For ICJ, Jamaica's Lead Grows in UN General Assembly Over Argentina, Round III

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 7 -- In the archaic system by which International Court of Justice judges are elected, the UN Security Council and General Assembly voted again and again on Friday morning. Each body had to select a firth and final judge -- the same judge.

  But while the Security Council stuck on nine for Argentina's Susana Ruiz Cerutti and six for Jamaica's Patrick Lipton Robinson, in the General Assembly Jamaica's Robinson rose in support. Just after noon he received 123 votes, versus only 69 for Argentina's Ruiz Cerutti. 

  As that meeting broke up to reconvene at 3 pm, numerous diplomats stopped to talk to Inner City Press. What sense does it make, one of them asked, for the Security Council to ignore what the full 193 members think? Why are the two bodies given equal weight when "we are all here," meaning in the General Assembly?

 On the other hand, an Argentine argument made to Inner City Press is that this is not about countries about about legal systems: Commonwealth means common law.

  Meanwhile an African diplomat in the General Assembly asked Inner City Press, And if the Jamaican gets a two thirds majority in the GA - what then? What, indeed.

  Winning ICJ judge positions on November 6 were Kirill Gevorgian of Russia, with a perfect 15 votes in the Council's final round of the day, Joan E. Donoghue of the US and Mohamed Bennouna of Morocco, both with 14, and James Richard Crawford of Australia with 12.

 In the Security Council, Argentina's Susana Ruiz Cerutti got just enough votes with nine, and Jamaica's Patrick Lipton Robinson did not, with seven. 

 But in the General Assembly, Jamaica's Robinson with 141 led Argentina's Ruiz Cerutti with 108. The vote, Security Council president Gary Qiunlan said, would continue on November 7.

 In the hall diplomats from the General Assembly continued to talk up Jamaica, saying the African Group has a special relationship with CARICOM, and talking about the Commonwealth. (Want to guess where the UK comes down in this one?) 

Throughout the day, Inner City Press jogged back and forth between the Council and Assembly chambers, as did for example the Jamaican Deputy Permanent Representative, and when the two bodies broke for lunch, the following story emerged.

  A number of African Permanent Representatives said, it should be Jamaica. They asked, But will the Security Council go its own way?

   Inner City Press has heard Susana Ruiz Cerutti speak, and she seems like a good candidate. And Argentina ran a more transparent than usual month atop the Security Council, and has big proposals for example on sovereign debt restructuring. 

  But how will this stand-off be resolved? Why did the candidates from the DR Congo and Madagascar get so few votes? The latter dropped out, the former was urged to. But until the Security Council agrees with the GA, the election is not finished.

Update of 4:10 pm:

On ICJ in GA, again more than five candidates got more than the required 97 votes. But Jamaica's candidate got 141 (up from 135), Argentina's only 116 (down from 134)

Update of 4:50 pm

On ICJ in UNGA, again more than 5 got more than 97. But Jamaica 138 (still up from 136), Argentine 108 (down from 116)

   Inner City Press covered the more than 30 day stand-off in 2011 between candidates from Sierra Leone and Uganda, with the latter winning. At least they are voting - the new Free UN Coalition for Access has noted that the correspondents (or now censors') association UNCA has entirely non-competitive annointments, this time with the return of the censor in chief. Click here for that, and watch this site.

   

For International Court of Justice, Four Judges Elected, Jamaica Has Lead in UN General Assembly Over Argentina, Talk of Commonwealth, Round II

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 6, updated -- In the archaic system by which International Court of Justice judges are elected, the UN Security Council and General Assembly voted again and again on Thursday. Each body had to select five judges -- the same five judges.

 By day's end, only four judges were elected, with as Inner City Press predicted midday a battle between candidates from Jamaica and Argentina set to continue on November 7 and perhaps beyond.

  Winning ICJ judge positions were Kirill Gevorgian of Russia, with a perfect 15 votes in the Council's final round of the day, Joan E. Donoghue of the US and Mohamed Bennouna of Morocco, both with 14, and James Richard Crawford of Australia with 12.

 In the Security Council, Argentina's Susana Ruiz Cerutti got just enough votes with nine, and Jamaica's Patrick Lipton Robinson did not, with seven. 

 But in the General Assembly, Jamaica's Robinson with 141 led Argentina's Ruiz Cerutti with 108. The vote, Security Council president Gary Qiunlan said, would continue on November 7.

 In the hall diplomats from the General Assembly continued to talk up Jamaica, saying the African Group has a special relationship with CARICOM, and talking about the Commonwealth. (Want to guess where the UK comes down in this one?) 

Throughout the day, Inner City Press jogged back and forth between the Council and Assembly chambers, as did for example the Jamaican Deputy Permanent Representative, and when the two bodies broke for lunch, the following story emerged.

  A number of African Permanent Representatives said, it should be Jamaica. They asked, But will the Security Council go its own way?

   Inner City Press has heard Susana Ruiz Cerutti speak, and she seems like a good candidate. And Argentina ran a more transparent than usual month atop the Security Council, and has big proposals for example on sovereign debt restructuring. 

  But how will this stand-off be resolved? Why did the candidates from the DR Congo and Madagascar get so few votes? The latter dropped out, the former was urged to. But until the Security Council agrees with the GA, the election is not finished.

Update of 4:10 pm:

On ICJ in GA, again more than five candidates got more than the required 97 votes. But Jamaica's candidate got 141 (up from 135), Argentina's only 116 (down from 134)

Update of 4:50 pm

On ICJ in UNGA, again more than 5 got more than 97. But Jamaica 138 (still up from 136), Argentine 108 (down from 116)

   Inner City Press covered the more than 30 day stand-off in 2011 between candidates from Sierra Leone and Uganda, with the latter winning. At least they are voting - the new Free UN Coalition for Access has noted that the correspondents (or now censors') association UNCA has entirely non-competitive annointments, this time with the return of the censor in chief. Click here for that, and watch this site.

   

As UN PGA John Ashe Now Says His Group of Six Won't Draft, France for G4 Still Says It Will, G77 on UNTV

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 7 -- From speeches on UN Security Council reform given Thursday morning, the archeology of the last two weeks could be made out. President of the General Assembly John Ashe named a Group of Six advisers. 

  His letter did not go online; Inner City Press published it first. (His office said that was a snafu not to be repeated.)

  Ashe's Group of Six and their mandate drew criticism from United for Consensus (conveyed by Italy), the Arab Group (conveyed by Bahrain), the Eastern European Group (conveyed in person) and by China. Inner City Press published all three letters.

It emerged that Ashe on November 6 tried to assuage UfC by saying that, contrary to statements by Brazil and Germany in the Security Council debate on Working Methods, the Group of Six will neither negotiate nor draft. Ashe repeated this on Thursday morning.

  Still, French Deputy Permanent Representative said France looks forward to the Advisory Group drafting. India's Deputy Permanent Representative insists the UfC represents a minority, spoilers. But what about the Arab Group? What about China?

  Algeria's Permanent Representative made a point of order, saying that Egypt misstated the Arab Group position.

  Among those also said to still be "mis-interpreting" the mandate of Ashe's Group of Six are Saint Kitts and Nevis for L69, and ("partially") Guyana for CARICOM. The speeches will continue Thursday afternoon. Watch this site.

Footnote: Across the hall in the UN's North Lawn building on Thursday morning, Bolivia became the head of the Group of 77 for 2014, as Inner City Press reported on Wednesday. The meeting, which G77 asked to be on UNTV, was delayed because UNTV still showed it as closed. 

 The Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info asked why, after the delay hit half an hour. It subsequently went on UNTV and FUNCA offered thanks -- as well as a photograph. This is how problems get fixed in real time. If only Security Council reform were this straight forward. FUNCA will continue.

   

In UN's Colonial Dance, from Malvinas to Kashmir, 70 to Speak on W. Sahara

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 8 -- When the UN's Decolonialization Committee started up on Monday afternoon, most of the speakers were from Latin America. 

  Pakistan appeared as the last listed speaker, raising Kashmir much to the consternation of India, which said it shouldn't be in this Committee and "rejected the remarks distinguished delegate" of Pakistan -- actually, its Deputy Permanent Representative, who made a point of citing Security Council resolutions.

   While many speeches were the same as last year, as more than one old UN hand pointed out to Inner City Press, the way Kashmir was raised, and defended, in the Decolonialization Committee was something new this year. It came up as well in the General Debate and replies, along with China versus Japan on islands, which was not cited Monday.

The Latins were all about Malvinas, and Puerto Rico too, with Belize on behalf of CARICOM also raising the Turks and Caicos. 

  The UK in its right to reply said there had been no indigenous people on the Falkland Islands, and there is a "revised electoral ordinance" in Turks and Caicos.

   Mentioned by all the Latins, as well as China and Pakistan, was Western Sahara. Morocco had its Permanent Representative, his Deputy and other staffers in the room. But they did not invoke the right to reply. The representative of the POLISARIO Front told Inner City Press he will probably speak Wednesday.

   There are 70 listed speakers on Western Sahara; Gabon as Fourth Committee chair said they will have four minutes each. As one told Inner City Press, it's a long way to travel for this.

  But this is the ritual of the UN, long travel to New York to deliver a speech that in most instance no one listens to. 

 In a Pakistan irony, only Saturday night the Association of Indians in America says it awarded its Silver Diwali Bright Light Award with the inscribed names of Pakistan's Abdullah Hussain Haroon, along with a report he "is soon leaving his post." 

  Inner City Press has seen Ambassador Khan, said to be coming in from Beijing as Haroon's replacement, at the UN last week. But we note the explanation that he is here as part of the UNGA delegation. Watch this site.

In UN GA on Slavery, Israel But Not Maged in the House, Colonial Budget Fight?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 26 -- When the UN on Monday commemorated those who fought the Transatlantic slave trade, who paid attention? While inside the General Assembly Hall the Permanent Representative of Grenada Dessima Williams praised liberators and maroons like the Garifuna, outside another Caricom Perm Rep told Inner City Press, "Great but the turn out is disappointing."

Others agreed. Just as one example, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's new Special Adviser on Africa Maged Abdelaziz of Egypt was not in attendance.

By contrast, whatever the motives, Israel's Ron Prosor was there. The CARICOM Perm Rep said that he had noticed. There was a joke about need friends, that "even" North Korea might come. In fact, DPRK was in the house. So, Inner City Press noted, was Permanent Observer of Palestine Riyad Mansour. So where was Maged?

From a Nordic country a junior staff stopped and told Inner City Press, we thought we should have our seat filled so they sent me. At least they did.

Jamaica's Permanent Representative Wolf was there, in the mix raising funds for a memorial to the transatlantic slave trade. US Deputy Permanent Representative Rosemary Dicarlo was there, politely referring a question about Sudan to "Jeff," who doesn't answer. Venezuela's Perm Rep was in the house, and Cuba's too. Is combating slavery a uniquely ALBA issue?

Perhaps it is the symbolic nature of the GA. Back in the North Lawn building, a hard working representative from the Horn of Africa scoffed, the GA is just a talk shop. The work in the North Lawn was about the budget, with "the Europeans," according to the Horn, trying to appoint "eminent people" to change the scales of assessment. "We are supposed to do that," the African representative said, not without logic. A response has been sought from the US. Watch this site.

At UN, As European Union Uses Special Rights, Caricom Calls It Abuse, Qatar on Tap as President of the General Assembly

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 17 -- Six weeks after the European Union won special rights in the UN General Assembly after months of opposition led by the Caribbean states group CARICOM, the struggle continued at the tail end of a General Assembly debate on the Millennium Summit.

After GA President Joseph Deiss allowed the European Union to speak, Deiss tried to end the meeting. But the Ambassador of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Camillo Gonsalves asked to take the floor.

He said, on behalf of Caricom, that the EU should not have been allowed to speak in the Explanation After the Vote section, since as a non member state, the EU had no vote.

Deiss said he “took note” of the statement, then again tried to end the meeting. The representative of Venezuela tapped her formica country name plate on her desk until Deiss begrudgingly gave her the floor.

After she said that Venezuela for the record supported CARICOM's objection, Deiss called hers a “declaration after a declaration,” and gaveled the meeting closed.

Afterward, Inner City Press asked Ambassador Gonsalves to explain. “There were to be no general statements,” he said. “The EU was inscribed to speak after the vote. A special provision was created by the chair for the EU, who didn't ask if anyone else wanted to speak in that way. As soon as the EU spoke, he shut it down.”

Ban Ki-moon & Ashton: "When Cathy met Ban Ki," 1 wants special rights, the other a 2d term

An EU member's Permanent Representative argued to Inner City Press that while St. Vincent should then have been allowed to make a general statement, if the EU did, there was nothing wrong with letting the EU make a general statement. But only the EU? When member states weren't allowed? This is why they were and are called special rights. Will the incoming President of the General Assembly, the Ambassador of Qatar who is to be elected on June 22, be so accommodating to the European Union? Watch this site.

At UN, as EU Wins Special Rights Over 2 Objections, GA Voting Boards Broken

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 3 -- Just before the UN General Assembly meeting on the European Union's resolution to get special rights in the GA, diplomats told Inner City Press that the Caribbean grouping CARICOM had reached agreements and would support the EU.

Click here for Inner City Press' exclusive review last week of the issue.

Some others thought the changes relatively minor: for example, reducing the EU's right of reply to a single turn instead of two. As one Western diplomat put it to Inner City Press, the EU's 27 member states can reply for it, giving in 54 replies.

So there was suddenly hope that the EU resolution would go through on consensus, without a vote. Just outside the GA chamber, Cuba's ambassador talked loudly on his cell phone, mentioning Zimbabwe.

While there were very few journalists covering the meeting, at least two were from Iranian media. They told Inner City Press that “their” Permanent Representative would be speaking. A Western diplomat wondered if Iran might block consensus.

When the meeting began, gaveled to order by Afghanistan's Permanent Representative Tanin, Caricom spoke in favor, as did Nigeria's Permanent Representative on behalf of the African Group.

Zimbabwe spoke to ask to introduce an amendment, but was pushed back in the speaking order, after the Secretariat, which said the change would cost $10,000 for new chairs and audio equipment, but that the money could be found.

Sudan's Permanent Representative spoke for the Arab Group, saying that the EU has agreed to support other groups, specifically the Arab League, to get these rights.

Then Nauru, or a person on behalf of Nauru's Ambassador, launched an impassioned plea against giving rights and powers to non-states. A Western diplomat joked to Inner City Press that Nauru has so few people, something could be arranged for them. But they had a point.

Zimbabwe next made its point: that the Rules of Procedure prohibit observers like the EU from having the right to reply. Exceptions were made for the Holy See and Palestine, but these were distinguished. Zimbabwe called for a vote on its proposed amendment.

As the votes went up on the GA's electronic voting boards, it became clear that the boards were broken. Votes appeared without country names next to them. As best as could be made out, Zimbabwe was joined by Venezuela and Nicaragua and three others, with twenty abstaining including Uganda, Ecuador, Chad, Burundi and Kenya.

Next was the vote on the EU's resolution, up or down. Only Zimbabwe and a country left unidentified by the board voted against. The GA is so broken down that there is no Wi-Fi internet service, only “only 1 megabyte for everyone,” as one diplomat told Inner City Press.

Inner City Press ran to the UN noon briefing and asked who in the Secretariat is in charge of the GA, with its broken voting boards and lack of Internet. “You well know,” said the spokesman for Ban Ki-moon. Yes, we do.

Footnote: it has also become more difficult to cover the General Assembly. Last week, Inner City Press and other journalists were stopped from standing in front of the GA to ask questions. While it has been said that this can be fixed by a new paragraph in the rules, it has yet to happen.

On Tuesday, when Inner City Press took the elevator up from the Security Council's meeting on its May Program of Work, a UN Security officer said there would be no access to the GA press booths “unless accompanied.” This was arranged, but there was no Internet inside, and the voting boards were broken. So it goes at the UN.

At UN, Push by EU for Ashton Rights Countered by CARICOM & GRULAC, Delay

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 14 -- While the European Union was confident it would pass its resolution for special powers in the General Assembly on Monday, and then Tuesday at 10 am, the meeting was postponed to 11 am. Outside the GA hall, Inner City Press asked Ambassador after Ambassador what was going on.

Bolivia said that the EU was pushing too fast for a vote, and should done more consultations. An EU member's spokesman told Inner City Press, what? We started ten months ago. But, another Latin country told Inner City Press, now there is confusion.

An African Permanent Representative who began by saying he and his country “don't like to fight” -- they have a lot of other problems -- said the EU should show self restraint and not push for a vote.

The deadline for passage in this session of the GA is 1 pm; the first session of the new, Deiss run GA is at 3 pm. One of the EU's motives is to secure a prominent speaking spot in the General Debate for Catherine Ashton. Would she be head of state or head of government? Is it just personal ambition?

Another ALBA Group member, while praising Inner City Press' Monday coverage, said “you missed the CARICOM story.” Various Caribbean Ambassadors came out of the GA last on Monday evening, but joked to Inner Cty Press that their confab was no EU related. That was not the case. GRULAC, too, is in the mix. Inner City Press asked, why not ASEAN? Watch this site.

For UN Climate Job, 11 Candidates Including from Barbados and UN, Pasztor's Only Partial Recusal

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/fccc1pasztor041510.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 15 -- With the UN's approach to climate change under fire, both politically and scientifically, the race is on to replaced Yvo de Boer as head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. So far two candidates have come to UN headquarters and held press conferences: Costa Rica's Christiana Figueres and, on April 15, Barbados' Elizabeth Thompson.

Inner City Press asked Ms. Thompson for her position on the widespread criticism of how the Copenhagen summit was run. She replied that there were both positives and negatives.

She declined to comment on IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri's refusal to disclose how much is paid by Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse, among others, for his climate advisory services. She said she would comply with UN rules. Video here.

Later on April 15, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky how many candidates there are, and whether Janos Pasztor, Ban Ki-moon's main climate advisor, is one of them:

Inner City Press: how many candidates have been put forward? And can you say either by country or region? What can you say on that topic? And can you confirm that Mr. [Janos] Pasztor is actually one of the candidates, the current advisor to the Secretary-General on climate change?

Spokesperson Nesirky: Well, two things. One is that, as we have mentioned before -- and it is standard practice, not just for this job but for any job -- we do not reveal the names of candidates. But I can tell you that there are 11 candidates from 11 different countries. And although we do not normally comment, as I said, on individuals, we obviously understand the interest in a candidate that works for the Secretariat and therefore we can confirm that Mr. Pasztor has been nominated by the President of Hungary. The appointment will be made following a normal competitive process run by a selection committee and in consultation with the bureau of the UNFCCC. All candidates will go through the same process. I should tell you -- and this is important -- upon the announcement of his candidacy, Mr. Pasztor was asked to dissociate himself from activities relating to the UNFCCC with immediate effect.

Inner City Press: But how is that possible, to perform the job that he is conducting without in some way dealing with the UNFCCC? Can you explain that?

Elizabeth Thompson on April 15, UN rules and Pasztor not shown

Spokesperson: What I can tell you is that it will be dealt with in a transparent manner and Mr. Pasztor’s office is clearly not involved in the process of selecting a successor to Yvo de Boer. And, as I say, he has been asked to dissociate from activities that relate to the UNFCCC, and that is with immediate effect. And that is what is happening.

This seems like a fake and flimsy safeguard. How can one function as the UN Secretariat's main climate advisor while "dissociat[ing one]self from activities relating to the UNFCCC"? For that, with all due respect for the affable Mr. Pasztor, one should quit or take a leave of absence. It's what Shashi Tharoor did, for example, while he ran unsuccessfully for Secretary General.

It is not enough to says like Ms. Thompson one would abide by UN rules -- because, in essence, there are no UN rules. Watch this space.

Footnote: even to the use of the UN's press briefing room, the stated rule is, questions only by journalists. But at Thursday's session, various Caricom Ambassadors spoke up with prepared statements endorsing Ms. Thompson and nothing was said about it. It's not the ambassadors' fault -- it's the fault of Media Accrditation, which in turn fingers the UN Spokesperson's Office. So when the UN cites its suppposed rules against journalists...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/fccc1pasztor041510.html