After French Defense Minister Le Drian Met UN's Ban Ki-moon & Ladsous, No Read-Out: Used CAR

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 4 -- More than twenty four hours after French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian came to the UN on October 3 and met the UN's Ban Ki-moon and former French diplomat Herve Ladsous, the UN had provided no read-out.

  Earlier on October 3 Le Drian had met with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Hagel said they discussed if France will join the US in airstrikes in Syria. Did Le Drian discuss this with Ban and Ladsous as well?

 Even France 24 reported what Hagel said. To extrapolate to the UN is not a stretch - except, apparently, for big wigs or grands fromages in the UN press corps. At NPR, Michele Kelemen interviewed Le Drian who said France is very "transparent" about its positions on Syria. So why no read-out?

 There emerges a photo of Le Drian and Ladsous, marking some agreement, here. Ostensibly it's for the French troops in Sangaris to cooperate with Ladsous' MINUSCA mission in the Central African Republic. But with reports of French troops killing in CAR, most recently in Bambari, would UN Peacekeeping under former French diplomat Herve Ladsous really look into this? He does not answer Press questions.

   As regards Syria, Ladsous most recently ordered peacekeepers from Fiji and the Philippines to surrender to the Jabhat al Nusra rebels, or terrorists, in the Golan Heights.

  When Inner City Press tried to asked Ladsous questions on September 26, Ladsous refused to answer. On September 27, as Inner City Press filmed from the entirely legal UN General Assembly stakeout area, Ladsous came over and blocked Inner City Press' camera and demanded, what do you want with this?

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has been asked twice about what Ladsous did, for the Free UN Coalition for Access, but has yet to respond. Dujarric previously told FUNCA that then French Ambassador Gerard Araud should have accorded a UN correspondent from Lebanon (more) respect rather than telling the correspondents, “You are not a journalist, you are an agent.” But Dujarric declined to instruct the French mission to this effect. Of Araud's replacement Francois Delattre the Press so far knows little but retains an open mind.

  We repeat, now also on behalf of FUNCA:

  For a meeting like Ban's with Le Drian, there should be a a read-out. Watch this site.

   

When French Defense Minster Le Drian Met UN's Ban Ki-moon and Herve Ladsous, Was Syria on Agenda as Hagel Said?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 3 -- When French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian came to the UN on October 3, he was running late. But what topics would he discuss with the UN's Ban Ki-moon?

  Earlier in the day Le Drian had met with US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Hagel said they discussed if France will join the US in airstrikes in Syria. Would Le Drian discuss this with Ban as well?

 (Even France 24 reported what Hagel said. To extrapolate to the UN is not a stretch - except, apparently, for big wigs or grands fromages in the UN press corps.)

With Ban for the meeting was Herve Ladsous, a former French diplomat who is the fourth Frenchman in a row to head UN Peacekeeping. As regards Syria, Ladsous most recently ordered peacekeepers from Fiji and the Philippines to surrender to the Jabhat al Nusra rebels, or terrorists, in the Golan Heights.

  When Inner City Press tried to asked Ladsous questions on September 26, Ladsous refused to answer. On September 27, as Inner City Press filmed from the entirely legal UN General Assembly stakeout area, Ladsous came over and blocked Inner City Press' camera and demanded, what do you want with this?

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has been asked twice about what Ladsous did, for the Free UN Coalition for Access, but has yet to respond. Dujarric previously told FUNCA that then French Ambassador Gerard Araud should have accorded a UN correspondent from Lebanon (more) respect rather than telling the correspondents, “You are not a journalist, you are an agent.” But Dujarric declined to instruct the French mission to this effect. Of Araud's replacement Francois Delattre the Press so far knows little but retains an open mind.

  Conceivably Le Drian would begin with discussion of Mali and the Central African Republic, French operations Serval and Sangaris respectively. In Mali Ladsous stands accused by Chad of using Chadian troops as cannon fodder. In Central African Republic, the Sangaris forces killed seven in Bambari this week; Inner City Press asked Dujarric if Ladsous' MINUSCA mission will look into it: no answer.

  For a meeting like Ban's with Le Drian, there should be a a read-out. Watch this site.

   

As Egypt Jails Journalists, US Gives 10 Apache Copters, State's Malinowski Cites Costs

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 25 -- As Press Freedom seasons heats up, some were surprised by this week's US announcement of renewed military aid to Egypt, including 10 Apache helicopters. Isn't Egypt the country with journalists including but not limited to those of Al Jazeera locked up?

After questions, the State Department clarified the specifics of aid to Egypt on April 24:

"The Egypt bilateral foreign assistance budget for FY2014 is approximately $1.5 billion and includes $1.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) – $200 million in Economic Support Funds; and over $7 million for other security assistance programs, including International Military Education and Training, International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, and Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs. The $650 million from FY2014 FMF will be the first of this funding to move forward, pending Congressional notification and approval."

  The next day new US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Tom Malinowski was asked about the detained Al Jazeera journalists. He replied that withholding of one additional certification is in part due to the Al Jazeera case, and therefore the case has consequences.

  But here is how US Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby explained the certification:

Secretary Hagel told General Sobhy that we are not yet able to certify that Egypt is taking steps to support a democratic transition, and he urged the Egyptian government to demonstrate progress on a more inclusive transition that respects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Egyptians.

Secretary Hagel also informed Minister Sobhy of President Obama's decision to deliver ten Apache helicopters in support of Egypt’s counterterrorism operations in the Sinai. The secretary noted that we believe these new helicopters will help the Egyptian government counter extremists who threaten U.S., Egyptian, and Israeli security.

  While some say "safe and free," the above shows the relationship between "U.S., Egyptian, and Israeli security" and the freedom of the press issues at stake in Egypt. Watch this site.

Footnote: Freedom of the press issues have arisen at the UN with respect to Voice of America, on whose Broadcasting Board of Governors John Kerry serves. Freedom of Information Act requests have been filed with the BBG - andwith the State Department, including with regard to South Sudan and the US Atrocities Prevention Board. Watch this site.

In DC, Ban Ki-moon to Meet Syria Skeptics Hagel & Dempsey: On Ukraine or UN at War?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 7 , more here -- Days after the UN and US were contradicted by the Syrian Coalition on who took over Kassab, on April 7 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq announced that "on Friday, 11 April, the Secretary-General will visit the Pentagon, where he will meet with US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey."

  To some it might seem inappropriate, a UN Secretary General meeting with the head of a country's military. Ban could claim, as his or France's head of Peacekeeping Herve Ladsous implied but never already about his meeting with Sudan's ICC-indicted president Bashir, that it is all about peacekeeping. But would Ban meet the head of Russia's military? China's?

 Later on April 7 the Wall Street Journal reported that while US Secretary of State John Kerry favors increased military action against Bashar al Assad, Hagel and Dempsey are skeptical. So, beyond Ukraine, where Ban met with the leader of the Svoboda Party, is this Ban Ki-moon's agenda with Hagel and Dempsey?

  On Syria, the issue of the over-running of largely Armenian Kessab has been brewing for days, including around the UN Security Council, in Hollywood and in Washington. 

  On April 2 Inner City Press asked UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq if the UN had any access to or knowledge about Kessab, including who did what there. Haq said the UN doesn't know that. Video here, from Minute 13:50. Shouldn't it?

  Kim "Famous For Being Famous" Kardashian has gotten involved, due to the Armenian connection; this played a role in US Ambassador Samantha Power being asked about the issue when she testified about the Obama Administration's international organizations budget.

At least one UN wag muses that Russia might want to convene Kardashian to the UN for an Arria formula meeting on Kessab, or Kassab -- others from Hollywood have come to testify on other issues, why not this one?

  Power is quoted (mostly in the Armenian press) as saying, " I would note that, unfortunately, the extremist group that appears to have taken hold of that town is not one that the United States and the United Nations overall has a great deal of leverage over."

Update: but here is a photo of Syria Coalition Jarba, here.

  Some are saying that it was ISIL / ISIS -- that is, the extremists -- did it, but on April 2 Ahmed al Jarba's Syria Coalition put this out:

Syrian Coalition: Russian accusations against rebels in Kasab are false

Khalid Saleh, President of the Media Office, commends "the heroes of the Free Syrian Army for their honorable treatment of the Armenian inhabitants of Kasab following the liberation of the town." Saleh described Russia's calls for the UN Security Council to discuss "the extremist militants' violations" against the Armenian population of the town as "baseless accusations through which Russia seeks to shuffle the cards and to deflect the attention of the international community away from the massacres committed by the Assad regime against the Syrian people. "The Armenians are a fundamental part of the Syrian fabric and the rebels continue to protect them in Aleppo and Kasab. We expect the Russians to demonstrate seriousness in reaching a political solution to end the bloodshed, but the only language that the Assad regime and its allies understand is the language of militarization and bombing of civilians," Saleh said. In a similar vein, The Syrian Coalition has renewed confidence in the Free Syrian Army’s ability to protect all civilians, regardless of religious, ethnic and political affiliation. Recently, different fighting groups issued a number of statements, in which they reiterated their commitment to protecting civilian population across Syria. "Every time rebels gain ground, the Assad regime leads a smear campaign to discredit rebels. As the rebels advance in the Kassab area, Assad continues to create smear ads. Activists posted a video on social networks reaffirming their commitment to protect holy places. In the video the Armenian Church appears intact." The Syrian Coalition also stresses that it is committed to the unity of Syrian society and the FSA is committed to the protection of civilians against Assad’s militias. It is vital that the international community realize that the Assad regime has to be removed, so that the Syrian people can decide their own future and build a pluralistic, democratic, and free Syria." The Syrian Coalition also demands that the international community put pressure on the Assad regime to stop the fierce military campaign waged against the people of Mount Turkman. "The Assad regime is attempting to eliminate the cultural components that have long enriched the Syrian civilization throughout history. It should have also followed the example of the FSA fighters, who liberated the town of Kassab without committing any violations against the Armenian population of the town, nor did they attack churches or houses of worship." The Syrian Coalition also calls on the FSA fighters not to harm any of the people in the coastal region, including Kassab, which contains one of the most important historical monuments in the world. "We have to protect the civilians in the areas that we liberate, regardless of their views or orientation. FSA fighters must fight those who are armed and that kill the civilians on charges of supporting the revolution. The Assad regime poses a threat not only to Syrian culture, but also to the regional and global culture.” Mohammed Sarmin, Advisor to the interim Prime Minister, visited the town of Kassab north of Latakia and met with the leader of the Western Front, Colonel Mustafa Hashim, and leaders of the Ansar Al Sham brigade. Sarmini handed them the aid sent by the Syrian interim government to the coastal front. He also toured some medical centers and field hospitals, stressing the readiness of the Ministry of Health in the interim government to provide all kinds of medical support. The Shariah Committee in Mount Turkman condemns the murder of two young men by Assad's shabiha in the dominantly Turkman neighborhood of Ali Jamal in central Latakia as a retaliation to the victories of the Free Syrian Army in Latakia province, in which the Turkman fighters played a vital role. The spokesman for the Sharia Committee also said that the battle for the Syrian coast has not witnessed any revenge killings, based on ideology, religion or race. The Syrian minorities, which the Assad claims he protect, are playing a vital role in the battle, which proves to the whole world that the Assad regime lies when it talks about protection of minorities. (Source: Syrian Coalition)

  And here is Jarba's tweeted photo. So now what? Watch this site.

Update 2: After Inner City Press asked about Kassab on April 2, when it asked again on April 3 UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said he'd sent some information to those who asked about Kassab on April 2 - but not to Inner City Press. After Inner City Press asked about a letter from Armenia's foreign minister on April 3, Haq's office squawked confirmation then sent this:

Subject: Your question on Kassab
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Thu, Apr 3, 2014 at 2:38 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Cc: Stephane Dujarric [at] un.org

The Office of the Spokesperson can confirm that the Secretary-General has received a letter from the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia, concerning the attacks in Kassab, Syria.

  Now what?

    

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.

   

At CFR, Ban Ki-moon Is All About Syria, Stonewalls on Sri Lanka & UN Corruption

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, February 11 – It was carefully scripted, when UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations on Monday evening. 

  It was set up to only take questions from dues-paying CFR members, chosen by Christiane Amanpour after ten minutes of her own questions.

  But when two unexpected questions were raised -- about the UN's failure in Sri Lanka and what it learned from the so-called Petrie Report, and about the UN's lack of transparency and hiring of some incompetent high officials under Ban -- the questions simply weren't answered.

  And neither the softball Sri Lanka questioner nor Amanpour followed up. Ban answered the Sri Lanka question by talking about Mali, then praised the questioner (who had refused to disclose even the topics of his meeting with Ban, or his organization's position on Ban's UN moving to use drones).

  The session ended with a question chosen from the chair of Ban's own Democracy Fund. It was like Ban's lunch of the lost last week, with the 13 opaque apostles of UNCA. 

  There, as at CFR, the topic of the UN bringing cholera into Haiti wasn't raised, as Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky tersely disclosed to Inner City Press on February 8. It was Syria, Syria, Syria. And all to what end?

   One good question asked by Amanpour was who in North Korean Ban has spoken to. No one, as it turns out. Ban says the North Koreans don't speak to any outside by telephone. Then what is the smart phone Kim Jong-Un was seen with for?

   Ban said he is going to Washington on Wednesday and Thursday. 

  A questioner CFR member from the UN press corps, who has hissed that only UNCA and not FUNCA, the Free UN Coalition for Access launched after UNCA tried expelling journalists from the UN, was called on and said that Congress, apparently as a whole, doesn't like foreigners. Tell that to Chuck Hagel.

   Down in Washington, one wonders if Ban will be asked about the waste and fraud in his UMOJA program, and the memo exclusively published by Inner City Press today complaining that Ban's Office of Internal Oversight Services dropped its investigation. And will the session and questions, and requirement of answers, be fairer than Monday at CFR? We'll see.

Footnote: at other CFR events, similarly attended, Inner City Press as a non CFR member journalists has gotten questions in. But Amanpour announced from the start it would be members only. In the front row was Ban's political adviser Jeffrey Feltman, and the president of his partner in censorship, also a CFR member. 

  That this UN Censorship Alliance or UNCA has most recently mocked an alleged victim of sexual harassment , including with a flyer posted on the door of Inner City Press' UN cubicle office on February 8 and still up late on February 11 after the CFR event, while tearing down FUNCA flyers about free speech and reform, has not been acted on. But it will be raised. Watch this site.

In DC Reshuffle, Citigroup-er Lew Eyed for Treasury, of Barney Frank, FOIA & Rendition

By Matthew Russell Lee

WASHINGTON, January 9 -- Alongside President Barack Obama's nominations of John Kerry, Chuck Hagel and John Brennan, the post of Treasury Secretary is said to be slated for former Citigroup-er Jack Lew.

  Given Citigroup's role in predatory lending and the global financial meltdown, some are asking how could a senior Citigroup official during the critical time from 2006 through 2008 be considered for Treasury Secretary?

  Others counter-argue that Lew worked for Tip O'Neill, the Speaker of the House from Massachusetts, albeit in 1979.

  Meanwhile, former Congressman from Massachusetts Barney Frank has let it be known he'd like to be appointed as temporary fill-in Senator for John Kerry, nominated instead of Susan Rice to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State.

  One wag suggested, if MoveOn is proposing Paul Krugman to replace (non) tax man Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary, why not Barney Frank? Why not Daniel Tarullo?

  Lower down the financial food chain, the name of Nicholas Retsinas has been floated for FHFA. And in anti-Freedom of Information Act news, now that Lisa Jackson who created fake e-mail accounts to evade FOIA has stepped down, should compliance with Government in the Sunshine laws be a criteria for the Environmental Protection Agency and all other top appointments?

  On Chuck Hagel's nomination as Defense Secretary, now Elliot Abrams has been disavowed by his current employer, the Council on Foreign Relations (whose chief, Robert Haas, makes $800,000 a year, it has emerged).

  It's John Brennan's nomination for CIA Director that may face most opposition, on what are diplomatically called enhanced or "unique" interrogation techniques and rendition. Watch this site.