As Syrian National Coalition's Hadi al Bahra Belatedly Holds Open Press Conference, Inner City Press Asks of Kurds & Vaccinations

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 24 -- When the Syrian National Coalition's Hadi al Bahra belatedly held an open press conference at the UN on September 24, Inner City Press asked him about the place of the Kurds of Rojava in the SNC, and about the deadly measles vaccination campaign undertaken in territory ostensibly controlled by the opposition.

  Hadi al Bahra said that Kurds “in the KNC” are in the Coalition, and claimed that they don't want their own territory, only federalism. “Kurds are in the coalition itself. Our vice president represents Kurdish National Council, they do not look for separate government or piece of land.” That might be some Kurds -- but not all. We'll have more on this.

  On the deadly “vaccination” campaign, Hadi al Bahra precisely like Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric called it only human error, “not correct labeling, having two types of medicine in the same cabinet.” That would be, muscle relaxes injected into children. What does this portend? This is a test case.

  Hadi al Bahra said that the US is in consultation with the SNC as it conducts airstrikes. Inner City Press understands that the US only told Syria's government once, the first time -- and did not tell Russia at all.

Footnote: The first two questions to Hadi al Bahra were from US state owned media, and France 24. Then later came RFI. This is part of why the Free UN Coalition for Access complained about Hadi al Bahra initially, and Ahmad Jarba throughout his tenure, only taking questions in these media's clubhouse of UNCA, the UN's Censorship Alliance. They only publicize the events to those who paid them money; the UNCA Executive Committee tried to get the investigative Press thrown out fo the UN. It is good that Hadi al Bahra, hosted by the UK, held an open briefing. But what about the answers? We'll have more on these.

   

Jordan's Prince Zeid Cites Interest in UN Peacekeeping As Mali Rapes Are Raised, Syria as Footnote, Rojava in the (Glass) House

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 6 -- As he takes over the presidency of the UN Security Council for January, Jordan's Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein brings much longer history at the UN than other Ambassadors on the Council.

  In his January 6 press conference, Zeid cited a Security Council debate a full decade ago about national reconciliation, to be belatedly followed up by his on January 29, on "War, its lessons, and the search for a permanent peace."

  (Zeid said another country's Ambassador told him this is "much too theoretical" for the Security Council.)

  Inner City Press asked Zeid about news of the day -- Presidents Bashir and Kiir of Sudan and South Sudan discussion a joint oil protection force -- and about one of his longer term interests, UN Peacekeeping and sexual abuse or exploitation.

  On the latter, Zeid said he left that position, or finished that report, on 2007. But in 2013 he was on the UN's Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations, bristling correctly at the inclusion of Sri Lanka military figure Shavendra Silva. What does he think of the UN's opacity on gang rapes by UN peacekeepers in Mali? We'll ask again.

  January's Program of Work lists seven closed-door consultations; Inner City Press on behalf of the new Free UN Coalition for Access asked Zeid to hold stakeouts after each of them. Zeid was asked why Syria is only a footnote on the program of work -- technically true, since OPCW joint chemical weapons mission leader Sigrid Kaag will brief the Council on January 8.

  Zeid said that the UN's humanitarian chief Valerie Amos would be traveling to the area and would hold a briefing there. But, Inner City Press has noted, Amos has twice refused to answer questions about the groups Jabhat al Nusra and ISIS.

  At the January 6 UN noon briefing that preceded Prince Zeid, Inner City Press asked for any UN reaction to the new constitution promulgated in Rojava, predominantly Kurdish northern Syria, and whether the UN and Lakhdar Brahimi had any contacts up there.

  Spokesperson Farhan Haq answered about inclusiveness, presumably of the Coalition that just re-coronated Ahmad al Jarba. Then Haq's office, just as Zeid began to speak, emailed out Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's statement about invitations to the Geneva II (or Montreux I) talks started January 22. It did not include Iran. Watch this site.