By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 6 -- French Ambassador to the UN Gerard Araud on March 6 denied the existence of a report by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, dated January 20, that in the Central African Republic the French Sangaris force's disarmament of the ex Seleka left Muslim communities at risk of attack.
Araud said, "There is no Navi Pillay report." But here it is.
Araud has said that Javier Bardem is lying when he quotes Araud saying that Morocco is France's "mistress." Araud's denial of the existence of Navi Pillay's report -- or statement -- puts his denial of the Morocco as mistress quote in a different light.
So too does Araud's angry claim in January that a New York Police Department document Inner City Press published after asking Araud's mission for comment is a fake. It is a New York Police Department incident report, here.
In that case, it is Araud's claim that since the French diplomat Romain Serman -- now France's consul in San Fransisco -- claimed diplomatic immunity after being detained for attempted purchase of cocaine, it was not a real arrest record. But to yell that it is a "fake" and threaten to sue? Click here for that.
Likewise, perhaps Araud means that Pillay's statement, which is on the Office of the High Commissioner's website, is not a report because it is a statement. But to claim, after walked away from the stakeout microphone without taking the question, that there is no Navi Pillay report?
So what really is Araud's argument about Bardem quoting him that Morocco is France's mistress, on Western Sahara? Did Araud say it, but slightly differently? Watch this site.