By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell book
BBC - Honduras - CIA Trial book - NY Mag
UN Gate, Nov 18 – As the United Nations after a year of failing on Ukraine and covering up sexual abuses from the DR Congo to Colombia gears up for its annual UNGA Week this month, it has tried to further limit access and coverage by independent press.
Will this continue under incoming PGA Csaba Kőrösi of Hungary? On September 15, 2022 Inner City Press wrote to members including his "Special Assistant" Adel Hriczu - despite claims of transparency, as of September 17 no response or action: "As a journalist who has reported on the United Nations and its work for more than ten years, and who today was allowed to question the IMF but was not (yet?) allowed back into the UN, I am writing to you as deputy chef de cabinet of the Office of President of the General Assembly to formally ask that you ensure that my application, a week ago, to UN MALU to cover next week's UNGA week is approved, on Sept 16."
Still now in November, nothing.
In fact, Korosi went so far, contrary to his claims of transparency, to block Inner City Press on Twitter, see here. A day after Inner City Press exposed it, it was reversed but no explanation offered. Then, sadly, this: After Korosi bragged online about his December 2 civil society summit, Inner City Press registered. The form specifically envisioned entry and attendance by individuals not affiliated with any groups - including "private sector" - and for those not affiliated in any way with the UN, saying special passes would be provided.
On the morning of November 10 Inner City Press asked Korosi's spokesperson Paulina Kubiak to confirm, and " given PGA Korosi's promotion, including on Twitter, of his Dec 2 townhall in the UN, please immediately confirm that it is he and his office controlling who is allowed in - that is, that he cannot try to pass the buck to MALU and USG Fleming, as he/you have tried to do to date. To test this, yesterday evening I applied https://www.un.org/pga/77/csotownhall/ - I am informing you (and him) of this in order to be upfront, and also to ensure if there are any questions, I be allowed to answer them. I am expecting that ticket to enter on December 2 and to be informed of it long before that, asap."
Eight hours later, Korosi's spokesperson Kubiak replied, "The Civil Society Town Hall on 2 December is for civil society organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC or those formally associated with DGC. The attendees register through the link that you noted, as part of a process to check accreditation by ECOSOC or DGC prior to issuance of special event tickets by DSS. Should your accreditation not be confirmed by DESA or DGC, you may still follow the discussions on UN WebTV."
Well, no. "Paulina, that does not seem to be true. the form specifically allows for entities / people not affiliated with the UN - and people not affiliated with an organization, as well as "private sector" - I am writing this story now paste 9.Organization Representation Type NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) Academia Private Sector Do not belong to any organization 10.Your organization's affiliation with the UN (check all that apply) Associated with Department of Global Communications In consultative status with Economic and Social Council Both ECOSOC-accredited and DGC-associated Not affiliated 11.Do you have a valid UN grounds pass? Yes. (A special event ticket will not be requested for you to access UNHQ) No. (I require a special event ticket to access UNHQ)."
Kubiak after that stopped answering, including refusing to provide any Korosi comments on the 13 rapes by UN staffer Elkorany. UN Spokespeople Stephane Dujarric and Farhan Haq day after day refused this: "
On UN opacity, immediately state whether the Dec 2 "civil society summit" is limited to representatives of NGOs already OK-ed by ECOSOC or USG Fleming's DCG, or (as the online form says), to people and entities not affiliated with the UN."
Now it turns out Melissa "We Own the Science" Fleming is "moderating" the December 2 Town Hall - while lying about who is allowed in, and not answering legal mail. UNaccountable.
Watch this site.
See this video Letter
Watch this site.
***
Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.
Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
