At UN, PGA John Ashe's Security Council Reform Group of Six Slammed by Italy for UfC, Bahrain for Arab Group, Review Demanded

By Matthew Russell Lee, Follow up on exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, October 31 -- The new UN Security Council reform advisory group picked by General Assembly President John Ashe, on which Inner City Press exclusively reported a week ago, has now been criticized in writing by Italy's Mission to the UN, on behalf of the Uniting for Consensus grouping.  Bahrain has also chimed in, for the Arab Group, here.

   Inner City Press is publishing the letter, here.

  The advisory group of six has three European countries -- Belgium, Liechtenstein and San Marino -- as well as Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone and G4 member Brazil. 

  At the Security Council's "Working Methods" session this week, Brazil and Germany both said the group would come up with a text to be the basis of inter-governmental negotiations. Click here for Inner City Press report. This made UfC and other member states more angry.

  The UfC letter, signed by Italian ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, concludes that "it is important that the entire membership has the opportunity to review and agree on the composition and terms of reference of the group." It asserts that Ashe's naming of the group violated "Decision 62/557, as well as subsequent decisions of the General Assembly."

  After Inner City Press' first exclusive article, Ashe's spokesperson Afaf Konja explained to the Press that his initial letter hadn't gone onto the UN's website until Inner City Press published it due to an oversight; she insisted that Uniting for Consensus had been consulted with. She wrote:

"On the letter not being up immediately on the PGA website: As openly disclosed, it was a pure administrative lapse which has already been addressed to ensure a more streamlined and full-proof process.

"On the criticism you refer to as 'Euro-top heavy': As explained, the selection is not based on geographic criteria. It weighs more on the experience of nations in peace-building, and an openness to see beyond differences. Essentially, an advisory group that can help see the process forward.

"Please note that the President of the General Assembly met with the UFC group, at their request. They expressed their concerns and they were heard. Moreover, the advisory group chosen is not a negotiated group."

But now, this letter. And Bahrain's for the Arab Group, saying the Advisory Group can't replace the process.  Watch this site.

   

As ICC Defers Kenya to Feb 5, Ethiopia for AU Asks UNSC For Full Year, Tells Inner City Press: Resolution Soon

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 31 -- After the African Union met the UN Security Council asking for deferral under Article 16 of the International Criminal Court's Kenya cases, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom spoke on camera to the press.

  He said Kenya is "at war" and its leaders should not be distracted by these cases. The ICC's decision earlier in the day to defer the case against President Kenyatta to February 5 is not enough, he said. There should be a one year deferral, and that time should be used to find a "solution."

  While Kenya's minister ended up not speaking on camera, saying that Tedros Adhanom had spoken for them all, sources in the meeting told Inner City Press that she said when Kenya joined the ICC it didn't know there was a "hierarchy" in which a higher standard was applied to invoking Article 16 on deferrals.

  She told the Security Council members to look at their own Council press statement on the Westgate mall attack, which called it a threat to international peace and security.

  Inner City Press asked Tedros Adhanom what the timing would be, if a resolution would be put forward. Yes, he said. (Video soon. Here's an Inner City Press photo of the AU ministers the day before the meeting, here's one of their huddle afterward.)

As Inner City Press reported during the meeting, Russia and China spoke clearly in favor of the African position, while the US and France were called "unclear." US Ambassador Samantha Power left just before noon, and declined comment.

  Inner City Press ran to the day's UN noon briefing and asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin Nesirky if Ban had any comment, on the ICC putting the case off to February 5. Nesirky said no, that the Secretariat does not get involved with the Court -- except to encourage cooperation.

  But Ban and members of this team (not including his Special Adviser on Africa Maged Abdelaziz) called African heads of state before their meeting in Addis. So what is Ban's position? Watch this site.

   

In Kenya & ICC Meeting, Russia & China Said to Take African Position, Power Called "UNclear"

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 31 -- After Ethiopia's minister made the African Union's opening statement to the UN Security Council for a 12 month deferral of the International Criminal Court's Kenya cases, sources tell Inner City Press, China spoke: in favor of the African position.

Russia also took this position, the sources say, calling US Ambassador Samantha Power's presentation "unclear" -- perhaps intentionally so. The people of Kenya deserve justice: yes. The AU points also to victims of the mall attack, and of possible increased instability in the region.

We would prefer to present Ambassador Power's and the US' position as stated by it, but a request for such has yet to be fulfilled, perhaps for understandable reasons.

France, whose Gerard Araud went into the meeting, was quoted by sources on accountability (others ask, what about its role in the Great Lakes?)

To update our previous characterization of Western media absent from the stakeout, two of the scribes hand-picked by France to accompany and documented its trip, dubbed France's Genocide Joyride, through the DR Congo and Rwanda, later showed up. Wednesday night complained were received how Reuters covered the allegations of child soldiers and the M23, but not the FDLR, saying there was no time. And so it goes at the UN.

   

As African Union Presses UNSC For 12 Month ICC Deferral for Kenya, Western Speculation, Vote Counts

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 31 -- Amid calls by African diplomats for the International Criminal Court (and the UN Security Council) to show some respect for The Continent, ambassadors filed into UN North Lawn conference room 7 on Thursday morning for an interactive dialogue on the ICC and Kenya.

  Inner City Press put questions to a number of African Union ministers, including one fastest to say: "Six months?" Meaning, would a deferral of six months on the ICC's Kenya cases be acceptable? (The AU and Kenyan letters were first put online by Inner City Press, here.)

  The answers, nearly uniformly, were "Twelve months" only. Some went further and said the relationship between African countries and the ICC (and by implication the Security Council) should be reformed.

  Of the Western Permanent Three, France's Gerard Araud arrived first; his colleague at the French mission who used to work for the ICC chatted with South African's former ambassador to the UN, now to the AU, Baso Sangqu.

   Similarly in conversation, Russia's Vitaly Churkin went in, as did China's Liu Jieyi.

  Then US Ambassador Power arrived, via elevator so presumably by car. She gave a pleasant hello; jokes or any references to the Boston Red Sox were eschewed. Then came the UK's Mark Lyall Grant, who did joke on Twitter about the Red Sox.

  But what are these countries' position on the deferral request? For now here's an argument they advance: if they gave a deferral based on the argument that Kenya just suffered a terrorist attack, then in another case "a dictator" could feign or cause his own terrorist attack.

  This argument misses that this is not really law, precedents are not binding. There is a claim that the ICC is purely legal, not political but that is hardly true. The decision that President Kenyatta wouldn't have to be "continuously present" at this trial was meant to forestall the AU request to the Security Council.

French ambassador Araud told Inner City Press he believed with that ruling, there would be no need to deal with the deferral request. He was wrong.

A question now is, when would a resolution to grant a twelve month deferral be unveiled? One African diplomat Wednesday night told Inner City Press so far they have "seven sure votes" in favor. Inner City Press counts more. But what about the veto? Watch this site.

Footnote: At first, Inner City Press was the only mediaoutside the meeting. A French media came, briefly; then later two media from Africa. 

  The comparison to an "interactive dialogue" in the same location in July featuring Saudi-sponsored Syria rebel Ahmad al Jarba was telling: for that, there was a throng of media, promotions by the Gulf & Western heavy UNCA, a UNTV camera stakeout. As the AU diplomat said, and as the newFree UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info asks, where's the respect?

   

At End of Azerbaijan's UN Security Council Month, Of African Splits, Lamb Chops & Layoffs

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 31 -- When Azerbaijan held its End of Security Council presidency reception Wednesday night, it came minutes after competing meetings of Western and African diplomats two stories below, on the issue of Kenya and the International Criminal Court.

  The Westerners' meeting, delayed by getting locked out of the Permanent Five's clubhouse, ran past the 6:30 pm time set for the reception. When those in attendance poured out, most headed straight upstairs to the South Dining Room: for example, Australia's Gary Quinlan, Luxembourg's Sylvie Lucas, the UK's Mark Lyall Grant.

  France's Gerard Araud left later than the others, accompanied by his staffer who used to work for the ICC. Even the (south) glass door he tried to use to exit was locked. 

 To some, it echoed the way he and the French mission locked out the Press and sunlight in hand-picking which media could accompany and cover what was described as the "UN Security Council's Africa trip" earlier in the month.

  That was one example of how today's Security Council is dysfunctional. Saudi Arabia, of course, has said that as well, and after saying it is giving up the seat that without competition it won, the Saudis were not present at Wednesday's Council reception.

  Previous Council member India was, through its Deputy Permanent Representative. There was talk of the perennial,Security Council reform and General Assembly President John Ashe's strangely selected advisory group of six (none of whom were seen, at least by Inner City Press, at Wednesday's reception).

  Ban Ki-moon instead was accepting an award, on behalf of the UN, not for diplomacy but rather historic preservation - not the various anachronisms of the place, but its Capital Master Plan renovation. 

  (No mention was made that the UN is trying to take over the Robert Moses Playground right outside the window to construct an unimaginative building that, according to staff union sources, may not be needed given the massive layoffs that are planned, including at UNICEF and UNDP.)

  The North or Delegates Dining Room, full now of people in evening wear, will stop serving lunch on December 20, leaving the Aramark workers once again laid off. They ask, who chose Aramark as the UN's caterer, if they don't even want to keep the cafeteria open past 4:30 pm during General Debate week?

   Azerbaijan for its reception didn't go with the standard Aramark package including sushi but rather sausages, plov and lamb chops, all excellent. 

   Plov is a dish prevalent throughout the former Soviet space, and both Russia's Vitaly Churkin and his deputies were there, as was China's Permanent Representative Liu Jieyi. Elsewhere, to be diplomatic or in UNICEF's spirit, there were young children and the Red Sox' impending World Series win. And no, President Obama did not remain in Boston for the game.

At Azerbaijan's reception, UK's Lyall Grant carried by flag for the Western P3, fresh from his Reuters-echoed bid at Security Council reform: turning off speakers microphones when they surpass their allotted time, as he saw at the African Union in Addis Ababa on the French-led trip.

  If that can be learned from the AU, how about their deferral request for Kenya and other complaints about the ICC? This will be discussed on Thursday morning, in a session that is not even listed in the day's UN Journal. Did we say dysfunction? 

Footnotes: Several of these dysfunctions -- the lack of transparency in media selection for the Africa trip, for example, but also the banning Wednesday from the Council's "quiet room" of Polisario, a party to a Council agenda item -- are being challenged by the new Free UN Coalition for Access.  

 @FUNCA_info was formed because the stultified throw-back, which still demands the first question then wastes it, wouldn't challenge these things, even tried to get the Press thrown out. (The UN has threatened to suspend or withdraw Press accreditation for merely hanging the sign of UNCA, one floor down.) 

 Neither the first question demander nor her deputy were seen on Wednesday night, unlike if the US or UK were throwing the shindig. The UN preaches justice, even freedom of speech and press, but is run by very, very few, with little transparency. In ways large and small like this, we aim to change that. Watch this site.

   

At UN, Richard Falk Says France and Belgium May Be Liable for Dexia, Where UNclear, FauxGressives in the House

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- For financial involvement in settlements in Palestine, outgoing UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk says liability may attach not only to the bank Dexia, but also the governments of France and Belgium, which own post-bailout stakes in Dexia.

  Inner City Press asked Falk where they, and banks like Bank Hapoalim and Bank Leumi, might be sued, and if bank regulators which have allowed these activities might also be liable. Video here and embedded below.

Falk said he is not an expert in this, but that they might be "accessories" to the settlements, and that there is also an "ethical dimension."

Some doubt this, after the predatory lending meltdown, for which still no one has gone  to jail.

As had to happen, Falk was asked about his comments (or essay) after the Boston bombing. As the question was being asked, a self-described Wall Street Journal reporter said loudly, "And do you beat your wife?" A word was coined: FauxGressive.

Falk answered, among other things, that there's a reason things like the Boston bombing happen here, meaning the US. But what about the Kenya mall attack?

In the press conference as run by the UN, the first question was automatically handed to the UN Correspondents Association, some of whose Executive Board members not only have tried to get other media thrown out of the UN, which which held a faux UN briefing for Saudi-sponsored Syria rebel Ahmad al Jarba. Its president Pamela Falk made sure to say, as to Richard, "No relation." But why does the UN automatically give out the first question to what has become its UN Censorship Alliance? Watch this site.

   

Blogsclusive: Before Kenya ICC meeting, France & UK Et Al Locked Out of P5 Room, African Union Arguments

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- The evening before the UN Security Council's interactive dialogue on the African Union's request that the Council defer the Kenya cases of the International Criminal Court, two groups huddled in rooms next to each other, planning the morrow's action.

French and UK Permanent Representatives Araud and Lyall Grant arrived, but were unable to get into their P5 clubhouse, along with US Ambassador Jeff de Laurentis and representatives of Australia, Luxembourg, Guatemala. Inner City Press photos here, here and here.

  Some joked this was a form of Security Council reform, at least of Working Methods, of a kind unlikely to be seen for while.

Finally UN Security was summoned - nothing had been scheduled - and they were let in.

Next door in the Security Council's suite ministers from Ethiopia, Uganda and elsewhere waited. Several came out and spoke exclusively with Inner City Press. Not to defer, they said, would threaten peace and security. Kenyan troops in in Somalia. There was the mall attack.

One said it would be "like putting Bush and Cheney in front of the ICC right after 9/11." Some might not have minded that - but it would never happen. The US is not a member of the Rome Statute of the ICC, and the US has a veto on the Security Council.

How can the West say no? Watch this site.

   

Exclusive: As Western Sahara Discussed in UNSC, Frente Polisario Is Told It Can't Speak on UNTV, UNclear Who's Behind the Censorship, FUNCA Demands Transparency

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- With the UN Security Council meeting behind closed doors Wednesday about Western Sahara, the Frente Polisario complained to Inner City Press that they were told they could not speak at the UN Television stakeout.

In the past, they have, including one time that the then-head of the UN Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, a Moroccan national, had the cameras turned off. (Click here for that Inner City Press story). But since then, Polisario has spoken at the stakeout, often before or after Morocco's Ambassador Loulichki.

 Click here to view UN video of Polisario stakeout in Nov 2012.

But now something has changed. Inner City Press checked, and learned that UN Security this time was told that Polisario should not be allowed to speak. No one wanted to say where the order came from.

The Media Accreditation and Liaison unit only has jurisdiction on the media side of the railing. UN Television camera-people, those predating the new outside contractor Team People, remembers Polisario speaking.

So where did the order come from? 

The Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info contends that the rules about this should be made clear and transparent. We note that among UNCA's Executive Committee is a representative of Moroccan state media; the former MALU chief from Morocco was also with UNCA, including known as the UN Censorship Alliance. Watch this site.

Airspace Over Somaliland, On Agenda Nov 8, Raised to UN's Eliasson, Somalia Press UNfreedom Too

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- What is the UN's role in and position on the proposed transfer of the airspace over Somaliland to the government in Mogadishu? Inner City Press has put this question to UN envoy Nicholas Kay, who points to another meeting in Turkey on November 8.

  On October 30, Inner City Press asked UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson about the airspace, and also about press freedom (and safety) in Mogadishu.

  Eliasson acknowledged, "Somalialand as you know has aspiration for independence. I know there are contacts, Turkey plays an important role. The situation, economic, is good. We [the UN] are on side of efforts of president to create one Somalia, we hope he is successful."

  On the specifics of the airspace, Eliasson said "I have need to come back to you, I have not informed myself on that." It is understandable -- Eliasson has also been made the point-man on among other "files" that of Sri Lanka and now apparently Haiti. We'll await his response.

  On press freedom, Inner City Press asked about the shut down of Radio Shabelle, forcing media to register, and the death of TV Universal journalist Mohamed Mohamud Tima'adde.

  Eliasson replied, "your profession is uncertain, a dangerous job." On the eviction of Radio Shabelle he said, "we are looking into the situation, we haven't all the facts yet, we will follow this case. "Again, we'll wait to hear more. Watch this site.

   

As UNSC Methods Reviewed, PGA John Ashe's Euro-Heavy Reform Group Says It's in Charge: ACT Up

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- During the all-day debate Tuesday in the UN Security Council, ostensibly of its Working Methods, the recent naming by President of the General Assembly John Ashe of a six-country advisory group on Council Reform was the elephant in the room, or Chamber.

  What was this group, first reported on by Inner City Press, set up to do? Why are three of its six members European, along with Sierra Leone, Papua New Guinea and Brazil?

  Some have complained to Inner City Press that Sierra Leone didn't attend the first, "slapped together" meeting. A second meeting, they say, was held yesterday October 29 -- again, sans Ashe. (In fairness, Inner City Press published Ashe's office's response, here.)

  Brazil came out and said: the group, which is it on, will come up with a text which is to be the basis of inter-governmental negotiations. Another G-4 member, Germany, echoed this in its speech (which as we noted, also mentioned the growing role of Twitter, which the German Mission told Inner City Press in context includes media tweets, here.)

Later Tuesday evening yet another G4 member told Inner City Press they like this process. United for Consensus? Not so much.

Japan of the G4 said that even the current Elected Ten members weren't consulted on Syria. (In fact, despite UK calling in Valerie Amos and France calling in Saudi-sponsored rebel Ahmad al Jarba, it's largely down to Russia and the US, which even envoy Lakhdar Brahimi seems to be chafing against.)

Many points were made by members of ACT, and some surprising ACT supporters. Here's another one, on issues of needed transparency: the Free UN Coalition for Access,@FUNCA_info. 

  And here's an example: even the question of which media could cover the "Council's" recent Africa trip was decided, without transparency, by a single colonial member, France. African members, and others, weren't consulted. It's time to ACT up.

  New Zealand recalled that the Secretary General, under Article 99 of the Charter, can put urgent matters in front of the Council. But as Inner City Press reported, daily at the time, on Sri Lanka Ban Ki-moon never did that.

  He has a report saying that should happen in the future -- but his Office of the Spokesperson told Inner City Press the report, already leaked to Inner City Press by a UN whistleblower, may or may not exist. And so it goes in this UN. Watch this site.