16 -- After Tony Blair announced he will become an adviser to South Sudan, Inner City Press asked United Nations spokesman Martin Nesirky if Blair checked with or will collaborate with the UN, which has a major peacekeeping mission in the new country.

  Previously when Blair, who has a "quasi" UN post as Middle East Quartet envoy on Palestine, took a post with JPMorgan Chase, Inner City Press asked the UN about possible conflicts of interest, without answer.

  The lack of safeguard appear to continue unabated. Nesirky on July 16 would not answer for the UN, insteading telling Inner City Press to asked Blair's office -- where? -- and adding that there is no such thing as a "quasi" UN post.

  Really?

  What about the Global Education post Ban Ki-moon just gave to Blair successor as UK prime minister Gordon Brown? Is that a full-time post? Will Brown file UN public financial disclosure, which Blair does not do?

  Inner City Press prefaced its question about Blair by saying it has inter-related questions about UN posts, of which the Gordon Brown compensation was one. But Nesirky did not allow any follow ups, shifted back to the other side of the briefing room and announced that that would be the last question.

  And so we are left without answers about the UN and conflicts of interest, which we will continue to pursue. Watch this site.

On Palestine at UNSC "No Nine Votes" So Delay Predicted, Quartet As Pretext

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 26 -- In the run up to the UN Security Council's Monday afternoon meeting on Palestine's application for UN membership, Inner City Press asked Council diplomats what they expected to happen.

"I don't think they have nine votes," one well placed Council source said. "So the Arabs may want to delay it." This source said that the Quartet statement of Friday afternoon made it easier for those not wanting to vote "yes" -- he listed Nigeria, Gabon and Bosnia -- to explain their changed position.

Another source said given a lack of nine votes, ironically the US might want to call for a vote now, and not have to use a veto. But that would be difficult.

While it was argued last week that since nine Council members have in the past recognized Palestine there should be nine votes now for membership, Bosnia for example can be hamstrung by the position of the Republica Srbska third of its triumvirate government.

Bosnia's Permanent Representative Ivan Barbalic told Inner City Press "the Presidency" is considering how to vote, and that it was difficult to say anything on Monday morning. Nigeria, too, is not considered a sure yes vote.

Germany's Deputy Permanent Representative Miguel Berger told Inner City Press the obvious, that things will not move as fast as they did for South Sudan: a three day rocket docket. It will be procedure, to decide how to proceed, he said. Watch this site.

As Blair Lobbies for Wataniya, Do Kuwait and JPM Chase's Arranger Role Spell UN Conflict of Interest?

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/blair1unjpmc111309.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 13 -- When Tony Blair does business, who does he work for? He represents the Quartet, and thus the UN, on development in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. He has been paid by JPMorgan Chase as a consultant, and presumably works for them. When he acts in the West Bank for the Wataniya cell phone company, who is he working for?

The UN has repeatedly claimed that there would and could be no conflict of interest between Blair's paid position for JPMorgan Chase and his work in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. When Inner City Press asked Blair, after a meeting of the Quarter in the Conference Room 4 in UN Headquarters, about any safeguards in place for his UN and JPMorgan Chase roles, he scoffed. A Blair staffer confirmed that he continued in JPM Chase's employ.

This week, Tony Blair attended a press conference announcing the finalization of Wataniya's deal, which Blair "negotiated." At the UN noon briefing on November 11, Inner City Press asked about this last:

Inner City Press: yesterday, Tony Blair was in Ramallah, and he’s described as having negotiated on behalf of a cell phone company with the Israeli Government. There’s a whole press conference also that noted his role for the Quartet and for the UN. So I’m wondering, did he do this on behalf of the Quartet and the UN and what is the UN’s knowledge, do they have any knowledge on this business negotiating activity?

Deputy Spokesperson Marie Okabe: I have no knowledge of that.

Even forty six hours later, no answer has been provided. But even cursory research reveals that Blair's employer JPMorgan Chase served as a "mandated lead arranger" for the acquisition of Wataniya. Click here for the document.

So again, what safeguards are in place? Who is Tony Blair working for?

Tony Blair Associates has as a client Kuwait, and by implication its royal family, while Blair has met with the finance minister of Kuwait while representing JPMorgan Chase. Wataniya Palestine is substantially (57%) owned by investors from Qatar and... Kuwait. For the former, it's Qatar Telecom. But for the later, it's the Kuwait Investment Authority, which operates on behalf of the State of Kuwait -- Tony Blair Associates' client. So when Blair lobbies for Wataniya, who is he representing?

While awaiting the UN's answers, we note that in June 2009, "Wataniya Palestine CEO Alan Richardson recently called on Middle East envoy and former British prime minister Tony Blair to intervene on behalf of Wataniya to get the frequency released. Richardson previously has been involved in controversial cell phone projects in Iraq, with Orascom and Iraqna, contracts which the U.S. Pentagon urged the Coalition Provisional Authority to cancel.

So to the degree Tony Blair is working for Richardson, this too is problematic. But beyond the UN and Quarter, is Blair working for Kuwait? With JPMorgan Chase's documented mandate lead arranger role for the acquisition of Wataniya, there is a conflict which, it would seem, will require action. Blair is dismissive, and the UN appears cowed. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/blair1unjpmc111309.html

Tony Blair's UN Quartet Role May Conflict with His New Job with JP Morgan Chase, Engaged in Subprime Lending Mis-viewed by the UN

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN:
www.innercitypress.com/unblairchase011008.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 10 -- J.P. Morgan Chase has hired former UK prime minister Tony Blair, it was reported Thursday. The AP repeated Blair's claim that "the appointment won't infringe on his duties with the so-called Quartet - the U.S., European Union, U.N. and Russia... helping the Palestinians build up their economy and governing bodies in preparation for the establishment of a Palestinian state." But might it create at least the perception of a conflict of interest?

Is it impossible that J.P. Morgan Chase may have economic interests in the area, in which case Tony Blair would be attempting to serve at least two masters? On Thursday morning Inner City Press asked the UN spokesperson's office for their response, including that if no prohibition is said to apply, what safeguards will be put in place. Having received no answer, the question was asked at Friday's UN noon briefing. Spokesperson Michele Montas replied that "I have absolutely no comment on that," adding "as you know, Mr. Blair is an envoy of the Quartet, not of the UN." But not only is the UN one of the four Quartet members -- as stated by the UN's Michael Williams in the Security Council on August 29, 2007, "several United Nations offices and departments are collaborating to finalize arrangements for the provision of financial management and security support for Mr. Blair's mission." In practice this has meant that the UN Development Program rented ten room for Tony in Jerusalem, click here for that story.

When Inner City Press asked if Blair had asked the UN about any possible conflict of interest or safeguards, Ms. Montas said, "He doesn't have to." When asked if Blair had asked the Quartet -- on which the UN sits -- Ms. Montas said, "You should ask Mr. Blair." Video here, from Minute 15:20.

For now, using J.P. Morgan Chase's involvement in and exposure to the subprime and predatory lending crisis as the bridge, consider the UN's just-released World Economic Situation and Prospects 2008, which in reference to "rising defaults in the U.S. subprime mortgage market" recommends that "regulatory standards have to be introduced for investor protection." But what about consumer protection? On January 9, Inner City Press asked Rob Vos, Director of UN DESA's Development Policy and Analysis Division, about this seeming lack of focus on consumers. Video here, from Minute 47:35.

"Maybe you're right we overemphasize" capital markets, Vos answered, acknowledging that the DESA report does not mention "any mechanism to compensate consumers," that can "perhaps be addressed in subsequent reports." Here's hoping. And what will Tony Blair say about Morgan Chase and subprime lending, or about the demonstrations in front of Morgan Chase's headquarters on Park Avenue about the Darfur issue? We'll see.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unblairchase011008.html