On Mali, French Colonialism Doesn't Even Benefit Bamako, Of Uranium & Araud

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 20 -- Those who claimed or actually through colonialism was dead, at least in the UN, take note: after fighting in Kidal in northern Mali, former colonial power France convened a UN Security Council meeting on the afternoon of May 20. 

  French Ambassador Gerard Araud skipped the earlier meetings about Norht Korea and Sudan, but arrived just before 5 pm to circulate a draft press statement of France's position, for the Council to adopt. 

   It wasn't immediately accepted, if nothing else to keep up appearances. While a few cosmetic changes were being made, Araud came to a very controlled stakeout: he did not take Press questions about Mali calling the MNLA the sole aggressors, and "narco-terrorists."

   Now Inner City Press will go further: France is accused by many in southern Mali of having paradoxically sided with the MNLA, if only to oppose Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, which France calls AQMI, and affiliates.

  And that, sources say, is mostly about defending French Areva's uranium interests in Niger. That is, France's colonialism is not even to the benefit of its proxies in Bamako -- it is purely economic. And in Niger, Areva pays cheap with the government. So it doesn't benefit Africa at all. It is, after all, FrancAfrique.

  This is part of why Araud will not take Press questions. During his last Council presidency in December, he grew progressively more shrill, notably when asked about France angling to get paid by other UN member states to run airfields in northern Mali.

  Later he threatened to sue Inner City Press, for reporting an incident fully documented by the New York Police Department, on which Inner City Press had given Araud's mission the chance to comment before public. But under Araud, France's Mission to the UN did not want to comment -- it wanted to censor. So Araud, not having commented, threatened to sue.

  Since then, Araud and his spokesman Frederic Jung have taken on the habit of Herve Ladsous, French deputy ambassador during the Rwanda genocide in 1994 -- try to keep the UN microphone away from the Press.

   Araud's previous spokesman told Inner City Press to be sure to distinguish Ladsous, who wouldn't answer, from Araud who would. But now they are indistinguishable. And if only in light of the French government's claims about freedom of the press, they should both go. And not only to DC.

  As the Free UN Coalition for Access has noted, later on May 20 like here, as Araud enters his final days as France's Ambassador to the UN he has, on April 15 for example, attacked a longtime Lebanese correspondent telling him, "You are not a journalist, you are an agent." Click here for that.

  With that hanging in the air, Araud found it easier to deal with"interlocutors" on Twitter, for example on Mali, here. But May 20 at the UN, he did not address or follow the International Monetary Fund in questioning Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's purchase of a new Boeing 737 jet for $40 million. So what did the UN peacekeeping mission, Bert Koenders and Herve Ladous, know and when did they know it?

   None of this is answered in the ham-handed UNSC press statement issued at 10 pm on May 20, of which Inner City Press publishes the full text:

Security Council press statement on Mali, 20 May 2014

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the violent clashes in Kidal on 17 and 18 May in the context of the Malian Prime Minister’s visit in Kidal, which resulted in the death of Malian Defense and Security forces personnel, as well as eight civilians, including six government officials. They expressed their deepest condolences to their families as well as to the Government of Mali.

The members of the Security Council strongly condemned the unacceptable seizure by force of administrative buildings, including the Governorate, the taking of hostages by armed groups, notably MNLA, as well as the attacks on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). They called for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of armed groups from the Governorate building and for their return to their previous positions in the framework of the cantonment process.

The members of the Security Council insisted on the need for those responsible for these actions to be identified and held accountable. They underlined that these actions undermine efforts towards peace and security in northern Mali, particularly in the region of Kidal, and constitute a grave violation of Security Council resolution 2100 (2013), which calls on all rebel armed groups to put aside their arms and cease hostilities immediately, and of the Ouagadougou Preliminary Agreement of 18 June 2013.

The members of the Security Council called on all parties to act with restraint and refrain from any further violence that could threaten civilians. They reiterated their support for the restoration of the authority of the Malian State over its entire territory, including in Kidal. They further reiterated that only a credible and inclusive negotiation process can bring long-term peace and stability throughout the country, respecting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali. They called for the resumption as soon as possible of the cantonment process and of sincere peace talks between the Malian government and the armed groups signatories and adherent to the Ouagadougou Preliminary Agreement.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support to MINUSMA in the implementation of its mandate and the French forces acting in support of the Mission.

  So, don't worry about the government in Bamako? Nor IBK's jet?

   As Inner City Press reported last week, despite not having required Security Council approval, Ladsous has been soliciting drones or "unarmed unmanned aerial vehicles" for Mali. Inner City Press has twiceasked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric to explain the solicitation without approval, but no answer has been given.

  Despite speeches by Annick Girardin, the French secretary of state for development, what did France's outgoing ambassador to the UN Gerard Araud do or say about these issues during the Security Council trip to Mali that he led?

  Actually, France has stealthily lined up to get paid by other UN member states for "air field services" in northern Mali through a letter of assist regarding which Araud refused to answer Press questions in December (then stopped answering Press questions altogether). So as one wag put it, France could get paid to service Air IBK -- if IBK ever visited and negotiated in northern Mali.

   Back in January regarding gang rape charges against UN peacekeepers in Mali the UN told Inner City Press, "the Government of Chad has further advised the Department of Peacekeeping Operations that it has completed the national investigation."

    On April 9, Inner City Press asked DPKO chief Herve Ladsous what the results of the completed investigation had been, but he refused to answer, click here for that.

  And so on April 23 Inner City Press put the question to the UN's Mali envoy Bert Koenders. More than three months after the DPKO told Inner City Press the investigation was completed, Koenders said it will only be finished in "two or three weeks." Video here, from Minute 3:39.

   Even though by his account the investigation is not finished, he said "we have found very little evidence of sexual violence by Chadian troups... at first glance some of the accusations have not bee proven." 

   While Koenders unlike Ladsous at least purported to respond to this question, and one about Dutch attack helicopters bound for Mali, there is a lack of clarity. Beyond the "completed" investigation by Chad, is there another, UN investigation? Are there preliminary findings based on which Koenders said what he did? As with the rapes in Minova in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by DPKO's partners in the Congolese Army, we will continue to pursue this issue.

  Inner City Press also asked about the five Dutch helicopter's Mali's foreign minister Abdulaye Diop had told it about earlier in the morning. Koenders said, "We welcome contribution of Dutch government," specifying three Apache attack helicopters in May, and two transport helicopters in September or October. 

  Koenders cited all information fusion, being the ears and eyes on extremist groups. Earlier, Inner City Press asked Foreign Minister Diop if such information will be shared with his government, or only within MINUSMA and its troop contributing countries. Diop said he didn't know. So this, too, will require clarification

  As an aside, later on April 23 the UN's envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay complained of the lack of helicopters from the AMISOM mission. It left one wondering about how the UN is run: did the Netherlands give the copters to Mali because one of its nationals is the UN's envoy there? We hope to have more on this.

  On April 23 when Inner City Press asked Malian foreign minister Diop for an update on dialogue in Kidal, and on the stated investigation of the shooting of civilian demonstrators there, he replied that he is too new in the position to answer on the probe. He said there is a new chief negotiator for the armed groups and what he called, in a Nixonian phrase, the "silent majority." Where did the last ten weeks go?

  Back on January 16 the UN Spokesperson's Office sent Inner City Press this response, which does not answer the question of accountability. But here it is, in full:

Subject: Your question on Mali
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Jan 16, 2014 at 3:23 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

In response to your question about the follow-up to the allegations of sexual assault by United Nations peacekeepers in MINUSMA in September 2013, we have received the following information:

The Department of Peacekeeping Operations officially notified the Government of Chad of these allegations in late September. The Government of Chad officially responded, saying that it would take responsibility for the investigations. The Government of Chad has further advised the Department of Peacekeeping Operations that it has completed the national investigation, and the United Nations awaits advice on the outcome of the investigations and follow-up accountability measures as appropriate.

  The UN is waiting for "advice" -- but will it ever make it public? How else can the UN's stated Human Rights Due Diligence Policy be assessed?

  On January 17, Inner City Press asked UN acting deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq about it. From the UN's transcript, video here and embedded below:

Inner City Press: On Mali, I wanted to thank you for this written answer you gave yesterday afternoon that Mali has said that its completed its investigation of the alleged rape in Mali by the Chadian troops. And it said that the UN awaits advice on the outcome of the investigation. And what I wanted to know is whether… what part of that is going to be made public, given both the human rights due diligence policy, etcetera? I appreciate you saying that the investigation is finished, but, has… did they clear the soldiers? Were the soldiers found guilty? Where does it stand?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: As we emailed to you, the Mission does await advice on the outcome of the proceedings. We know that there have been proceedings regarding the case. You know this is a case regarding sexual assault and so, we await further information from that. We’ll try to make public what we can of the information that we receive.

Inner City Press: So, they literally just told you that it’s complete, but…no indication on what was done? I guess I wonder when --

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: The information I have in the email that was sent to you is the information we have. If we have any further updates, we’ll share it with you at that point.

  Two weeks later, nothing. So what will members of the Security Council ask, find and make public?

  One of the UN's other too-few criticisms of military action in north Mail, the shooting into a crowd of protesters in Kidal on November 28, was disputed in the Security Council on January 16.

  In a statement prepared like a defense attorney, trying raise reasonable doubt, Mali's Permanent Representative Sekou Kasse said that the UN Mission MINUSMA elements closest to the shooting were 400 meters away, precluding them from "objective" testimony. 

  The argument made was one must wait for the ballistic analysis ordered by the Malian government itself. Inner City Press asked Mali's foreign minister on April 23. Watch this site.

   

IMF Urges Romania Not to Help Too Many Consumers, Like Bolivia, Studies Law

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 10 -- On Romania back on February 6, Inner City Press asked the International Monetary Fund about its role in the government's plan to suspend but not cancel repayment of consumer loans, viewed as intended to help banks.

   Like Inner City Press' still-pending questions on the Sudans, Areva and Niger and Iran, the IMF did not answer that day or in the three days that followed.

  But now this IMF response has come in, and we publish it in full:

"The announced new voluntary scheme to support indebted low- and middle-income households provides them with extra liquidity for two years. We understand that it is aimed at those households whose debt is not overdue by more than 90 days with a view to backing weak domestic demand and thereby stimulating the overall economy. However, the detailed parameters of the scheme are still to be disclosed by the government and we look forward to reviewing the details so as to ensure that the future fiscal liability stays within the limits just agreed with the IMF/EC mission."

   That is, don't help TOO many people, nor those who most need the help. The answer was provided after Inner City Press questioned and wrote about the IMF's (similar?) criticism of Bolivia's banking law, that

"the law’s general thrust is to subordinate financial sector activities to social objectives with instruments that could create risks to financial stability. Main features of the law include: (i) provisions to regulate lending rates and set minimum lending quotas for the productive sector and social housing; (ii) discretion to set floors on deposit rates; and (iii) mechanisms to enhance consumer protection and financial access in rural areas."

  Inner City Press on February 10 asked the IMF's Mission Chief for Bolivia Ana Corbacho to explain this criticism, and more generally to reconcile Bolivia's and President Evo Morales' public critique of the IMF with this visit. 

  In response to a question from Inner City Press at UN headquarters last month, Morales recounted how the IMF dominated Bolivia in the past, but now decision making had passed from the "Chicago to the Bolivia boys."

  The IMF staff report says they met with "Minister of Economy and Public Finances Arce, Central Bank President Zabalaga, Minister of Planning Caro, other senior public officials, and representatives of the private sector. Mr. Tamez and Ms. Kroytor (LEG) provided inputs on the new Financial Services Law at headquarters."

  The IMF staff report also says that "the instruments chosen (interest rate caps and minimum credit quotas) could reduce the profitability and lending funds of financial institutions, over-leverage target beneficiaries, and complicate the conduct of monetary policy."

   Ms. Corbacho, on an embargoed press conference call largely in Spanish on which only three media asked questions, replied that Bolivia for example capping interest rates might impact financial institution's profitability and thus "financial stability."

   She said the government responded that financial inclusion has not progressed fast enough and so they are taking these steps. She the Article IV discussion, which are held with each IMF member, were "very open and frank" with Bolivia, and thus positive.

  To Inner City Press, the IMF's willingness to question consumer protection in Bolivia stands in contrast to the IMF's deference to the US on the how to manage and communicate the Federal Reserve's tapering, the debt ceiling -- anything, essentially.

  This IMF position was propounded at last Thursday's IMF media briefing, at which questions on Africa -- the Sudans, Areva in Niger -- submitted over the Online Briefing Center by Inner City Press were not taken by IMF Spokesperson Gerry Rice, nor answered afterward by IMF staff. But as noted, Inner City Press' Romania question has not been answered. The others? Watch this site.

   

IMF Criticizes Bolivia Banking Law As Undercutting Profitability, Defers to US Federal Reserve on Tapering, Ignores Africa Questions

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 10 -- The International Monetary Fund has just released its Article IV review of Bolivia, in which it criticizes the country's new Financial Services Law, specifically that

"the law’s general thrust is to subordinate financial sector activities to social objectives with instruments that could create risks to financial stability. Main features of the law include: (i) provisions to regulate lending rates and set minimum lending quotas for the productive sector and social housing; (ii) discretion to set floors on deposit rates; and (iii) mechanisms to enhance consumer protection and financial access in rural areas."

  Inner City Press asked the IMF's Mission Chief for Bolivia Ana Corbacho to explain this criticism, and more generally to reconcile Bolivia's and President Evo Morales' public critique of the IMF with this visit. 

  In response to a question from Inner City Press at UN headquarters last month, Morales recounted how the IMF dominated Bolivia in the past, but now decision making had passed from the "Chicago to the Bolivia boys."

  The IMF staff report says they met with "Minister of Economy and Public Finances Arce, Central Bank President Zabalaga, Minister of Planning Caro, other senior public officials, and representatives of the private sector. Mr. Tamez and Ms. Kroytor (LEG) provided inputs on the new Financial Services Law at headquarters."

  The IMF staff report also says that "the instruments chosen (interest rate caps and minimum credit quotas) could reduce the profitability and lending funds of financial institutions, over-leverage target beneficiaries, and complicate the conduct of monetary policy."

   Ms. Corbacho, on an embargoed press conference call largely in Spanish on which only three media asked questions, replied that Bolivia for example capping interest rates might impact financial institution's profitability and thus "financial stability."

   She said the government responded that financial inclusion has not progressed fast enough and so they are taking these steps. She the Article IV discussion, which are held with each IMF member, were "very open and frank" with Bolivia, and thus positive.

  To Inner City Press, the IMF's willingness to question consumer protection in Bolivia stands in contrast to the IMF's deference to the US on the how to manage and communicate the Federal Reserve's tapering, the debt ceiling -- anything, essentially.

  This IMF position was propounded at last Thursday's IMF media briefing, at which questions on Africa -- the Sudans, Areva in Niger -- submitted over the Online Briefing Center by Inner City Press were not taken by IMF Spokesperson Gerry Rice, nor answered afterward by IMF staff. This is how the IMF is operating; we will have more on this. Watch this site.

   

When Illicit Money Is Thabo Mbeki's Topic at UN, Questions Are Steered to UN's Censorship Alliance, FUNCA Objects

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 6 -- Here is how the UN works, or doesn't: when former South African president Thabo Mbeki came to take questions about the High-level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, he said he had only 15 minutes and the first question was automatically awarded to the United Nations Correspondents Association, a group with an unreformed history of trying to get the investigative Press thrown out of the UN.

   Not surprisingly, Mbeki was not asked what would have been obvious questions, for example concerning South African financial interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (leading, some say, to its role in the "UN" Force Intervention Brigade) and in the Central African Republic, explaining the pre-Seleka presence of South African forces there.

  How could these not be asked? The questions were primarily soft balls, other than one about the assets flows of Mubarak, Gaddafi and Ben Ali of Tunisia. In the case of Tunisia, some smell French involvement, and note France's reported laxity in fighting tax evasion. (The question of Areva in Niger, which Inner City Press tweeted, was not asked.)

  Less pointedly, Mbeki was not asked about the #OffshoreLeaks project of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a leaked database of just the type of illicit flows the press conference was ostensibly about.

From this the Free UN Coalition for Access, founded because of UNCA's attempts to get the investigative press thrown out of the UN, concludes that particularly when the time or number of questions are limited, there is no justification for automatically giving any organization the first question -- particularly not one with a history of censorship. 

 One UNCA big wig's complaint to the UN has been banned from Google's Search (mis) using the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act -- that is, the type of non-judicial censorship now coming into force in Turkey, to block investigative journalism. We will have more on this.

   

IMF Defers to US on Debt Ceiling and Tapering, Ignores Questions on Sudan, Iran, Areva & Niger, Dodges on Lagarde Being Grilled

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 6 -- Money talks. The International Monetary Fund on February 6 was asked about the US debt ceiling, and about how Federal Reserve moves have hurt emerging markets. To both questions, IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice said these are entirely matters for the US authorities: the IMF wouldn't dare to make suggestions.

  Of course, with other countries the IMF does nothing BUT make suggestions, requiring raises in taxes and cuts in pensions, for example, as a condition for tapping assistance.

  And then the IMF too often does not even take questions about such countries. Even Gerry Rice acknowledged, at the end of the July 6 bi-weekly briefing, that he had been remiss in taking online questions from journalists not in the room in Washington. (His solution was to take a question on another European country, Portugal.) 

   On Ukraine, Rice said the IMF is ready with "support" for economic reforms that would "revive growth." He said the IMF is always independence, "as you know."

  Inner City Press from the UN submitted questions on South Sudan, Iran, Armenia, Romania and Niger, where French firm Areva is being asked to stop under-paying for uranium. Rice did not take this question; he also dodged or deferred a question about Christine Lagarde being questioned by French investigators on January 31.

In fairness, the IMF is not always unresponsive. Two weeks ago, just for example, they answered  the Press on Afghanistan. The blind spot most often seems to be Africa. We'll have more on this.

   

As UNSC Condemns Ransom, ICP Asks UK If France Pays Them, Of Areva and Wikileaks, UN Censors

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 27 -- After the UN Security Council adopted a resolution against the paying of ransom to kidnappers, Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant if he thinks that France pays or works with companies like Areva to pay ransoms.

  Lyall Grant responded that since France is a member of the G8, it had agreed last year not to. But what about the release of Father Vandenbeusch by Boko Haram? And the release in Niger of Pierre Legrand and Daniel Larribe?

  In the Security Council after the vote, Argentina took the floor to explain its reservations about the resolution and process, including that it should have been dealt with in the General Assembly, and not in the more limited, five-country dominated club of the Security Council. (Inner City Press asked, and Lyall Grant said he had no objection to it being considered in the General Assembly as well.)

  But France didn't speak. (Its Permanent Representative Gerard Araud was present, perhaps mostly for the session to follow on France's former colony Cote d'Ivoire.) Is France agreeing to live by this resolution it, as a Permanent Five member of the Council, is preaching to others, including the provisions about private companies? Or it another case of "Do as I say, not as I do?"

  Also, after Robert Fowler and Louis Guay were kidnapped while working for the UN in Niger -- until then not known -- and then ultimately released, cables released by Wikileaks assert that Canada (and Austria) "pay ransom." What is their response to this UN Security Council resolution? Watch this site.

Footnote: Just by coincidence (?) Pamela Falk of CBS the president of the United Nations Correspondents Association,degenerated into the UN's Censorship Alliance, tried to ask the first question to Lyall Grant, as if this were a precedent or tradition. 

  It is not, and should not be allowed to be, given UNCA's and its "leaders'" repeated descent into censorship, for example about Sri Lanka, also for France and officials it places on the UN payroll, and even by blocking access to leaked documents by Google's Search, abusing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. There should be no sacred cows, no "Holy Seats." 

 And we'll wait to see Falk's and CBS' story on the anti-ransom resolution. Watch this site.

   

On Protesters Shot by Mali Army in Kidal, France's Araud Urges Probe, Hasn't Read of Ouattara Hit Men in UN Liberia Sanctions Report

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 3 -- With France taking over presidency of the UN Security Council for December, its Ambassador Gerard Araud took questions from the press on Tuesday.

   Inner City Press asked him about the Malian Army shooting protesters in Kidal, and about the UN's report of agents of Cote d'Ivoire president and French ally Alassane Ouattara going into Ghana to try to kill or kidnap supporters of former president Laurent Gbagbo.

  On these Cote d'Ivoire aspects of the UN Liberia Sanctions report, Araud replied that he hasn't read the report. In two days, Liberia Sanctions are on the Security Council's agenda.

  On the shooting of protesters in Kidal, on which the UN has confined itself to a press release from the MINUSMA mission which even Reuters deemed unclear, Araud provided a bit more information. He acknowledged that two female demonstrators were left in critical condition.

  Araud alluded to the larger issues of the Tuaregs, saying that some in Bamako and the south view them as accomplices to or complicit with ("complice") the Islamist takeover of the north. 

 But if a solution would be more equitable distribution of resources and more impartiality by the UN, the UN mission siding with the Malian Army as they shoot protesters is hardly condusive to this.

  Araud said the protesters were throwing rocks. But is that a sufficient reason for an army, one the UN and France are providing support to, to open fire? Araud said this requires a Malian judicial and administrative investigation, and also one by MINUSMA. Given UN Peacekeeping's recent history of sitting on or burying reports, it is difficult to have confidence in this.

  Earlier on Tuesday, Araud had been scheduled to speak about Syria at the Security Council stakeout. That got canceled; Araud had to brief non-Council member states.

   Inner City Press on behalf of the new Free UN Coalition for Access thanked Araud (he kept it newsy so we will) and hoped that he will do as many question and answer stakeouts as last month's presidency, China -- nine. 

  In one of Araud's previous presidencies -- he'd said he thought his one fifteen months ago would be his last -- he did a mere three question and answer stakeouts. That might have been related in part to which month it was. December as he said will be busy. Watch this site.

Footnotes: Araud initially made light of a question about the Central African Republic rebels Seleka and the diamond trade, alluding to former French president Valerie Giscard d'Estaing and, it seemed, to the French luxury goods to then "Emperor" Bokasa. Araud returned to the question by reading from the pending resolution, noting the suspension of CAR from the diamond trade Kimberly Process.

  A question on French firm Areva and the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Araud flatly refused, saying it is not on the Security Council's agenda (true) and is "not a threat to international peace and security" (less certain). 

  Inner City Press might ask: what then about Areva and its lobbying against paying taxes in Niger, which at least through the Sahel IS on the Security Council's agenda? Should be an interesting month - we'll have (much) more. Watch this site.

   

UN Global Compact Duo Call Food Price Speculation Serious, But No Guidance Offered

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/gc1food050108.html

UNITED NATIONS, May 1 -- Corporate chieftains on the board of the UN Global Compact met Thursday in a UN conference room. Outside a stakeout microphone had been set up; the press had been told that the CEOs would be available for comment. Only one, however, deigned to take questions from the press, the ex officio chairman of the Foundation for the Global Compact, Mark Moody-Stuart of Anglo-American Mining. Inner City Press asked him if the Compact's board has discussed corporate roles in the food price crisis, including as speculating and profiting on the price rises. "It's an issue of serious concern to companies," Moody-Stuart said, but added that "the Compact cannot offer advice or guidance." Another reporter wondered, what's it good for then?

Moments later, Moody-Stuart reversed course and had the Compact "encouraging" companies "to sign up for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative." Moody-Stuart said of "countries with weak governance" that if you pour aid in, "it leaks away." He said that even forgiveness, presumably of debt, leaks away. He said he was recently in Norway, with the EITI has established its Secretariat, to meet with major donors to the Global Compact. He praised Norway as a country moving to show how its oil revenues are spent. Audio here, in MP3.

While not at the UN microphone, Mary Robinson, former High Commissioner of Human Rights, took two questions from Inner City Press. Of the links between financial speculation and rising food prices she said "absolutely," there is one, although the Compact has yet to discuss it. Of the Beijing Olympics, she said that topic was raised at a recent meeting of the Compact's Human Rights Working Group in Boston, that the companies at the meeting noted that protests of the journey of the Olympic torch "had an impact, they are meeting with the Dalai Lama." She said the companies wanted to see avoided any "push of ordinary Chinese toward nationalism," which she said "would be not good for China or for the rest of the world."

Moody-Stuart's comments on China were that if the rising costs of food and other "inputs" leads to a slow-down of the Chinese economy, the whole world will suffer. He said that many Compact members are involved as sponsors in the Olympics, and while "it doesn't mean we should forget the other issues," engagement is what it's all about.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Compact board did not deign to take questions, with the exception of Petrobras' CEO speaking with a Brazilian journalist, and Emirati environmentalist Habiba al Marashi speaking with a regional newspaper. On the board, but not speaking on these issues, were chieftains from Goldman Sachs, Areva, Tata, Lego, Fuji and Deloitte. And so it goes at the UN.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/gc1food050108.html