On Syria, Turkey Says PYD Tries To Get Legitimacy, Amid UN Censorship

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 19 -- When the UN pulled the plug on the Intra-Syrian Talks, or as envoy Staffan de Mistura said mereby pushed them back to February 25, de Mistura said that the UN "is not prepared to hold talks for the sake of talks."

 On February 19, Russia convened a UN Security Council meeting and proposed a draft resolution on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. Western powers, as they're called, were dismissive the draft.

  Here's some of what Turkey's Permanent Representative said, as fast transcribed by InnerCityPro.com:

"The fighting, it’s not only bombing militarily, hospitals, schools, medical facilities, are being bombed, after the Russian Federation’s intervention in the war, the majority of the civilian casualties are caused by this intervention. So it is, the resolution is there, so why do we need another resolution in that regard? When I see the text I found it... silent on the humanitarian issue.

 "For us, any terrorist organization is a terrorist organization, full stop. For PYD they seem to try to get legitimacy by seeming fighting with Daesh. Actually this is not the case... For us, fighting against another terrorist organization does not give legitimacy to any terrorist organization."

 Here is what US Ambassador Samantha Power said, as transcribed by the US Mission - which is aware of the UN trying to eject investigative Inner City Press for covering a meeting in the UN Press Briefing Room, UN letter here:

"Quick comment in my own right, which is that what’s really important is that rather than trying to distract the world with the resolution they just laid down, it would be really great if Russia would implement the resolution it’s already agreed to. We have Resolution 2254, we all came together in the Council before the end of the year, we all united around its provisions, and our emphasis should be on implementation.

Right now, we have a bombing campaign in the northern part of Syria that is hitting hospitals, that has caused mass displacement, more than 70,000 people gathering now at the border – huge suffering. We need to focus on implementing 2254. It’s incredibly important that there’s de-escalation, that all parties use restraint and show restraint.

But this is a distraction from the core fact, which is that 2254 needs to be implemented. We have a resolution on the books. It’s the right resolution. We’ve committed ourselves to it, and we need Russia to do the same."

 Inner City Press -- in the middle of being thrown out of the UN for seeking to covering meetings in the building, click here for that -- talked its way through a UN Security block at the Council stakeout and asked Turkey's Permanent Representative Cevic if his country would send in ground troops. He said only if part of a multinational force.

  Also at the stakeout - with a UN Security "minder" still trailing Inner City Press, like one of Ban Ki-moon's thought police as one wag put it -- Inner City Press asked the President of the Council for February, Venezuela's Rafael Ramirez, if he would convene and emergency meeting if Turkey or Saudi Arabia were to send in ground troops. He said yes, he would convene such a meeting.

  But as things stands, even with Ban Ki-moon's censor Cristina Gallach receiving calls to delay and reverse her decision, Inner City Press could not cover such an emergency Security Council meeting.

  We'll have more on all this.

 On February 16, Inner City Press asked Syrian Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari about de Mistura's and Ban Ki-moon's explanations of why those talks ended - and about the UN saying Ban was misquoted in or misinterpreted by the Financial Times.

  Ja'afari said that the UN would rather blame itself than the opposition, because then the UN would get push-back from “Westerners.” Ja'afari said that de Mistura's deputy only provided him with a partial list of the opposition delegations as the talks were ending. Ja'afari called them badly organized.

  Before Ja'afari spoke, the Security Council's president for February Rafael Ramirez of Venezuela told reporters that the Council's members agreed to tell Turkey to comply with international law. Associated Press - click here for AP's UN rape reporting on Feb 15 - asked if that meant all members.  All to different degrees, was the answer.

At UN As Pitch Made for Arctic Shelf, "Death by Power Point" in Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf Asserted, City Under Ice

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 9 -- The UN, particularly its 1B basement area, is full of closed meetings these days. But one stood out from the others on February 9, with a team of two dozen in suits ready to make a pitch for a piece of the Arctic.

   It was the closed door meeting of the  UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, a body Inner City Press has previously covered, for example on controversies surrounding claims to Somalia's shelf, see here.

  The February 9 session, which was moved from Conference Room 6 to 5 and in which a more than hour and a half presentation was made about the Lomonosov Ridge and other areas, has economic consequences. Denmark, through “its” Greenland, made a pitch in 2014.

  This pitch was longer -- one attendee whispered to Inner City Press is was like “death by Point Point” -- but the area claimed is larger, too, it was argued afterward.

   Last month the US television network CBS promoted an old segment by Walter Cronkite, promoting a US “City Under the Ice” in Greenland complete with a nuclear power plant. That worked out badly, no one even wanting the decommissioned power plant in the end. But the hunger for the Arctic is back: Cities Under Ice, indeed....

On Paused Syria Talks, Inner City Press Asks 3 Why Kurdish PYD Excluded, 2 Answer (Russia and Venezuela), But France Walks Away

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 5 -- When the UN pulled the plug on the Intra-Syrian Talks, or merely as envoy Staffan de Mistura said pushed them back to February 25, de Mistura said that the UN "is not prepared to hold talks for the sake of talks" and concluded, "Mr. de Mistura will leave tomorrow to attend the London conference."

 On February 5, the UN Security Council met to hear from de Mistura by video, behind closed doors. Afterward, Inner City Press asked three of the Permanentn Representatives in attendance why the Kurdish PYD had been excluded from the talks.

 Security Council President for Febraury Rafael Ramirez of Venezuela said, Yes, this had been discussed. Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said since Kurds at 15% of Syria, they should be included - and that if Turkey supports Syria's territorial integrity, it should stop blocking the PYD.

  But after French Ambassador Francois Delattre speechified at the UNTV microphone and had taken two questions, Inner City Press asked quite audibly about the PYD. Video here.  Delattre's spokesman directed that the UNTV microphone be given to Reuters for a vague question, then Delattre said, C'est fini.

  Inner City Press asked again, loudly, about the PYD. Delatte walked away, indicating as he has before, I will have to get back to you. But he has not, for eaxmple on Burundi. Later Inner City Press heard rumblings about the use of Periscope -- see here for acts of Voice of America -- which, ironically, a number of Security Council delegations use and follow Inner City Press on. But what ABOUT the PYD? Watch this site.

On the way in, UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft stopped and took five questions from four media, largely blaming Russia for the pause in the talks. Video here.

  Inner City Press tried asking, third time until it worked, what about the “petty procedural issues” that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had also blamed in his post-pause statement. A definition has yet to be given; Rycroft replied to Inner City Press' question on what the opposition should do on February 25 by saying that the opposition needs to be shown it is supported.

   For balance, Russia's Ambassador Vitaly Churkin was asked about this accusation and called it “in bad taste.” Churkin added, “They should blame those who support the terrorists. It's not a Russian escalation, it's intensified efforts by the government to fight the terrorists.”

 On February 4 in front of the UN Security Council, Inner City Press asked Rycroft's Deputy Peter Wilson what Ban Ki-moon meant by "petty procedural" and other issues stalling the talks. Video here, and see below.

 Later on February 4 the UN Mission of Venezuela, President of the Security Council for February, issued a statement that, on February 5 the Security Council will hold a meeting to evaluate the political situation in Syria after the talks were suspended for three weeks by the Special Envoy of the Secretary General Staffan de Mistura.

  Venezuela's Ambassador Rafael Ramirez said in his national capacity, “We are in favor of dialogue without any preconditions, and the most important thing is that the countries that have influence with the government or the opposition are committed to and confident in the negotiations.”

  Inner City Press asked Ramirez if Sudan will speak on the debate on sanctions on February 11; Ramirez said yes. On February 1 Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition for Access (FUNCA) asked Ramirez to hold such Q&A stakeouts after closed door meetings: and on February 4, he did. Tweeted photo here.

  The UK's Peter Wilson said the London Conference is "our" (UK) focus, and to pay attention to the speech Ban gave. On that way to the UN Security Council stakeout, another country's diplomat told Inner City Press there would be a session with de Mistura on February 5.

  As Inner City Press was filming the Q&A with Wilson, the correspondent from Voice of America took two photographs... of Inner City Press' phone. The gola, we surmise for past and recent experience, may be to Ban filming and whole technologies at the UN Security Council stakeout and even elsewhere in the UN, which the old UN Correspondents Association has tried to do in the past.

 The new Free UN Coalition for Access (FUNCA) would oppose that - watch this site, and note that many Security Council delegations use Periscope, and the UN itself purports to promote social media.

  Notably, de Mistura's statement did not cast blame for the failure - but hours later, Reuters channeled a "senior UN official" it allowed to remain unnamed:

"A senior U.N. official told Reuters on condition of anonymity that de Mistura called a halt to the talks after Russia increased air strikes to help the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, undermining the negotiating process. 'I think the special envoy decided to suspend the talks because the (United Nations) did not want to be associated with the Russian escalation in Syria, which risks undermining the talks completely,' the official said."

  Reuters did not explain WHY it granted anonymity to this described "senior UN official." But since even this source said he or she "thinks" de Mistura decided, it called into question, what kind of source is this? UN Political chief Feltman, whom Reuters UN bureau chief has previously used, would not "think" what de Mistura decided. 

 But now Ban Ki-moon has said, or read, what the unnamed senior UN official said, albeit without naming any country, see below.

 Does Reuters grant (more) anonymity to Ban Ki-moon?

 At the UN in New York on February 3, Reuters' correspondent actively cut off Inner City Press questioning about UN corruption, saying "you're grasping at straws." Vine here, story here.

  Meanwhile the UN bureau chief promoted himself appearing at aVienna UN event, top-heavy with Reuters connections.

 On February 4, Ban said this:

"It is deeply disturbing that the initial steps of the talks have been undermined by the continuous lack of sufficient humanitarian access, and by a sudden increase of aerial bombings and military activities within Syria.  The focus on the people of Syria is also being lost amid petty procedural matters."

  Ban Ki-moon and petty? Say it ain't so.

Back on December 18 in the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, ministers Lavrov and Gentiloni, Fabius and Kerry passed through with entourages; UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon left early typically without answering any questions, as Inner City Press Periscoped andreported. Hours later, the draft resolution was agreed to, then adopted 15-0 by the UN Security Council, here.

 On December 26, the UN issued this for its envoy Staffan de Mistura:

"Further to resolution 2254 (2015) of the Security Council, unanimously adopted on 18 December 2015, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, has intensified efforts towards convening representatives of the Syrian Government and the broadest possible spectrum of the Syrian opposition and others to engage in a political process leading towards implementation of the objectives and principles for a political solution to the Syrian conflict as contained in the Geneva Communique of 30 June 2012, and the Vienna Statements of 30 October and 14 November 2015.

"In line with the clear parameters outlined in Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), the Special Envoy intends to complete his consultations in early January, with a view to initiating intra-Syrian talks on a target date of 25 January 2016 in Geneva. He counts on full cooperation of all the relevant Syrian parties in this process. Continuing developments on the ground should not be allowed to derail it. The Special Envoy also relies on the continued crucial support of the International Syria Support Group.

The people of Syria have suffered enough. Their tragedy is now felt throughout the region and beyond. They deserve the full attention and commitment from all their Syrian representatives, who should now show leadership and vision to overcome differences for the sake of Syria."

 The day before, on December 25, on Syria UNRWA's spokesman Chris Gunness said:

"UNRWA welcomes any developments that could end the armed conflict in and around Yarmouk, and ease the inhuman conditions that Palestine refugees and other civilians are in Yarmouk continue to endure. Over the past three months, there have been persistent reports of negotiations for some form of truce or evacuation arrangement in Yarmouk.  These reports are credible and UNRWA is taking them seriously, although they have not been officially or formally confirmed, and details have been vague. There are several thousands of civilians living in deeply abject conditions in Yarmouk. As UNRWA is deeply concerned about their well-being, the Agency is seeking from the Syrian government further details of any negotiated arrangements that will affect the humanitarian situation of civilians in Yarmouk. In particular, UNRWA demands that any arrangements being negotiated in and around Yarmouk must include guarantees for a durable cessation of hostilities, for the protection of civilians, and for safe, uninterrupted humanitarian access for UNRWA and other humanitarian actors. UNRWA is redoubling its strong appeals to the Government of Syria and relevant actors to allow and facilitate humanitarian access to Yarmouk.  This is urgently needed to enable UNRWA to   deliver food, clean water, winter supplies,  healthcare,  and other humanitarian assistance and services to civilians in Yarmouk. UNRWA stands ready immediately to respond to the humanitarian needs of the entire civilian population of Yarmouk."

  Meanwhile the head of Jaysh al Islam Zahran Alloush was killed al Ghouta.

  Back on December 18 at the UN the US day ended in a bilateral meeting between Iranian minister Zarif and John Kerry -- a photo spray was canceled -- and a low key meeting on Iraq and Turkey that we asked about and reported on here.

  Kerry and Lavrov, joined by UN envoy Staffan de Mistura, held this three-question press conference. Kerry said the negotiations should begin in mid to late January (in contrast to the early January in the resolution). Lavrov said only the “patriotic opposition” should be involved in negotiations. Staffan de Mistura said very little.

  That Kerry's spokesman John Kirby, who ran the press conference, gave the second question to the Washington Post, and the third to Russian media, was perhaps understandable. But the first question, Kirby set aside for “Al Arabiya.”  The question quickly turned into three, after being branded for “UNCA,” now the UN Corruption Association, a group which sold seats with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for $6000 only earlier this week.

 We now add: UNCA gave one of its prizes, a free trip to Turkey, to one of its Vice Presidents, from Agence France Presse. Even Kellogg's prohibits its employees from competing for its prizes. But not UNCA, which ignoring the Iraq - Turkey meeting in the Security Council was trying to buy people with Prosecco on December 18, after selling seats with Ban for $6,000.

  Several other UN-based journalists -- not (only) this one -- complained afterward that the first question and attempted follow up were a “Saudi circus” which made the UN press corps look bad -- as did attempt to throw out certain journalists, photographers, from the front row at the beginning.

   Afterward a photo spray of a meeting between Kerry and Iran's Zarif was declared “by invitation only” and then canceled. In the Security Council, with very few journalists still at the stakeout, the US presidency began the meeting on Iraq's complaint against Turkey being in its territory. We'll have more on this.

After the vote inside the Council Lavrov said, “The unanimous adoption today on the Council has created a broad front on the basis of the UN Charter, on the basis of all of those who are pushing back against terror, including the Syrian army, [some] armed militias, parts of the Syrian opposition, and the Russian air forces, in response to the legitimate request of the Syrian government."

Inside as Nasser Judeh of Jordan spoke, UN TV cut repeatedly to Syria's Bashar Ja'afari, looking more and more skeptical. France's Fabius spoke briefly and left. Outside at the stakeout, talk turned to a Kerry press conference, open to all.

 Italy's Paolo Gentiloni, by contrast, scheduled a press availability only for Italian media. A wag from the Free UN Coalition for Access asked, Isn't Gentiloni the foreign and not interior minister? Isn't he running for a Security Council seat? We'll have more on this.

In the  hotel lobby in the late morning a Permanent Five member of the Security Council's spokesperson briefed a gaggle of journalists in the lobby amid hissed that it was “off the record.”

  There was a gingerbread model of the NY Palace hotel which, the sign said, took 300 hours to make. All that was lacking, one wag - this one - snarked on Twitter, was a little gingerbread Laurent Fabuis.

 Back that UN, the 1 pm stakeout by the EU's Mogherini was postponed and then canceled. The Security Council scheduled for 3 pm got pushed back to 4.  Inner City Press asked Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric if Ban had spoken, what would he have said? Vine here.

On December 17, the day before Syria talks resumed at the New York Palace Hotel in Manhattan, finance ministers spoke in the UN Security Council about cutting off financing for ISIS. French finance minister Michel Sapin spoke darkly of the use of pre-paid cards for the November 13 Paris attacks; Russia's Ambassador Churkin named two Turkish companies as involved in ISIS oil sale.

  Inner City Press asked Syria's Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari, who came to take questions at the Council stakeout, about ISIS' oil. He named Turkey, then want on to name Qatar and Saudi Arabia, slamming its “Sunni coalition” recently announced.

  When US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, along with Sapin and the UK's George Osborne held a short press conference in the UN briefing room, Inner City Press hoped to asked Sapin about pre-paid cards, and Lew and Osborne about Bitcoin. But the question, just four, were limited to Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, the New York and Financial Times. So it goes.

   It seems there will be no Press access at the New York Palace; Ja'afari has said he will speak, at the UN, and whatever ISSG press availability there is should be at the UN, with a 3 pm meeting on December 18 scheduled. Watch this site.

Back on December 8, Inner City Press put thee questions to  Turkey's Ambassador Cevic. Video here.   Here's fast transcript byInnerCityPro.com:
Inner City Press: On Syria, do you think the Vienna process meeting should take place in New York on the 18th? Are you satisfied with the Saudi process for choosing the opposition?

Amb Cevik: The plans, I don’t know how fixed, I mean how clear it is, but we are making our preparations for the meeting.

Inner City Press: Are there any groups invited to Saudi Arabia that you think shouldn’t be part of the opposition delegation?

Amb Cevik: I think so far, in our view, they are working on the right concept. Let’s see if they succeed. Having a coalition group that would be able to take part in the process is one of the most important things.
Inner City Press: [Russia] said the group that killed their pilot should be put on the terror list. Do you have any view on that?

Amb Cevik: If they know the specifics, I don’t know. But to our knowledge, there was no terrorist organization, no extreme Daesh, Nusra, in that area. They are the Turkomens, and we know them, they are moderate people.

  This may be an issue. Watch this site.

Missing Persons Meeting of UN Security Council Had Burundi and Sri Lanka, Renditions and North Korea

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 27 -- With “Missing Persons” the topic of the UN Security Council's Arria formula meeting held in UN Conference Room 3 on January 27, Inner City Press expected the disappeared in countries such as Sri Lanka and Burundi to be brought up.

But the meeting, while called “open to the press,” was not on UN Webcast or in-house TV.  So Inner City Press went down and broadcast it live on Periscope, here, in the spirit of the new Free UN Coalition for Access: open the UN.  

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid brought up disappearance in Burundi; the deputy representative of New Zealand said that (mass) graves in Burundi should be preserved.

  US Ambassador Samantha Power focused on the disappeared in Sri Lanka and Mexico. On the former she cited a mother in Jaffna whose daughter was taken away by men in military garb. One wondered why there is so much praise of new president Sirisena even as he bans “foreign” or international involvement in looking into war crimes including disappearances.

  Japan brought up its abductees in North Korea. Malaysia cited “rendition” - there was no reply - and Senegal said it has had or prosecuted no cases of enforced disappearances, citing Casamance. France bought up Syria.

  Ukraine cited Donbas; Russia replied that the meeting went beyond the mandate of the Security Council, consider not only missing people in conflicts but also migrants and others, politicized.

  There was little time for the 178 member states not on the Security Council, much less for the impacted public. Inner City Press' Periscope stream triggered a sample question about Burundi, on whether the responsible government could be trusted to preserve (its mass) graves. Luxembourg spoke, then Italy emphasized that those missing on its territory are not Italians.

   Cyprus was asked, apologetically by the chair, the UK's Matthew Rycroft, to say a final line. Still on the list were Belgium, Serbia and Chile -- and last of which was until recently on the Council. Still it was interesting: thePeriscope, at least for the next 23 hours, is here.

After Turkey Downs Jet, Letter to UN Security Council & Ban Ki-moon, His If-Asked Comment Here

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 24 -- After Turkey down a Russian jet, it wrote a letter to the Security Council on November 24 but did not ask for a Council meeting. Inner City Press put Turkey's letter online here.

At the November 24 UN noon briefing, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric did not include the shoot-down in any of his may opening items. When asked, he said 

"The Secretary General is very much aware and has been watching the situation. He’s clearly seriously concerned about the downing of the Russian military jet by Turkish air force earlier today. The Secretary General urges all relevant parties to take urgent measures with a view to de-escalate the tensions, and he hopes that a credible and thorough review of the incident will clarify the events and help prevent future recurrences. And also I think, just to reiterate what the Secretary General has said a number of times, that he urges all those who are engaged in military activities in Syria, especially in air campaigns, to maximize operational measures to avoid unintended consequences and of course, most important, to do whatever they can to avoid civilian casualties and to protect civilians. The Secretary General believes today’s worrying developments once again underscores the importance of international unity and cooperation in international action against violent extremists in the region as well as the urgent need to agree to a solution to the tragic events in Syria." Dujarric said he had not seen Turkey's letter. Inner City Press said it was cc-ed to Ban, now embeds here

Turkey Letter to UNSC on Shooting Down SU-24 Plane, Nov 24, 2015 by Matthew Russell Lee

The President of the Council for November, the UK's Matthew Rycroft, spoke on his way in at 10 am, Inner City Press Periscope video here. He said, as fast transcribed by InnerCityPro.com: 

RYCROFT: We’re extremely concerned about the incident of the Russian downed jet. We’ve been in close touch with our Turkish opposite numbers from the Prime Minister down. It’s very important that we learn the lessons of this in terms of de-confliction. I call on everyone involved to de-escalate and to be measured in their response

Q: Have Russians or Turks contacted you about raising it in the Council?
A: We’ve been in touch with both of those countries and many others. Currently no country has called for a meeting of the SC.

Q: Can the Council do anything to tell the Russians to stop violating airspace of neighboring countries?
A: The UK defends Turkey’s right to protect its own airspace. If we have a discussion I’m sure we won’t be alone in making that point.

Q: No letter from Turkey?
A: There has been a letter from Turkey. It sets out the facts. It doesn’t call for any particular action.
Q: When did you receive the letter
A: In the last hour.

Q: Do these events indicate that de-confliction goes against what you’re trying to avoid?
A: These events demonstrate the importance of de-confliction, having a carefully coordinated coalition against ISIL. Stepping back from the detail for for the moment, we have a shared interest with all of the countries in the region. We are all trying our hardest to defeat ISIL.

Q: Does it complicate diplomacy?
A: Diplomacy is complicated at the best of times. It is a thing we need to respond to in a measured, calm, careful way.

  Last week after France circulated in the UN Security Council the post-Paris Attacks resolution repeatedly talked about by French President Francois Hollande, it immediately on November 19 put it "in blue" for voting, which took place after some delay at 5:30 pm on November 20.  The vote was 15-0. 

Afterward, Inner City Press managed to ask French Ambassador Francois Delattre about the inclusion at Russia's request of a reference to the UN Charter, and if France thinks there is a right to individual self-defense, as already asserts in Syria, in the UN Charter. Delattre said the Charter is important and France complies with it. Video here. 

   Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, President of the Security Council for November, about the delay in voting on the resolution from 3pm to 4 pm to 5:30 pm -- he said that was negotiation -- and about the inclusion of a reference to Vienna I in the final version. Russia's Churkin in the Council said, “The preambular section, clarified by us, clearly states now that the documents adopted by the international support group for Syria on 30 October and 14 November are a packet on the basis of which, in addition to the Geneva communiqué of 2012, should be used to settle the Syrian crisis;” another Permanent Representative, not on the Council, told Inner City Press this “makes Assad a party.”

  Rycroft acknowledged that the reference had been added, but said he viewed this as listing all the relevant documents; he said the Geneva Communique is the most important. Video here. He highlighted that the resolution was passed only a week after the Paris attacks.

 Earlier, Inner City Press awas told, not by France, of "and the UN Charter" being added to Operative Paragraph 5, thusly in capitals:

"5. Calls upon Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, AND THE UN CHARTER, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the ISSG and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant the Vienna Communique of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria." And here is the final:

When 3 o'clock came, while UNTV was at the Security Council stakeout, there was no vote. Exiting the Council were the Permanent Representatives of Jordan, New Zealand and Spain, along with Staffan de Mistura and UN OCHA's Stephen O'Brien: an UNrelated humanitarian meeting.

  Other diplomats milled around; there were complaints against the French mission. One said, I shouldn't be learning this from (your) Twitter. Inner City Press tweeted this "some angry diplomats mill around, one says, Shouldn't have to get info on this from Twitter, ou son les Francais?" The French Mission spokesman replied with a spelling correction and the time: ".@innercitypress it's actually spelled "où sont les Français", but nevermind. We are here : vote on French res ag Daesh scheduled at 5.30pm."

Inner City Press replied, "No cedille on my keyboard, but thanks for update - now, similar info on #Burundi? #Penholder " We'll see.

 In the morning when French Ambassador Francois Delattre entered the Security Council for a regularly scheduled meeting about Peacekeeping Operations featuring Herve Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in a row atop UN Peacekeeping, Delattre spoke about the French draft resolution.Periscope video here. As fast transcribed by InnerCityPro.com:

“We hope for a vote the sooner the better, I cannot tell you when exactly, but it is one week after the attacks... There is no reason frankly there is only good spirit and good vibes so to speak around the table... I am cautious by nature, the mood is really good.

 “We try to have something that can unite everyone at the Security Council the Russians included. We think we should not waste time, we have a good partnership with Ambassador Churkin with all the other ambassadors... it's a question of the last mile, I will tell you more as soon as I know.”

  Inner City Press and others asked about Mali and the attack on the Radisson Hotel there. Delattre said, “We are closely watching the situation with great concern of course but no particular comment at this stage.” No comment? Shouldn't a terrorist attack in sub-Saharan Africa be added to the French draft? Some say the vote might be as early at 1 pm. 

Update: the French mission spokesperson doled this out later to favored correspondents Update II: UNTV says 3 pm: 
 "3:00pm   LIVE   Security Council 7564th meeting: Adoption: Resolution on counterterrorism"

  Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin on Thursday afternoon told reporters he saw nothing "offensive in it," that a couple of days could have improved it but that perhaps both resolutions could be adopted,citing 9/11/01 as a precedent.

 On his way into the Security Council's regularly scheduled meeting on Kosovo, Churkin stopped and told the press that “Theirs is much more narrow draft, ours is broader, more fundamental so basically I don't see much of a contradiction. We're studying it. I don't [see] anything particularly offensive. This is a good draft, we are looking at it. Maybe if they took a day or two more to work on it they could have improved a thing or two.”

   On if both draft resolutions could be adopted, Churkin said, “I think they could, because if you think back to events after 9/11, first there was a short draft then a couple of weeks later there was a more comprehensive draft.”

The day before on November 18 after Russia circulatedits resolution, French Permanent Representative Francois Delattre came out to talk to the media, not on UNTV but by the steps. He said, as fast transcribed by InnerCityPro:

"Russia requested this meeting on the issue of terrorism, and introduced once again this September 30th draft resolution... I repeated our total determination to fight Daesh, a fight which requires a united response from the whole international community. As you know French President Francois Hollande announced that the Security Council must adopt as soon as possible a resolution on the fight against Daesh. We are actively working to prepare a text that will be short, strong, and focused on the fight against our common enemy, Daesh. Short, strong, and focused on the fight against Daesh. And in this respect we consider the Russian proposal is a contribution that will be carefully studied.

 "I think we have two different texts here. The text we have in mind, and that we are working on very closely, strongly, following President Hollande’s statement, is a text that is strong, short, that is Daesh-centered, and that has one goal after the tragic Paris attack, which is to make sure that the international community is united, finally united, in the fight against Daesh. We all know the threat. The threat is still here. So this is our political responsibility asa the Security Council to have this text adopted, not for long, or endless negotiations about the niceties, but one, simple, clear political message. We need, and this is our responsibility, to have a text which all key actors of the international community can unite in order to act, and to act together." 

Together?

"  On November 17 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced that Ban would sign the condolence book at the French Mission to the UN that afternoon.

  After 2 pm, the UN emailed out “*SG PHOTO-OP ADDED*” so Inner City Press went to the French Mission to cover it.

  In the lobby of 245 East 47th Street, also known as One Dag, the security officer said he would call upstairs to French Mission, on the 44th floor, and get the OK. The guard handed the photo to Inner City Press, which explained why it was here, that the UN has announced this photo-op. The guard took the phone back. Video here.

  “They say no,” the guard said. France 24 was upstairs, and others who did not even report on it. Inner City Press waited in the lobby, exchanging pleasantries with a half dozen diplomats including the Permanent Representative of Palau; passers-by in the One Dag lobby included the Permanent Representative of a country France has criticized for, ironically, freedom of the press. Video here.

  Ban Ki-moon and French Ambassador Francois Delattre came down,accompanied by Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The UN convoy pulled out onto Second Avenue. Later Dujarric's office would send out Ban's remarks -- Ban refused the only question asked -- and UNTV would distribute video of Ban and Mrs. Ban signing, even shots of the French hand-picked scribes in attendance. Would Charlie Hebdo have made the cut?

 On November 18, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Dujarric:

Inner City Press: You announced yesterday at this signing of the condolence book at the French Mission by the Secretary-General.  So I wanted to know, it seemed like I tried to go to your office.  You weren't there.  I went to MALU [Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit].  It seems like it's a UN thing, so I went to cover it, but I was unable to cover it when they called upstairs from the downstairs…

Spokesman Dujarric:  If it's a UN thing, if it happens in the UN.

Inner City Press:  Right.  Is it the Secretary-General's position where space exists for his outside events that UN journalists should be able to cover it or not?

Spokesman:  We rely on our hosts.

After Turkey Downs Jet, Sends Letter to UN Security Council, Full Text Here

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 24 -- After Turkey down a Russian jet, it wrote a letter to the Security Council on November 24 but did not ask for a Council meeting. Inner City Press is putting Turkey's letter online here.

The President of the Council for November, the UK's Matthew Rycroft, spoke on his way in at 10 am, Inner City Press Periscope video here. He said, as fast transcribed by InnerCityPro.com: 

RYCROFT: We’re extremely concerned about the incident of the Russian downed jet. We’ve been in close touch with our Turkish opposite numbers from the Prime Minister down. It’s very important that we learn the lessons of this in terms of de-confliction. I call on everyone involved to de-escalate and to be measured in their response

Q: Have Russians or Turks contacted you about raising it in the Council?
A: We’ve been in touch with both of those countries and many others. Currently no country has called for a meeting of the SC.

Q: Can the Council do anything to tell the Russians to stop violating airspace of neighboring countries?
A: The UK defends Turkey’s right to protect its own airspace. If we have a discussion I’m sure we won’t be alone in making that point.

Q: No letter from Turkey?
A: There has been a letter from Turkey. It sets out the facts. It doesn’t call for any particular action.
Q: When did you receive the letter
A: In the last hour.

Q: Do these events indicate that de-confliction goes against what you’re trying to avoid?
A: These events demonstrate the importance of de-confliction, having a carefully coordinated coalition against ISIL. Stepping back from the detail for for the moment, we have a shared interest with all of the countries in the region. We are all trying our hardest to defeat ISIL.

Q: Does it complicate diplomacy?
A: Diplomacy is complicated at the best of times. It is a thing we need to respond to in a measured, calm, careful way.

  Last week after France circulated in the UN Security Council the post-Paris Attacks resolution repeatedly talked about by French President Francois Hollande, it immediately on November 19 put it "in blue" for voting, which took place after some delay at 5:30 pm on November 20.  The vote was 15-0. 

Afterward, Inner City Press managed to ask French Ambassador Francois Delattre about the inclusion at Russia's request of a reference to the UN Charter, and if France thinks there is a right to individual self-defense, as already asserts in Syria, in the UN Charter. Delattre said the Charter is important and France complies with it. Video here. 

   Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, President of the Security Council for November, about the delay in voting on the resolution from 3pm to 4 pm to 5:30 pm -- he said that was negotiation -- and about the inclusion of a reference to Vienna I in the final version. Russia's Churkin in the Council said, “The preambular section, clarified by us, clearly states now that the documents adopted by the international support group for Syria on 30 October and 14 November are a packet on the basis of which, in addition to the Geneva communiqué of 2012, should be used to settle the Syrian crisis;” another Permanent Representative, not on the Council, told Inner City Press this “makes Assad a party.”

  Rycroft acknowledged that the reference had been added, but said he viewed this as listing all the relevant documents; he said the Geneva Communique is the most important. Video here. He highlighted that the resolution was passed only a week after the Paris attacks.

 Earlier, Inner City Press awas told, not by France, of "and the UN Charter" being added to Operative Paragraph 5, thusly in capitals:

"5. Calls upon Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, AND THE UN CHARTER, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the ISSG and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant the Vienna Communique of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria." And here is the final:

When 3 o'clock came, while UNTV was at the Security Council stakeout, there was no vote. Exiting the Council were the Permanent Representatives of Jordan, New Zealand and Spain, along with Staffan de Mistura and UN OCHA's Stephen O'Brien: an UNrelated humanitarian meeting.

  Other diplomats milled around; there were complaints against the French mission. One said, I shouldn't be learning this from (your) Twitter. Inner City Press tweeted this "some angry diplomats mill around, one says, Shouldn't have to get info on this from Twitter, ou son les Francais?" The French Mission spokesman replied with a spelling correction and the time: ".@innercitypress it's actually spelled "où sont les Français", but nevermind. We are here : vote on French res ag Daesh scheduled at 5.30pm."

Inner City Press replied, "No cedille on my keyboard, but thanks for update - now, similar info on #Burundi? #Penholder " We'll see.

 In the morning when French Ambassador Francois Delattre entered the Security Council for a regularly scheduled meeting about Peacekeeping Operations featuring Herve Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in a row atop UN Peacekeeping, Delattre spoke about the French draft resolution.Periscope video here. As fast transcribed by InnerCityPro.com:

“We hope for a vote the sooner the better, I cannot tell you when exactly, but it is one week after the attacks... There is no reason frankly there is only good spirit and good vibes so to speak around the table... I am cautious by nature, the mood is really good.

 “We try to have something that can unite everyone at the Security Council the Russians included. We think we should not waste time, we have a good partnership with Ambassador Churkin with all the other ambassadors... it's a question of the last mile, I will tell you more as soon as I know.”

  Inner City Press and others asked about Mali and the attack on the Radisson Hotel there. Delattre said, “We are closely watching the situation with great concern of course but no particular comment at this stage.” No comment? Shouldn't a terrorist attack in sub-Saharan Africa be added to the French draft? Some say the vote might be as early at 1 pm. 

Update: the French mission spokesperson doled this out later to favored correspondents Update II: UNTV says 3 pm: 
 "3:00pm   LIVE   Security Council 7564th meeting: Adoption: Resolution on counterterrorism"

  Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin on Thursday afternoon told reporters he saw nothing "offensive in it," that a couple of days could have improved it but that perhaps both resolutions could be adopted,citing 9/11/01 as a precedent.

 On his way into the Security Council's regularly scheduled meeting on Kosovo, Churkin stopped and told the press that “Theirs is much more narrow draft, ours is broader, more fundamental so basically I don't see much of a contradiction. We're studying it. I don't [see] anything particularly offensive. This is a good draft, we are looking at it. Maybe if they took a day or two more to work on it they could have improved a thing or two.”

   On if both draft resolutions could be adopted, Churkin said, “I think they could, because if you think back to events after 9/11, first there was a short draft then a couple of weeks later there was a more comprehensive draft.”

The day before on November 18 after Russia circulatedits resolution, French Permanent Representative Francois Delattre came out to talk to the media, not on UNTV but by the steps. He said, as fast transcribed by InnerCityPro:

"Russia requested this meeting on the issue of terrorism, and introduced once again this September 30th draft resolution... I repeated our total determination to fight Daesh, a fight which requires a united response from the whole international community. As you know French President Francois Hollande announced that the Security Council must adopt as soon as possible a resolution on the fight against Daesh. We are actively working to prepare a text that will be short, strong, and focused on the fight against our common enemy, Daesh. Short, strong, and focused on the fight against Daesh. And in this respect we consider the Russian proposal is a contribution that will be carefully studied.

 "I think we have two different texts here. The text we have in mind, and that we are working on very closely, strongly, following President Hollande’s statement, is a text that is strong, short, that is Daesh-centered, and that has one goal after the tragic Paris attack, which is to make sure that the international community is united, finally united, in the fight against Daesh. We all know the threat. The threat is still here. So this is our political responsibility asa the Security Council to have this text adopted, not for long, or endless negotiations about the niceties, but one, simple, clear political message. We need, and this is our responsibility, to have a text which all key actors of the international community can unite in order to act, and to act together." 

Together?

"  On November 17 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced that Ban would sign the condolence book at the French Mission to the UN that afternoon.

  After 2 pm, the UN emailed out “*SG PHOTO-OP ADDED*” so Inner City Press went to the French Mission to cover it.

  In the lobby of 245 East 47th Street, also known as One Dag, the security officer said he would call upstairs to French Mission, on the 44th floor, and get the OK. The guard handed the photo to Inner City Press, which explained why it was here, that the UN has announced this photo-op. The guard took the phone back. Video here.

  “They say no,” the guard said. France 24 was upstairs, and others who did not even report on it. Inner City Press waited in the lobby, exchanging pleasantries with a half dozen diplomats including the Permanent Representative of Palau; passers-by in the One Dag lobby included the Permanent Representative of a country France has criticized for, ironically, freedom of the press. Video here.

  Ban Ki-moon and French Ambassador Francois Delattre came down,accompanied by Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The UN convoy pulled out onto Second Avenue. Later Dujarric's office would send out Ban's remarks -- Ban refused the only question asked -- and UNTV would distribute video of Ban and Mrs. Ban signing, even shots of the French hand-picked scribes in attendance. Would Charlie Hebdo have made the cut?

 On November 18, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Dujarric:

Inner City Press: You announced yesterday at this signing of the condolence book at the French Mission by the Secretary-General.  So I wanted to know, it seemed like I tried to go to your office.  You weren't there.  I went to MALU [Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit].  It seems like it's a UN thing, so I went to cover it, but I was unable to cover it when they called upstairs from the downstairs…

Spokesman Dujarric:  If it's a UN thing, if it happens in the UN.

Inner City Press:  Right.  Is it the Secretary-General's position where space exists for his outside events that UN journalists should be able to cover it or not?

Spokesman:  We rely on our hosts.

After Turkey Downs Jet, UN Security Council President Rycroft Calls for Measured Response, Gets Letter from Turkey, No Meeting Request

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 24 -- After Turkey down a Russian jet, it wrote a letter to the Security Council on November 24 but did not ask for a Council meeting. The President of the Council for November, the UK's Matthew Rycroft, spoke on his way in at 10 am, Inner City PressPeriscope video here. He said, as fast transcribed by InnerCityPro.com: 

RYCROFT: We’re extremely concerned about the incident of the Russian downed jet. We’ve been in close touch with our Turkish opposite numbers from the Prime Minister down. It’s very important that we learn the lessons of this in terms of de-confliction. I call on everyone involved to de-escalate and to be measured in their response

Q: Have Russians or Turks contacted you about raising it in the Council?
A: We’ve been in touch with both of those countries and many others. Currently no country has called for a meeting of the SC.

Q: Can the Council do anything to tell the Russians to stop violating airspace of neighboring countries?
A: The UK defends Turkey’s right to protect its own airspace. If we have a discussion I’m sure we won’t be alone in making that point.

Q: No letter from Turkey?
A: There has been a letter from Turkey. It sets out the facts. It doesn’t call for any particular action.
Q: When did you receive the letter
A: In the last hour.

Q: Do these events indicate that de-confliction goes against what you’re trying to avoid?
A: These events demonstrate the importance of de-confliction, having a carefully coordinated coalition against ISIL. Stepping back from the detail for for the moment, we have a shared interest with all of the countries in the region. We are all trying our hardest to defeat ISIL.

Q: Does it complicate diplomacy?
A: Diplomacy is complicated at the best of times. It is a thing we need to respond to in a measured, calm, careful way.

  Last week after France circulated in the UN Security Council the post-Paris Attacks resolution repeatedly talked about by French President Francois Hollande, it immediately on November 19 put it "in blue" for voting, which took place after some delay at 5:30 pm on November 20.  The vote was 15-0. 

Afterward, Inner City Press managed to ask French Ambassador Francois Delattre about the inclusion at Russia's request of a reference to the UN Charter, and if France thinks there is a right to individual self-defense, as already asserts in Syria, in the UN Charter. Delattre said the Charter is important and France complies with it. Video here. 

   Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft, President of the Security Council for November, about the delay in voting on the resolution from 3pm to 4 pm to 5:30 pm -- he said that was negotiation -- and about the inclusion of a reference to Vienna I in the final version. Russia's Churkin in the Council said, “The preambular section, clarified by us, clearly states now that the documents adopted by the international support group for Syria on 30 October and 14 November are a packet on the basis of which, in addition to the Geneva communiqué of 2012, should be used to settle the Syrian crisis;” another Permanent Representative, not on the Council, told Inner City Press this “makes Assad a party.”

  Rycroft acknowledged that the reference had been added, but said he viewed this as listing all the relevant documents; he said the Geneva Communique is the most important. Video here. He highlighted that the resolution was passed only a week after the Paris attacks.

 Earlier, Inner City Press awas told, not by France, of "and the UN Charter" being added to Operative Paragraph 5, thusly in capitals:

"5. Calls upon Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, AND THE UN CHARTER, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the ISSG and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant the Vienna Communique of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria." And here is the final:

When 3 o'clock came, while UNTV was at the Security Council stakeout, there was no vote. Exiting the Council were the Permanent Representatives of Jordan, New Zealand and Spain, along with Staffan de Mistura and UN OCHA's Stephen O'Brien: an UNrelated humanitarian meeting.

  Other diplomats milled around; there were complaints against the French mission. One said, I shouldn't be learning this from (your) Twitter. Inner City Press tweeted this "some angry diplomats mill around, one says, Shouldn't have to get info on this from Twitter, ou son les Francais?" The French Mission spokesman replied with a spelling correction and the time: ".@innercitypress it's actually spelled "où sont les Français", but nevermind. We are here : vote on French res ag Daesh scheduled at 5.30pm."

Inner City Press replied, "No cedille on my keyboard, but thanks for update - now, similar info on #Burundi? #Penholder " We'll see.

 In the morning when French Ambassador Francois Delattre entered the Security Council for a regularly scheduled meeting about Peacekeeping Operations featuring Herve Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in a row atop UN Peacekeeping, Delattre spoke about the French draft resolution.Periscope video here. As fast transcribed by InnerCityPro.com:

“We hope for a vote the sooner the better, I cannot tell you when exactly, but it is one week after the attacks... There is no reason frankly there is only good spirit and good vibes so to speak around the table... I am cautious by nature, the mood is really good.

 “We try to have something that can unite everyone at the Security Council the Russians included. We think we should not waste time, we have a good partnership with Ambassador Churkin with all the other ambassadors... it's a question of the last mile, I will tell you more as soon as I know.”

  Inner City Press and others asked about Mali and the attack on the Radisson Hotel there. Delattre said, “We are closely watching the situation with great concern of course but no particular comment at this stage.” No comment? Shouldn't a terrorist attack in sub-Saharan Africa be added to the French draft? Some say the vote might be as early at 1 pm. 

Update: the French mission spokesperson doled this out later to favored correspondents Update II: UNTV says 3 pm: 
 "3:00pm   LIVE   Security Council 7564th meeting: Adoption: Resolution on counterterrorism"

  Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin on Thursday afternoon told reporters he saw nothing "offensive in it," that a couple of days could have improved it but that perhaps both resolutions could be adopted,citing 9/11/01 as a precedent.

 On his way into the Security Council's regularly scheduled meeting on Kosovo, Churkin stopped and told the press that “Theirs is much more narrow draft, ours is broader, more fundamental so basically I don't see much of a contradiction. We're studying it. I don't [see] anything particularly offensive. This is a good draft, we are looking at it. Maybe if they took a day or two more to work on it they could have improved a thing or two.”

   On if both draft resolutions could be adopted, Churkin said, “I think they could, because if you think back to events after 9/11, first there was a short draft then a couple of weeks later there was a more comprehensive draft.”

The day before on November 18 after Russia circulatedits resolution, French Permanent Representative Francois Delattre came out to talk to the media, not on UNTV but by the steps. He said, as fast transcribed by InnerCityPro:

"Russia requested this meeting on the issue of terrorism, and introduced once again this September 30th draft resolution... I repeated our total determination to fight Daesh, a fight which requires a united response from the whole international community. As you know French President Francois Hollande announced that the Security Council must adopt as soon as possible a resolution on the fight against Daesh. We are actively working to prepare a text that will be short, strong, and focused on the fight against our common enemy, Daesh. Short, strong, and focused on the fight against Daesh. And in this respect we consider the Russian proposal is a contribution that will be carefully studied.

 "I think we have two different texts here. The text we have in mind, and that we are working on very closely, strongly, following President Hollande’s statement, is a text that is strong, short, that is Daesh-centered, and that has one goal after the tragic Paris attack, which is to make sure that the international community is united, finally united, in the fight against Daesh. We all know the threat. The threat is still here. So this is our political responsibility asa the Security Council to have this text adopted, not for long, or endless negotiations about the niceties, but one, simple, clear political message. We need, and this is our responsibility, to have a text which all key actors of the international community can unite in order to act, and to act together." 

Together?

"  On November 17 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced that Ban would sign the condolence book at the French Mission to the UN that afternoon.

  After 2 pm, the UN emailed out “*SG PHOTO-OP ADDED*” so Inner City Press went to the French Mission to cover it.

  In the lobby of 245 East 47th Street, also known as One Dag, the security officer said he would call upstairs to French Mission, on the 44th floor, and get the OK. The guard handed the photo to Inner City Press, which explained why it was here, that the UN has announced this photo-op. The guard took the phone back. Video here.

  “They say no,” the guard said. France 24 was upstairs, and others who did not even report on it. Inner City Press waited in the lobby, exchanging pleasantries with a half dozen diplomats including the Permanent Representative of Palau; passers-by in the One Dag lobby included the Permanent Representative of a country France has criticized for, ironically, freedom of the press. Video here.

  Ban Ki-moon and French Ambassador Francois Delattre came down,accompanied by Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric. The UN convoy pulled out onto Second Avenue. Later Dujarric's office would send out Ban's remarks -- Ban refused the only question asked -- and UNTV would distribute video of Ban and Mrs. Ban signing, even shots of the French hand-picked scribes in attendance. Would Charlie Hebdo have made the cut?

 On November 18, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Dujarric:

Inner City Press: You announced yesterday at this signing of the condolence book at the French Mission by the Secretary-General.  So I wanted to know, it seemed like I tried to go to your office.  You weren't there.  I went to MALU [Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit].  It seems like it's a UN thing, so I went to cover it, but I was unable to cover it when they called upstairs from the downstairs…

Spokesman Dujarric:  If it's a UN thing, if it happens in the UN.

Inner City Press:  Right.  Is it the Secretary-General's position where space exists for his outside events that UN journalists should be able to cover it or not?

Spokesman:  We rely on our hosts.