On Syria, Hot Air at UN, No Talk of UK Spying from Cyprus or France's Libya Weapons

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 30 -- It is late August and at the UN there is hot air on Syria, kicked off Thursday by a joint press conference by the foreign ministers of France and the UK.

  Laurent Fabius spoke of being in refugee camps in Jordan. He said, this afternoon we will hear from Assad's representative but it doesn't matter, our mind is fixed. What is the purpose of the debate?

  He said that having nine ministers present speaks volume; he argued that while Hillary Clinton has not come, Ambassador Susan Rice is at the ministerial level. She gets listed as a member of the Obama cabinet, thus higher than mere Permanent Representatives like France's Gerard Araud, who stood against the wall of the briefing room while Fabius was speaking.

  The position of the US was one mystery at the press conference. It was said that France and the UK will be calling on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to be ready to inspect Syria for chemical weapons. Not to list the US as part of that call seemed strange, after Obama's pre-RNC announcement of chemical weapons as his "red line."

  In an interview before coming, Fabius had acknowledged that weapons put into Libya have ended up with "extremists," including in northern Mali. Was he referring to the weapons that France air dropped in Libya's Nafusa Mountains? No such question was asked.

  There is an inordinate sensitivity at the UN to media critique, so we will for now only say that all of the five questions selected went in the same direction. 

  One does not have to be a supporter of Bashar al Assad to ask William Hague, for example, about reports of the UK spying on Syria from Cyprus. Click here for Inner City Press story on that.

  But no such question was asked. Nor anything about the Kurdish areas of Syria. It's said that Turkey's foreign minister will speak with the press after the afternoon's Security Council meeting. Watch this site.

French Security Council August Ineffectual on Mali & Cote d'Ivoire, Sudan Says On Purpose

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 29 -- As France's month as President of the UN Security Council comes to an end, on aday when its Ambassador Gerard Araud canceled not one but two media stakeouts, it seems time to review the first 29 of 31 days.

Click here for Inner City Press preview, leaked Program of Work.

  The focus, if there was one, was Syria. France presided over the dismantling of the UNSMIS observer mission, both in the Council and through Herve Ladsous, the fourth Frenchman in a row to head UN Peacekeeping.

  On June 15, Ladsous's DPKO notified the Council that it would limit mobile activities in Syria. After that, the night before the mandate was extended for a "final" 30 days, aSecurity Council source complained to Inner City Press Ladsous had UN planes from UNAMA in Afghanistan idling on the tarmac in Beirut, eager to pull everyone out.

  But France in August outright dropped the ball on other important issues. On Sudan and South Sudan, now three weeks after Thabo Mbeki briefed the Security Council, no Presidential Statement has been issued.

   Sudan's Permanent Representative bragged to his state media Sudan Vision that Araud told him the statement is not needed. Inner City Press wrote and tweeted about it; France never confirmed or denied or took any more public questions for the month.

  To be fair, Araud did more stakeouts and took more Press questions than expected, or than he did 15 months ago. And given that it was August, some of the lack of impact can be excused.

  Throughout the month, things got worse in Cote d'Ivoire. But no investigation was ever completed into allegations the UN Peacekeepers actively pushed Nahibly Camp residents perceived as Gbagbo supporters into the crowd to be beaten. No meeting was called to re-think the planned cost-saving withdrawal of an entire battalion of peacekeepers from Abidjan.

  Another big focus trumpeted by France at the beginning of the month was Mali. But nothing was accomplished in the Council during the month. When Inner City Press was able to ask Araud about Morocco's proposal for a UN envoy, Araud said it was France's idea, an envoy for the Sahel. So where is it? Watch this site.

Rwanda's Mushikiwabo Says UN Looks for Excuses, Hege is Ideologically Bankrupt

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 29 -- The day after a Rwandan delegation sharply criticized the UN's Democratic Republic of the Congo sanctions Group of Experts and its coordinator Steve Hege, Rwanda's Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said that Hege and his report are "ideologically bankrupt." Video here and below.

  Inner City Press asked Minister Mushikiwabo four questions after her closed door meeting interacting with the UN Security Council. 

  While she did not answer if the Rwandan government believes that Hege (and his Group of Experts colleague Marie Plamadiala from Moldova) met with Jean Marie Micombero, she called Hege's "ideological leanings troubling."

   She said, "for anybody who is sympathetic to the genocidal militia FDLR, which is proven through his writings, to be the man who is at the head of this Group of Experts is just an aberration... We have signaled our concern to the appointing authorities and we will wait to see what the reaction is. But I will find it deeply troubling that the Security Council could not look into how this man was appointed" 

   Hege spoke to the DRC Sanctions Committee on August 28. Inner City Press previously first pointed to two articles he published in 2009 about the FDLR -- one was taken down quickly off Scribd after Inner City Press linked to it. We continue to await an explanation of this. The UN told Inner City Press it vetted Hege.

  Last time she was at the UN, Mushikiwabo was critical of the performance of the UN mission in the Congo, MONUSCO. On August 29, Inner City Press asked her specifically about MONUSCO chief Roger Meece, and the Mission's admitted flying of Congolese officials to try to recruit Mai Mai militia to fight the M23.

  Mushikiwabo said that, while failing in their missions, MONUSCO and some in the Congolese army FARDC are looking to "find excuses." 

  She said much the same when Inner City Press asked how the M23 rebellion should be addressed, saying solutions should come from within the DRC, not by blaming the neighbors.

   Inner City Press asked of media reports that the SADC has offered to send troops along the DRC - Rwanda border. Mushikiwabo said she is not aware of such an offer, but rather since four SADC members are also members of the Great Lakes groups ICGGLR, then SADC -- of which the Congo is a member -- could offers support and advice.

  On August 28, it was Patrick Karuretwa, Defense & Security Adviser to Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who told Inner City Press regarding Hege that "a line that has been crossed by the coordinator of the Group of Experts. We expect any member to have views, baggage, but here a line has been crossed. You [pointed to] two of his articles.... in one of them he said the international community is souring on Rwanda. We say he's been given the tools to do precisely that."

   There are other questions for Hege, ranging for alleged radio intercepts to claiming the presence of one Jack (or "Jacques") Nziza on the Congolese border when Rwanda says there are more than 100 alibi witnesses, including diplomats. 

 We'll have more on this.  Inner City Press believes there is a need for more accountability at the UN, including of sanctions "experts." Watch this site.

At UN, Rwanda Questions 75mm Rockets, Fake IDs & Hege's Articles

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, August 28 -- The Rwanda delegation of four was the first to arrive, ten minutes early, for Tuesday afternoon's Democratic Republic of the Congo Sanctions Committee meeting at the UN.

  Azerbaijan's Deputy Permanent Representative told Inner City Press he would be the "acting chair" of the closed door meeting. 

  Outside, the Permanent Representative of another African country moaned to Inner City Press that it was a "shame that Rwanda and DRC come so far to fight in front of Azerbaijan."

   After more than an hour, the Rwandan delegation came out. Inner City Press asked if a range of issues had come up, from the 75 mm cannons used by the M23 that the Group of Experts say must have come from Rwanda, to GoE coordinator Steve Hege to alleged Rwandan officer Javier Saddat.

  Each of these issues, and more, came up in the closed door meeting, Inner City Press exclusively learned. Of the 75 mm cannon, or recoilless rockets, Rwanda noted that this equipment was in the possession of the Congolese FARDC, and subsequently integrated CNDP, in 2008 and 2009.

  Of Javier Saddat, Rwanda said he was with the CNDP and then with the Congolese army since 2009. But it was a Congolese soldier which complained to them that Javier Saddat is being "treated like a foreigner and tortured."

  Particular criticism was reserved for coordinator Steve Hege. Inner City Press previously first pointed to two articles he published in 2009 about the FDLR -- one was taken down quickly off Scribd after Inner City Press linked to it. We continue to await an explanation of this. The UN told Inner City Press it vetted Hege.

  Of Hege, Rwanda on Tuesday said that "a line that has been crossed by the coordinator of the Group of Experts. We expect any member to have views, baggage, but here a line has been crossed. You [pointed to] two of his articles.... in one of them he said the international community is souring on Rwanda. We say he's been given the tools to do precisely that."

  There are other questions for Hege, ranging for alleged radio intercepts to claiming the presence of one Jack (or "Jacques") Nziza on the Congolese border when Rwanda says there are more than 100 alibi witnesses, including diplomats. 

  We'll have more on this.  Inner City Press believes there is a need for more accountability at the UN, including ofsanctions "experts." Watch this site.

In Iraq, As Camp Ashraf Heat Up, Hospitalizations & Hoping for the Best?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 27 -- Things are overheating, literally, in the move in Iraq from Camp Ashraf to Camp Liberty. 

  Earlier today, after Ashrafis say they were left to wait three hours in temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, violence broke out. Photos of beaten Ashrafis, including an older man bleeding from the head, have been sent to Inner City Press.

  Inner City Press understands that the UN acknowledges that personnel of its mission, UNAMI, were present on the scene, and that some Ashrafis were hospitalized. This contradicts the claim by Gorges Bakoos, an adviser to Iraq's premier, there there was no violence, nor any injuries. But see:

  The Ashafis say the incident was triggered by "Captain Haidar."

  The UN understands that relocation of the 400 Ashrafis will continue tomorrow, provided "things don't heat up further." They decline comment, on the theory that responses only bring more replies. But it would seem that some of the below should be responded to:

--In addition to going through detector, the Iraqis conducted body search of almost every resident;

--Many of the residents belongings including computers were not approved during the inspection. Even some computer accessories were stopped without any justification;

--the Government of Iraq has not allowed the generators to be transferred to Camp Liberty. There is no justification for such prohibition. The Government of Iraq is now laying claim to all generators; and

--The Iraqis are not even transferring the trailers for the disabled. As you recall for months Kobler was making propaganda about Iraq generosity for allowing disabled trailers to be transferred. The Iraqis are now promising that they will transferred them next time.

We'll see.

In Closed Congo Consultations, Amos Says M23 Lets in Aid, Araud for Political Process, Hege On Deck

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 27 -- Kicking off three days of Congo and Rwanda talks at the UN, the Security Council heard Monday from Under Secretary General Valerie Amos. Afterward a Council member told Inner City Press that Amos said that the M23 group is allowing humanitarian aid into the areas they control.

  A Permanent Representative quoted Council president Gerard Araud, who did not do a stakeout after the consultations, that M23 "has won" territory, and that now a political process must be put in place. 

  Previously, Araud told Inner City Press that there are doubts about the international neutral force proposed by Great Lake countries.

   Both sources said that the UN Mission MONUSCO flying Congolese officials to meet with Mai Mai militia, for a meeting the Mai Mai leader said was about recruiting his group to fight the M23, did not come up in Monday's Security Council meeting.

  Perhaps that was because it was a briefing by Amos' OCHA, and not the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of Herve Ladsous, who not only won't answer any Inner City Press questions but hasn't been seen at the UN during this time of Syria, Sudan and Cote d'Ivoire. There appears to be no oversight, and no accountability.

  On the agenda this week are back to back presentations byRwanda's foreign minister Louise Mushikiwabo and the coordinators of the DRC Sanctions Group of Experts, Steve Hege, whose 2009 writings about the FDLR have come into question. Expect sparks to fly -- watch this site.

Small Arms Survey 2012 Does Not List Libya, Transfer to Sudan Not Confirmed

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 27 -- With an embargo today at 1 pm, Cambridge University Press published at 367 page "Small Arms Survey 2012." Strangely, in the 11 page index there is no entry for "Libya," major conflict of 2011.

  Inner City Press went to the promoters' 11 am press conference and asked the promoters about France's air drop of weapons into the Nafusa mountains. They replied that they are still setting up their Libya program.

  As a follow up, Inner City Press asked if in Sudan, where they have a program, they could confirm or deny the transport by the Justice & Equality Movement of many of Gaddafi's weapons. They replied that they have NOT been able to document a large number of such weapons.

  One wonders, when they get it together, what they'll say of weapons transfers to Syrian rebels by Qatar, Saudi Arabia and others. 

   Still searching for answers, Inner City Press went to their 1:15 pm, post-embargo event in the UN's North Lawn building. There, Nigerian Ambassador Joy Ogwu spoke to a standing room only crowd, click here for photo on twitter.com/innercitypress

  After Ogwu left, a slide showed that France has jumped up the table of exporters, with the US still at the top. Many in the room were also present at the death-by-whimper of the Arms Trade Treaty this summer. 

  Interestingly, the United Arab Emirates was listed as a large and non-transparent exporter, despite not producing weapons.  Not noted was that hand grenades from Switzerland -- the major funder of and ranked as Number One in the Survey -- showed up, through the UAE, in Syria. And so it goes at the UN.

Amid Cote d'Ivoire Clashes, UN Irrelevant, No Koenders Probe, Ladsous Stonewalls

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 26 -- Amid armed clashed in Cote d'Ivoire and calls even at the UN in New York for investigations of peacekeepers' inaction as a camp for internally displaced people was burned down, has the UN Mission become irrelevant?

   Now a shootout has killed five more people, but reports don't even mention the UN. The envoy of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Bert Koenders, never followed through on investigating the attack on the IDP camp; it is unclear what he is doing now.

 When Koenders came to the UN back on July 18, his proposal and that of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations under Herve Ladsous was to cut costs by removing a battalion from Abidjan.

  Then an attack on a base there on the Ivorian National Dayresulted in at least seven soldiers killed, while separat esources tell Inner City Press that the Beninois UN Peacekeepers in the base did nothing. Ivorian source have blamed it on the mandate. Inner City Press asked the UN on August 8:

Inner City Press: This attack that took place in Abidjan, on an army base, killed seven soldiers. From what I learned yesterday, there seems to also be a UN peacekeeping base inside that base, with Beninois peacekeepers. A question arisen of why didn’t they take action, they were there but they didn’t act, and a UN News Service press release says that the attackers took ammunition and weapons from the base. So is it possible to know what are the terms of engagement of UN peacekeepers there? Why are they situated inside the Ivorian military base and why did they not act when the base was attacked?

Spokesperson Martin Nesirky: I will check with our colleagues in DPKO.

But more than two weeks later, no answers about the probe of the IDP camp burn down have been provided. An answer about an entirely different report was provided on August 13:

"Regarding your question on the report concerning Cote d'Ivoire, the National Commission of Inquiry established in July 2011 to investigate violations of human rights and international humanitarian law during the post-elections crisis completed its report in July 2012."

  Inner City Press specified it was and is asking about the probe described on July 31,2012. No response.

   DPKO chief Ladsous is on record that he will not answer any Inner City Press questions.

  Then on August 10  French Ambassador Gerard Araud did a stakeout and took questions from those who knew, Inner City Press learned of it late and ran there and asked about Cote d'Ivoire, if a battalion would still be cut after the attack in Abidjan and the destruction of the camp near Duekoue.

Araud answered, although it is not clear if he was referring to the attack on the refugee camp of presumed supporters of Laurent Gbagbo when he referred to a "village" in the west. Araud said:

First I think, the first attack was against a village in the west of the country. Mr. Koender came afterward, he told us, it's not an isolated incident, we know that there are people preparing a sort of destabilization of Cote d'Ivoire. So there is, a change of posturing, deploy in a different manner.

Araud continued that, "We thought the threat was out of Abidjan, now we have seen what happened in Abidjan. In coming days we'll see if it's possible to reduce the force in Abidjan, or if it's not possible."

It would be good, now after more than two weeks, to get an answer from Ladsous' increasingly irrelevant DPKO. Watch this site.

As Sudan Says Araud Agrees "No Point" in US Draft, France's Month Nears End

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 25 -- Can countries just say whatever they want to about what happens in the UN Security Council?
   On August 25, state media Sudan Vision said that the country's Permanent Representative had spoken with this month's Council president, Gerard Araud, who said that France sees "no point" to the draft Presidential Statement proposed more than two weeks ago by the US Mission to the UN.

  On the afternoon August 23, Inner City Press covered the Council's consultations on the draft, and reported a number of members' frustrations with the talks. 

  But earlier on August 23, Inner City Press asked Araud, what about the PRST, the Presidential Statement? He said that some members feel it is taking too long, and that there would be a consultation of Deputy Permanent Representatives in the afternoon.

  Prior to that, but unreported until now, Inner City Press observed Sudan's Ambassador in discussions with Araud. What was said? Will France respond or let stand this Sudanese statement? It's month atop the Council's almost over, with Syria and to some degree Congo its remaining focus.

  And so now more than two weeks after Thabo Mbeki briefed the  Council about Sudan and South Sudan, the disputes on the draft Presidential Statement include how to characterize aerial bombardments, and whether the Statement should criticize Khartoum for not "accepting Mbeki's map." 

   Back on August 16, South African Permanent Representative Baso Sangqu told Inner City Press, it is important that the Council agree on a statement soon, so that the parties don't think the Security Council is divided.

  Well, the Security Council is divided.

  On August 15 when Inner City Press asked Araud about Darfur, he answered that the Council IS divided on this issue, as on Syria and Israel - Palestine. Sudan / South Sudan was supposed to be one of the issues on which the Council works together. So what's happening?

  Meanwhile, Japan's Toyota Tsusho Corporation has put in a $5 billion bid to build an oil pipeline linking South Sudan to the proposed Kenyan port of Lamu, bragged Dennis Awori, Chairman of Toyota Kenya Limited.

  When Japan sent a few people to the UN Mission in South Sudan UNMISS, the UN hyped it up and media covered it. But this is a more real and telling connection: follow the money. Watch this site.

On Western Sahara Envoy Ross, Ban Rebuffs Morocco As He Didn't Sierra Leone, Feltman to Iran

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 25 -- After Morocco called for the UN's envoy on Western Sahara Christopher Ross to be relieved of his duties, Ross was sidelined for a time, canceling what had been planned travels and consultations in the regions.

 But Ross was at the UN this past week, relaxed and affable. And today the UN has summarized Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's telephone call to King Mohammed VI of Morocco:

"With regard to the Western Sahara issue, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations does not intend to modify the terms of its mediation, whose purpose is to promote the achievement of a mutually acceptable political solution to this conflict. He reaffirmed that his Personal Envoy and his new Special Representative will fulfill their respective mandates."

  Given that Ban Ki-moon allowed Sierra Leone to oust Ban's envoy to that country, Michael von der Schulenburg, some have been surprised.

  One UN insider has asked Inner City Press, perhaps rhetorically, "What has changed? It's Feltman," referring to new Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman. 

  The source also noted that the US Ambassador to Morocco had come out publicly in favor of Ross continuing.

  Feltman, buzzing modestly around the North Lawn, would presumably disavoy this impact on Western Sahara policy and "Ban standing up," as well as the US policy connection.

  Inner City Press understands that Feltman will accompany Ban Ki-moon on his upcoming trip to Iran for the Non-Aligned Movement meetings. Watch this site.

Mali Denies It Recognized Kosovo, As Thaci Claimed, What Next?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 24 -- On August 21, Inner City Press reported that Mali had recognized Kosovo, and noted that "the fact that Mali just had a coup d'etat, and doesn't control the northern half of the country, was not mentioned."

   On August 24, Inner City Press was sent a report that "the Malian presidency would wish to inform both the national and international community that the president has not yet signed any document recognizing the Republic of Kosovo and reserves the right to take appropriate measures to identify and punish the authors of the false document."

  But it was Kosovo's Hashim Thaci who said it, on August 21, offering "thanks... to the Republic of Mali for the recent decision to recognize Kosovo." Video here, Minute 44:30.

   So now what Thaci said in the UN Security Council about Mali's recognition has been contradicted by Mali. What next?

  On August 21,  Inner City Press ran back from the day's UN noon briefing to try to ask Prime Minister Hashim Thaci for the specifics of the Malian recognition.

  But Thaci at the stakeout wasn't answering in English, and there was no translation, nor Press question taken.

  Back in May 2010, incoming President of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremic as foreign minister of Serbia praised pre-coup Mali for NOT recognizing Kosovo, saying "it is not easy to support sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia nowadays. It takes autonomy, principle and courage to do so, and Mali definitely has that."

   Now, after the coup, beyond Thaci, Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Behgjet Pacolli has bragged of recognition. Now what?

In January 2011, US state media Radio Free Europe broadcast that Guinea-Bissau had recognized Kosovo, calling it the 74th recognition.

  Then in September 2011 it was reported that Guinea-Bissau and Oman rescinded recognition. Which is it? No questions were taken. Watch this site.

UN Confirms Flying DRC Officials to Meet Mai Mai, Says Didn't Know Topic

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 24 -- The UN flew Congolese government officials to meet with a Mai Mai militia leader, Janvier Karairi, who afterward said "they came to ask me to form an alliance with the army to fight M23" mutineers.

  On August 23, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky, "given the history of criticism [by] the UN [of] many of the Mai Mai factions, is it true that the UN is assisting the Government of the Congo to recruit these militias to fight another militia?"

  Nesirky first referred the question to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations -- whose chief Herve Ladsous has twice said on camera he will not answer any Inner City Press questions -- then on August 24 offered an amazing answer.

  Nesirky confirmed that the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo "provided transporation and security" for the Congolese officials to meet with Javier and the Mai Mai, but said that MONUSCO is "not aware of any initiative to recruit Mai Mai."

  So what did the UN think the meeting with militia leader Javier was about? Especially AFTER Javier said publicly that it was a request that what he says are his 4000 fights to take up arms against M23?

  Inner City Press asked Nesirky this, quoting Javier that "they came to ask me to form an alliance with the army to fight M23." Video here, from Minute 12:15.

Nesirky repeated that MONUSCO did not know what the meeting was about. But why then did they fly Congolese government officials to the meeting? What type of meeting WOULDN'T the UN fly government officials to?

Nesirky said, "ask the DRC." But it is a UN question. How can the UN ask anyone to be accountable, when it is not? We'll have more on this, which again highlight how the UN has lost its way in the Congo.

 After nearly being thrown out of the country by President Joseph Kabila, the price for staying in has been to slavishly support the government and its often undisciplined army, the FARDC. 

 As previously noted, DPKO chief Herve Ladsous has said openly, twice on camera, that he will not answer any Inner City Press questions. Video here, at Minute 28:10. 

And Ladsous spokesman Kieran Dwyer reiterated this in writing, and on camera. Video here, Minute 6:50.

  But this is a question that should be answered: how can the UN be playing a role, even a transportation and facilitation and "security" role, in recruit a militia that the UN itself has been highly critical of?

  In Sudan, the UN provided free helicopter flights to Ahmed Harun, indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, click here for one of Inner City Press' exposes on this.

  This year, Ban Ki-moon and Ladsous accepted as a Senior Adviser on Peacekeeping Operations the Sri Lankan general Shavendra Silva, whose battalion is depicted in Ban's own Panel of Experts report as engaged in war crimes. 

  Ladsous specifically refused to answer a question about Silva - this was the first time Ladsous said, "I will not answer questions" from Inner City Press. Video here, at Minute 28:10

  But in the Congo, the UN is going "hands on," flying Congolese officials to meetings with a militia leader who says the meeting was to recruit him and his 4000 fighters to join the bloody fight with the M23? How much lower can DPKO go, under Ladsous? How much more unaccountable can this UN become? Watch this site.