Wednesday, June 4, 2014

On Luhansk Bombing, Inner City Press asks Ukraine Ambassador Sergeyev of OSCE Finding, He Says Site Blocked, Blames Separatist MANPADs


By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 4 -- Ukraine Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev on June 2 told Inner City Press there was no Ukrainian air force involvement in bombing Luhansk.

  On June 4 Inner City Press asked Sergeyev again, siting an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) finding that "based on the SMM's limited observation, these strikes were the result of non-guided rockets shot from an aircraft."

  Inner City Press asked, 30-millimeter ordnance from a Su-25 or Su-27 ground attack fighter.

  Sergeyev cited the Special Prosecutor in Kyiv still saying the deaths were caused by MANPAD anti-aircraft missile error; he said that the OSCE website got blocked or changed. Really?

  Inner City Press also asked Sergeyev about his government's probe of the killings in Odessa -- he said Kyiv's probe(s) are working with the UN's Simonovic probe, we'll see -- and about gas and if Ukraine will pull its troops and helicopters back from UN Peacekeeping.

 On gas Sergeyev cited talks in Brussels; he acknowledge it was possible Ukraine would pull back from UN Peacekeeping but for now they are signing new Letters of Assist. These, of course, are not public, and UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous refuses to answer Press questions.

Background: On June 2 after Russia circulated its Ukraine draft resolution for a ceasefire and humanitarian corridors and the UN Security Council meeting broke up, French ambassador Gerard Araud stood on the exit steps spinning the media.
  June's Council president Vitaly Churkin came out, and went to the UN Television stakeout microphone. He chided Araud for not showing respect, then joked about "French diplomacy." He proceeded to tell the press that "the usual suspects" had not supported the draft.
  
  Inner City Press asked Churkin about what US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said earlier at State's daily briefing:
“it is hypocritical of the Russian leadership to call for an end to violence and the creation of humanitarian corridors when, at the same time, armed irregular forces are entering Ukraine from Russia, weapons are being brought illegally from Russia into Ukraine, Russian-backed separatists are attacking new targets and holding OSCE monitoring teams hostage, and Russia is doing nothing to stop these activities. So if they are going to call for or would support a reduction in tensions and a de-escalation, it would be more effective for them to end those activities.”
     Churkin said that some things are so "odious" they are not to be replied to. Inner City Press asked if there has been any response to Russia's request for a probe of the May 2 killings in Odessa.

  Churkin said there has been some response, they are working on it, though not as full-fledged as Russia might like. 
  After Churkin left, and with few correspondents left at the stakeout, Ukraine's Yuriy Sergeyev came out. When Inner City Press asked him about the draft resolution, Sergeyev began by saying Russia shouldn't be the sponsor.
  Inner City Press asked Sergeyev if Ukraine planes had bombed Luhansk. He said no, no air bombing, no artillery. Afterward Inner City Press received many responses, by Twitter and email, that the bombing had taken place. We'll see.
Background: Earlier on Monday, June 2 as Council members came delegation by delegation to meet with the Russian presidency about June's program of work, Inner City Press asked about the proposal. 
  One Western Permanent Representative said the draft would only be passed out at a 4 pm consultation, that it hadn't yet been circulated. Later this was modified: Russia might send it around before 4 pm, which would allow discussion.
Update I: another Permanent Representative later in the morning told Inner City Press the same, that Russia will try to send before 4 pm to allow discussion.
Update II, 1:55 pm: at the day's US State Department briefing, spokesperson Jen Psaki was asked about the Russian draft and said it was hypocritical at a time that arms come into Ukraine from Russia. She said:
“on the proposal, the UN proposal, it is hypocritical of the Russian leadership to call for an end to violence and the creation of humanitarian corridors when, at the same time, armed irregular forces are entering Ukraine from Russia, weapons are being brought illegally from Russia into Ukraine, Russian-backed separatists are attacking new targets and holding OSCE monitoring teams hostage, and Russia is doing nothing to stop these activities. So if they are going to call for or would support a reduction in tensions and a de-escalation, it would be more effective for them to end those activities.”
Some note that same could be said of Gulf and Western proposals about Syria - more to come, for sure.
Update III, 4 pm - on their way into the 4 pm consultations, Russian ambassador Churkin told the press the draft is not under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter. Jordan's Prince Zeid said he just saw the draft and will study it in consultations. Lithuania's Permanent Representative said, We don't need a resolution, just for Russia to 'disown' the rebels. Ah, comparisons....
  Another Permanent Representative told Inner City Press that the proposal would inevitably be compared with Syria, "back and forth, cause and effect."
  French PR Gerard Araud, outgoing but when, spent the least time in the Council in discussions of the month: a mere 11 minutes. Ah diplomacy.
  Back on May 30 after Ukrainian defense official Andriy Ordinovych said that the country's 18 helicopter crews might be recalled from UN Peacekeeping missions to take part in operations in Eastern Ukraine, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric about it. Video here.
  On helicopters, Dujarric said he was not aware of any talks. Later on May 30 his office sent this to Inner City Press:
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Fri, May 30, 2014 at 2:59 PM
Subject: Your question on Ukraine
To: Matthew Russell Lee [at] innercitypress.com
The UN relies on the voluntary contributions of Member States for boots on the ground and equipment. Decisions as to whether specific units are withdrawn belong, ultimately, to the responsible national authorities. Approximately 600 Peacekeepers from Ukraine continue to serve in our various operations around the globe. Ukrainian personnel are valuable and highly-skilled and play important roles in implementing our mandates in our Missions, and we continue to remain grateful for their service and contributions.
  Inner City Press also on May 30 asked UN Spokesman Dujarric why he had confined Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's comment on the May 25 election to an "if-asked" he read out only part of when Inner City Press asked on May 27.  Dujarric replied, "I'm the one at the podium, it's my call." Video here.

Background: On May 27, the first UN work day after the voting in Ukraine, Inner City Press went to the UN's noon briefing and asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric:
Inner City Press: I wanted to know if the UN has any position on the jets bombing and strafing around Donetsk in Ukraine and the ultimatum to surrender or be killed that’s been issued by Government, as well as the death of an Italian and Russian journalist over the weekend.
Spokesman Dujarric: The Secretary-General is alarmed by the continuing violence that we’ve seen in the east over the weekend where clashes in Donetsk, as you said, left dozens dead. The Secretary-General urged that the restoration of State control over Government facilities be achieved through exclusively peaceful means, including an inclusive political dialogue. And obviously, we very much regret the deaths of the journalists who were killed covering the story.
Inner City Press: Does that mean that “surrender or die”... by the Government or the Government waiting for the new President, that this is something that the UN doesn’t support?
Spokesman Dujarric: I think what I’ve just said is that the Secretary-General urged that restoration of State control over Government facilities be achieved through exclusively peaceful means, including an inclusive political dialogue.
  During the May 27 briefing, Dujarric made no comment on the election in Ukraine, and no comment or “off the cuff” statement from Ban Ki-moon went up on the UN's website.
27 May 2014 – While welcoming the “generally peaceful” nature of Ukraine’s weekend presidential elections, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed concern that eligible voters in some parts of the county’s crisis torn eastern region were not allowed to participate in the national poll.
“The Secretary-General welcomes the fact that polling in most of Ukraine took place in a generally peaceful and orderly manner and largely in line with international standards and fundamental freedoms, according to a number of national and international monitors,” according to a statement read out be a UN spokesperson.
At the same time however, Mr. Ban is concerned that eligible voters were denied the right to vote in parts of eastern Ukraine, said the statement, echoing media reports suggesting polling irregularities and disruptions in the east, which has seen a wave of anti-Government sentiment over the past two months.
“The SG is alarmed by continuing violence in the east, where clashes in Donetsk left dozens dead yesterday,” the statement went on to say, adding that the UN chief urged that restoration of State control over Government facilities be achieved through exclusively peaceful means, including an inclusive political dialogue.
  But where was the line said, or “read out b[y] a UN spokesperson”? 
  Inner City Press looked on the UN Spokesperson's website: not there. So at the May 29 noon briefing, as spokesman Dujarric tried to end the briefing after only two questions, Inner City Press asked.
  Dujarric replied that the statement was read out to “some of your colleagues” in the hallway. Moments later he e-mailed this to Inner City Press, as “shared language” --
The Secretary-General welcomes the fact that polling in Ukraine took place in a generally peaceful and orderly manner and largely in line with international standards and fundamental freedoms, according a number of national and international monitors.
The Secretary-General is concerned, however, that eligible voters were denied the right to vote in parts of eastern Ukraine.
The Secretary-General is alarmed by continuing violence in the east, where clashes in Donetsk left dozens dead yesterday. He urged that restoration of state control over government facilities be achieved through exclusively peaceful means, including an inclusive political dialogue.
  Inner City Press asked, If this was a prepared statement, why was it not read out in the briefing room and put on the SG's or Spokeperson's web site?
  Dujarric replied, “It was an if asked.”
  But why would the UN make its statement on the Ukraine election an If-Asked?
  It appears that when no one asked in the briefing room, somehow Dujarric got asked by... UN News Center? So, a cynic might conclude, the UN can arrange to be asked by its own media.
  Note that the UN News Center Russia page reversed the If-Asked “shared language” to start with the last part, more palatable to Russia:
27/05/2014 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is alarmed by reports of continued violence in the east of Ukraine, particularly in Donetsk, where dozens of people were killed. This was announced by his press secretary Stephen Dyuzharrik. "Secretary-General strongly resembles that restoration of state control agencies should be only through peaceful means, including an inclusive political dialogue" - a spokesman said at a press briefing on Tuesday. Secretary General welcomed the fact that "the vote in many parts of Ukraine took place in a peaceful manner, in accordance with international standards and ensuring fundamental freedoms, as reported by a number of national and international observers." Meanwhile, the head of the UN is concerned that in some parts of eastern Ukraine. legitimate voters were denied their right to vote. Dyuzharrik Stephen noted that the United Nations deeply regrets the deaths of journalists covering the events in Ukraine. He expressed hope that the issue of protection of journalists will be reflected in the next report of the UN mission to monitor the situation of human rights in the country. According to media reports, in eastern Ukraine were killed Italian journalist Andrea Rokkelli and his Russian translator Andrei Mironov.
This is a scam, that the Free UN Coalition for Access is opposing. Watch this site.

   
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