In Ukraine, Yanukovych Heads East, Putin and Obama Talk, Including on Syria Hagel Gets His Call, UN Not Shown

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 21 -- Here's how fast things have moved in diplomacy on Ukraine: today Presidents Obama and Putin had a phone conversation which a Senior US State Department Official called "positive" and at the US' initiative.

  The official said that Yanukovych has gone on a trip to his eastern base in the country, and recounted a rumor that the deposed interior minister has fled to Belarus.

  US State Department official William Burns will be heading to Ukraine; Vice President Joe Biden has spoken nine times with Yanukovych: twice in November, once in December, three times in January and on February 4, 18 and 20. Even Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel finally got through to his Ukraine's counterpart.

  Amid the self-congratulation, the United Nations was once again on the margins. The UN has made much of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's talk with Yanukovych at the Sochi Olympics, and another phone call today.

  But tellingly, the Senior US State Department Official while citing a "good offices" role for "the international community" did not mention the UN once, in opening remarks nor in response to the eight questions taken. (Two were from the New York Times, the second of which referred to Putin's call with "President Bush.")  An overly long question from Le Figaro was cut off.

 Back on February 19 when Lithuania's foreign minister Linas Linkevieius came to the UN Security Council stakeout, that country seemed to be the one to ask him about. Inner City Press asked Linkevieius about his visit to Washington; he replied among other things that there is a need for "more coordination." Video here.

  Later on February 19 a US Senior State Department Official told the press that "Russia has not been transparent about what they are doing in Ukraine," citing that Russia for example does not provide read-outs of its contacts in Ukraine. 

  The US' own high level contacts have gotten more difficult: "they are not picking up the phone," the official said, adding that three European Union foreign ministers are on their way.

  Of the four questions Linkevieius took at his UN stakeout, one was on the UN's North Korea report, another on Venezuela. A Russian reporter waiting at the stakeout with his hand raised was not given a question. This is the UN.

  Moments later at the UN's February 19 noon briefing, outgoing UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky was asked about a perceived double standards in responses to Bosnia and Ukraine. (The question was echoed on February 20, comparing Ukraine with Bahrain). Nesirky said every situation is different -- of course -- and also said the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had met for 90 minutes in Sochi with President Yanukovych.

  Ironically the US Senior State Department Official on February 19 was asked about Yanukovych becoming more hardline after his visit to Sochi. From Foggy Bottom to Turtle Bay, the view is different -- in the case of the UN, often marginal and self-serving. For example, Ban Ki-moon gave no read-out of his beginning of the year call with the president of his native South Korea.

  Ah, transparency. Watch this site.

Footnote: On the Obama - Putin "positive" call, Inner City Press muses it may signal a 15-0 vote in the UN Security Council on the Syria humanitarian resolution about which Inner City Press asked State Department deputy spokesperson Marie Harf earlier on February 21, click here for that.

   

As Francois Hollande Dines at White House With Victoria Nuland, Central African Republic Sins UNaddressed, To SF from DC

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 11 -- While Francois Hollande in Washington prepared to dine with President Obama, Victoria "F- the EU" Nuland, Al Sharpton and Samantha Power, his name was invoked at the UN in New York by French Ambassador Gerard Araud, vowing to "go all the way" on the Syria humanitarian draft resolution. Click here for that and here for Russia's reaction.

   Also in the (White) House for the State Dinner were Chuck Schumer, Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan and Bronxite Mary J. Blige.

  Earlier on February 11, Hollande and Obama had discussed the Central African Republic, with nary a mention that the UN's Navi Pillay said on January 20 that France put Muslim communities there at risk of attack by first disarming the ex Seleka. 

   Back on February 10 a correspondent from Le Figaro asked, Why isn't Hollande being allowed to speak to a joint session of Congress, as on visits by previous French presidents?

   A self-described Senior Administration Official cited Hollande's scheduling, that he's traveling to "California to visit some of our most innovative business." And it's true, on February 12 Hollande is slated to be in San Francisco, where France has a consulate which Inner City Press has previously covered.

  Voice of America, which is in essence US state media, asked a questions about the "counter-terrorism" operation in Central African Republic. It seemed a strange formulation; to some it cast in a different light what UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says was France putting Muslim communities at risk by first disarming the ex Seleka.

  Al Hayat asked what President Obama can "offer" Hollande on Syria, and if the US will be attending a Friends of Lebanon Group meeting in Paris. The Senior Administration Official responded that Obama and Hollande will discuss efforts on humanitarian aid in Syria: seemingly, the draft UN Security Council resolution that Russia has already said is a non-starter.

  While the Senior Administration Official said Obama and Hollande will talk about Syria's "moderate opposition," there was no mention, or question, about the UN's finding that the Free Syrian Army recruits and uses child soldiers, supposedly a big issue for France (and subject of the US 2008 Child Soldiers Prevention Act). We'll have more on this.

  In other diplomatic news, in UN Federal court in New York a UN Office of Legal Affairs letter has been filed stating that Indian diplomat Khobragade, who was arrested and strip searched and who the US says it will still go after if she returns to the US, had or obtained full diplomatic immunity. Watch this site.

   

On Syria, France's Fabius in Moscow Quotes Ban Ki-moon's Gun-Jumping, Doesn't Dare Cite ICC

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 17 -- When France's Laurent Fabius and Russia's Sergey Lavrov took questions in Moscow on Tuesday, France like at the UN Security Council the day before did not dare say the words "International Criminal Court."

  Instead, Fabius began filibuster-style to talk about the two countries' cooperation on culture, tourism -- everything but Syria. On that, he quickly cited Ban Ki-moon and his "overwhelming" report, without noting that Ban used that word BEFORE he even saw the report.

  The French journalists called on did their job, Le Figaro for example demanding to know if Russia will support a Chapter 7 resolution. But the US agreement with Russia only provides for Chapter 7 if there is a violation of the framework. And even then, Lavrov said, it would have to be sure the violation was not a provocation by the rebels.

  On Ake Sellstrom's report, Lavrov said it is interim, there are other incidents to be studied. He said that if the Security Council were to immediately jump to Chapter 7 on allegations of chemical weapons use, the Council would be taken "hostage" -- a word that others have used.

And what, Inner City Press asks again, of the UN staff held hostage by the rebels? After pressing the UN's Valerie Amos for the number of UN staff killed -- eleven -- Inner City Press asked Ban's associate spokesperson Farhan Haq if there are UN staff held by the rebels. Yes, he said, then refused to provide further information. Hostage, indeed.

Lavrov said the UN's main role, after the OPCW signs off, will be with regard to the protection of the inspectors. On that he said the responsibility is for the Syrian government, and in cases, by the rebels. So, a Security Council output on the OPCW and on protection of inspectors.

If there are obstacles, Lavrov said, the Security Council will take the appropriate measures against any party not respecting their commitments. And any party means the rebels too.

Fabius was asked about the split between the US and France (and the UK), and danced around the question, turning into a show of past French peaceful bona fides. But once the US signed the framework with Russia in Geneva, France's approach was gone. Watch this site.

Footnote: Perhaps France's echoing of Ban Ki-moon is a reason Ban gave one of his merely three questions Monday to Agence France Presse -- that and some more local dynamics.

 And while France's Deputy Permanent Representative would not answer Inner City Press' ICC question on camera on Monday, afterward as we noted his colleague came to tell Inner City Press that yes, France wants the ICC in any resolution. 

   

In UN, Ban Ki-moon's Censorship Partners UNCA Mock Woman Alleging Sexual Harassment

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 8 – The group UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave lunch and quotes to on February 7, the Executive Committee of the UN Correspondents Association, is not only engaged in censorship and trying to get the investigative Press thrown out of the UN.

As became more evident on February 8, they are also prepared to mock a woman complaining of sexual harassment, and to make anonymous postings to this effect. This is Ban Ki-moon's UN Censorship Alliance: UNCA.

  On the morning of February 8 an off the record briefing was held at a UN member state's mission. Because it was deemed off the record, Inner City Press which like the UNCA Executive Committee members and some others attended, is not stating which country's mission it was.

  A UN accredited journalist, also on the list and let into the mission, was seated when she was asked into the entrance to speak with a mission representative. She was asked to leave; she asked Inner City Press and another member of the Free UN Coalition to Access to try to mediate.

   This proved impossible. But during the discussion, the UNCA Executive Committee members gawked through the open door, and mocked the woman who was being asked to leave.

   Finally the woman came into the briefing room and asserted, with quaking voice, that she was being asked to leave due to a past case of quid pro quo sexual harassment. “He tried to conquer me,” she said.

   Several UNCA Executive Committee members laughed openly. The Wall Street Journal's part time UN correspondent Joe Lauria joked, “Did anyone get that on tape? How can I cover it if I don't have it on tape?”

   But none of the UNCA Executive Committee members present, including UNCA President Pamela Falk of CBS, covered the woman's complaint. 

  Rather, through a counterfeit social media account they established, they joked that the woman, identifying her as a FUNCA member, "was expelled from [name of country's] briefing" and said that Inner City Press "broke solidarity and stayed."

   The woman in question has now authorized and asked Inner City Press to write about her case. The briefer, in fairness, is one of the most astute UN observers.

   Back inside the UN, Inner City Press for FUNCA asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesman a question about Ban's favoring of UNCA despite its record – a question that got cut off and censored from UNTV, click here for that.

  Meanwhile upstairs on UN press(second)  floor material was torn down from the door to Inner City Press' cubible office, and a new flyer was posted: “We will not be conquered!”

Inner City Press cubicle door at UN Feb 8, 2013: Ban Ki-moon not shown

   This is a reference to the woman's sexual harassment claim. This is taking place inside the UN, on the second floor over the Dag Hammarskjold Library, by the group that Ban Ki-moon partners with on media matters.

The tearing down of FUNCA flyers and the counterfeiting has been raised to UN officials, including at least one in attendance at Ban's February 7 session with the UNCA Executive Committee, and "new" UNCA President Pam Falk, have been made aware, but both have continued. 

Ban Ki-moon's UNCA Lunch of the Lost, Feb 7, 2013, credit Evan Schneider, UNPhoto. From left: OSSG's Del Buey; Denis Fitzgerald of Saudi Press Agency; OSSG's Nesirky; Melissa Kent of CBC; Sylviane Zehil of L'Orient le Jour; Tim Witcher of AFP; Ali Barada of An-Nahar; Ban Ki-moon, Kahraman Halicelik of Turkish Radio & TV; Pamela S. Falk of CBS; Lou Charbonneau of Reuters; Bouchra Benyoussef of Maghreb Arab Press; Yasuomi Sawa of Kyodo News; Masood Haider of Dawn; Unkonwn; Zhenqiu Gu of Xinhua; Stephane Dujarric of UN DPI

  Who are followers of UNCA's counterfeit social media account now mocking a woman alleging sexual harassment?

   These include UNCA first vice president Louis Charbonneau of Reuters, as well as his predecessor Evelyn Leopold and his co-worker Michelle Nichols, whose news sense is tweeting on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Did that anger them, or a reference to Charbonneau's stumpy blazer? Reuters is responsible for them, even their thinly veiled "anonymous" mocking of those alleging sexual harassment.

    Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reflect the adoption of a policy of not responding to any Inner City Press question or complaint on the part ofReuters editors Stephen J. Adler, Walden Siew, and Paul Ingrassia, and the more anonymous editors of Agence France Presse.

  The followers include two reporters of another wire service cited favorably by Ban's spokesman on February 8.

   They include the former UK spokesman Daniel Shepherd and the current spokesman for the French Mission to the UN, Brieuc Pont, as well two French reporters at the UN: Karim Lebhour of RFI and Adele Smith of Le Figaro. Joe Lauria of the WSJ, with his less than 300 followers, after laughing at the woman alleging sexual harassment, has also followed.

   The followers also include Voice of America, whose Margaret Besheer pushed to get Inner City Press expelled from the UN in 2012, saying she had the support of Charbonneau of Reuters and Tim Witcher of Agence France Presse. There are more, and there is more to say. Watch this site.