At UN, China Says It's Slandered, No Haiti Relations Due to Taiwan

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/china1slander012810.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 28 -- "China does not have diplomatic relations with Haiti," a senior Chinese diplomat confirmed to Inner City Press over spicy shredded chicken Thursday night at the Chinese Mission to the UN. The reason is that Haiti still recognizes Taiwan.

"But we search our search and rescue," the diplomat continued. Inner City Press informed him that the UN, earlier this week, told the Press that the Chinese search and rescue team, after digging out Chinese casualties under the Christopher Hotel, "returned to Beijing."

"That's just a rumor," the diplomat protested, adding the UN humanitarian chief "John Holmes denied that." But UN Haiti spokesman David Winhurst said that it was true, the Chinese "returned to Beijing."

"We don't care that they think," another Chinese diplomat told Inner City Press.

Inner City Press had suggested that whoever becomes the next Chinese Ambassador to the UN make more of an effort of stating the country's position at the stakeout, as for example both the French and American Ambassadors have done in recent days. The diplomat shrugged. "If you want clarifications or facts, you can call us. But we don't care what they think."

About the International Monetary Fund requiring a reduction in size of the "Chinese" deal with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Chinese diplomat scoffed that it was a deal not by the Chinese government, but "companies." He said of the Joseph Kabila government, "They are sitting on riches but don't have the money to dig them out. We provide that, and the give us minerals, like copper."

He added that the Chinese deal with Guinea, right after the 2009 massacre, was by a Hong Kong based company.

At the Chinese end of Security Council presidency reception on Thursday night, the Permanent Representatives of such Council members as Russia, the UK, Brazil, Mexico and Austria milled around with the Sudanese counterpart. The US was represented by Deputy Alejandro Wolff.

General Assembly President Ali Treki, with bodyguard, put in an appearance. There was Moutai -- cut off when one reporter got too boisterous -- and blackened pepper steak. "We don't care what they think," the diplomat had said -- but this did not appear to apply to, or undermine, the Mission's hospitality. But African resource deals? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/china1slander012810.html

UN Dodges on Search and Safety, 278 National Staff Unaccounted For, Blames Media

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unban5quakehaiti011910.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 19 -- As UN officials in Haiti lash out at the media for reporting on looting, they are unable or unwilling to answer Press questions about the safety of their building, rescue efforts made or a helicopter "crash" that they themselves reported.

Top UN Peacekeeper Alain Leroy on Tuesday morning told Inner City Press he had heard the same reports of a helicopter crash in Haiti, but to ask his deputy Edmond Mulet, who was appear at noon by video link for Haiti.

When he did, Mulet said "I've heard about this crash" but that "the UN and MINUSTAH have nothing to do with it." But the UN says it is playing the central coordinating role.

Inner City Press asked for an update on MINUSTAH's inquiry into the safety of its 1200 national Haitian staff, on whom at first it did not report. Mulet responded that 278 are still unaccounted for, adding that perhaps some are "dealing with their own grievances." Video here, from Minute 21:26.

Speaking of grieving, Inner City Press asked what had been done to try to find and save staffer Alexandra Duguay, an energetic Canadian who until recently worked at UN headquarters, as well as running marathons.

During Sunday's whirlwind tour of Port au Prince by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and some hand selected media, complaints were made that not enough was done to find Ms. Duguay.

Since then, the National Post quoted her parents that she had been found, dead. Still, MINUSTAH spokesman David Wimhurst replied that he had no information, "I don't have" ID's, while mentioning another building that collapsed with ten people inside. Video here, from Minute 32:20.

On Monday evening, Inner City Press directed to Mr. Wimhurst a question about the helicopter crash on which UN sources were reporting, without any further information being given.

Rather, the UN's communications strategy appears to be to attack media which reports on looting or rioting in Haiti.

Mr. Mulet calls such reports "irresponsible" -- he also called looting "normal" -- while Mr. Wimhurst, pointing out that he attended Columbia School of Journalism and was "well trained," chided media for "looking for conflict," for trying to blame the UN for things.

One wonders what Mr. Wimhurst, and others in the UN, thought of the media's coverage of Hurricane Katrina and responses in New Orleans. It is known that the Secretariat and Spokesman have reacted angrily to this comparison.

Mulet said he wasn't aware if the UN's headquarters in the Christopher Hotel, for which it paid out $94,000 a month, had been brought into MOSS compliance. Mulet said all the records were destroyed. It seems strange that records on a contract and lease of this size were stored in the building itself. Mulet said this would be followed up on. We will be following up.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unban5quakehaiti011910.html

At UN, More Troops for Haiti Debated, U.S. Off Table, 6 Hour Visit Detailed

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unban3quakehaiti011810.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 18 -- Into the UN Security Council Monday morning, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his top advisers filed grim faced in. UN Peacekeeping will be asking for authorization of 800 more soldiers and 450 more police, a Western Council member's spokesperson told reporters.

Inner City Press asked, Will the resolution address the increased U.S. military presence? No, the spokesperson said. It is only about MINUSTAH," the UN Mission there. That the Dominican Republic offered a battalion was discussed. The question was, only to police the border?

A scribe chosen to accompany Ban to Haiti on Sunday recounted he was on the ground for barely six hours. He was not present at the Christopher Hotel when the Danish UN staffer was miraculously dug out.

Rather, his spokesperson and that of UN Peacekeeping had run back, while reporters dutifully remained on the UN's bus. The UN documented its own victory over the darkness, by Flip video.

Among Ban's most senior advisors, several chosen correspondents noticed a dandy-ish fur collar and wondered where PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, might be. These same visually oriented correspondents noted at the stakeout Monday morning the bright red tan of a Latin member's spokesman. Inner City Press asked, Haiti? Somewhere nearby, the genial red faced one replied.

The UN reporter for a salmon colored daily, who signed up for the trip on January 13 but was told "no luck" on January 17, ended up relying on the UN's own news service for his critique for American management of the airport. Some wondered whether his realistic assessments of Team Ban had left him off the trip while South Korean media was chosen to go.

The significant other of a still-missing UN staff member complained that no one was or is looking for her, where she was during the quake. Even with the UN dramatically focused on Haiti, these voices seem to get lost.

While the Ban administration is all hands on deck about Haiti, its seeming inability to deal with more than one issue at once is ill-serving it. On Friday Inner City Press began asking Ban's spokesman about attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Today I'm sticking to Haiti, the spokesman archly replied.

While later he related and took the question, three days later there has been no answer.

By Monday's Council meeting, more attacks had taken place in the heart of Kabul. Still no word from the UN. Nor about moves to further muscle the UN out of the climate change negotiation process.

The Council's consultations began, with Ban slated to appear before the press at 10:40 or 10:50 a.m.. Watch this space.

Update of 11:19 a.m. -- When Ban Ki-moon came to the stakeout, he said he would take two questions. The first selected question was what he most moved him personally. The second concerned coordination with the U.S., to which Inner City Press followed out: What about the Doctors Without Borders plane turned back? Ban replied that his envoy Edmond Mulet is working with the Americans. Video here.

Behind Ban, top humanitarian John Holmes whispered to the spokesman. While Ban left for his previously scheduled meeting with UN staff, Holmes stayed to take more questions, including from Inner City Press on mercenaries, Jacmel, fuel and national staff, answers to which are reported on this site, here.

From the UN's transcript:

Inner City Press: Doctors Without Borders was building over the weekend an inflatible hospital. What steps is the UN going to take to make sure, at least at the airport, that these type of needed facilities can get in?

SG: There is an overwhelming situation – bottlenecks – in airport facilities and road conditions and delivering food aid. The US Government has been assisting the Haitian Government with control tower equipment. As you know the control tower has been damaged while the runway was okay. Therefore the United Nations is very closely coordinating with the US authorities to have a smooth operation, and I am grateful that the United States Government has been swiftly and effectively dealing with this, in close coordination with the Unied Nations. Mr. Edmond Mulet has been very closely coordinating with the US ambassador and other key donors at the airport.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unban3quakehaiti011810.html

In Haiti, UN Paid $94,000 a Month for Now Collapsed Hotel, Called It Safe

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un2quakehaiti011310.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 13 -- With the UN's main compound in Haiti in the former Hotel Christoper having collapsed, along with humanitarian concern, questions arose about the appropriateness of the facility.

Back in 2008, Inner City Press repeatedly asked the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations how it had been selected and how much the UN paid for it. Finally, DPKO provided this response which Inner City Press exclusively reported:

"the main MINUSTAH headquarters complex (The Christopher Hotel) is rented directly from a private individual (Dr. Gerard Desir) at the rate of $3.86 per square meter. The total complex is 24,383 square meters which includes parking, office space, pre-fab office space, canteen and conference space. The total monthly rent is thus $94,000. Please note that this does not include the MINUSTAH logbase, which is located on a plot of land provided at no cost by the Haitian Government. The decision to select the Hotel Christopher was based on a locally-completed analytical process which determined that this facility was one of the few premises in Port au Prince which would meet the Mission's requirements with regards to space, water and power . It is also in a neighbourhood that was judged in 2004 to be among the safest in Port au Prince."

On the evening of January 12, DPKO chief Alain Le Roy briefed select journalists while Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, initially silent on a Long Island retreat while officials from U.S. President Obama to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer issued statements, later said he had spoken with Bill Clinton and U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice.

Inner City Press asked DPKO if the Christopher Hotel had been judged MOSS (Minimum Operations Safety Standard) compliant by UN Security. There has been no answer yet.

The UN announced that Mr. Ban, along with Peacekeeping and Humanitarian officials, will take questions from the press on Wednesday morning at 8:20 a.m.. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un2quakehaiti011310.html