By
Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
February 1 --
With the UN on
edge over Israel's
air strike on
Syria and
possible
reactions not
only from
Damascus
but Tehran,
Inner City
Press has
learned of a
planned
Israeli-sponsored
concert slated
for March 5,
by
Iranian-born
singer Rita
Jahanforuz.
The
concert,
sources tell
Inner City
Press, has
already
occasioned
controversy in
the UN. The
concerns only
grew when the
Viva Vox
choir, invited
to perform a
concert at the
UN by General
Assembly
President Vuk
Jeremic, ended
with the
controversial
song "March on
the Drina."
Then,
Inner City
Press asked
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
spokesman
Martin Nesirky
if the
Secretariat
had provided
any financial
support. The
first day the
answer was
"no." The next
day at least
$26,000 for
"technical
support" was
disclosed.
Sources
tell
Inner City
Press that
while the UN
Department of
Public
Information
will now
assist with
Israel's Rita
concert,
initially it
was suggested
to the Israeli
Mission that
they try for
sponsorship
from UNESCO.
While some
laughed at
this -- since
Palestine was
voted in as a
member of
UNESCO, the US
cut its
funding --
others saw it
as potentially
savvy, a way
for UNESCO to
change its
image.
Be
that as it
may, the
concert is now
slated with
some DPI
support for
March 5;
preparation
and
coordination
meetings have
begun.
It would be
difficult to
postpone it,
as the General
Assembly Hall
where it is to
be held will
be closing
down in April
for
renovation.
How
will Iran,
Syria and
others react?
And what of
the UN
Department of
Public
Information?
There are a
number of
questions
pending there,
some for as
long as two
weeks, from
Inner City
Press and the
new Free UN
Coalition for
Access. We
will report
all answers.
Watch this
site.