Crimea Meeting Lacks 4 UNSC Members, Eastern Ukraine Banking Cut-Off Raised by UN OCHA

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 19 -- When UN humanitarian operations chief John Ging spoke to the press about conditions in Eastern Ukraine on March 19, he said aid groups could not pay their workers there due to the cut-off of the banking system.

   Inner City Press asked Ging if he had raised this in his meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine; Ging said yes but not the deputy prime minister's response or any fix.

  Later on March 19 Inner City Press asked the Permanent Representatives of Ukraine and Lithuania about what Ging had said. Ukraine's Yuriy Sergeyev said his country is open to any objective criticism; he read out a long statement about recent votes of the Rada in Kyiv and vowed that the issue of Crimea would continue to be raised in the UN.

  That is why Lithunia's Permanent Representative Raimonda Murmokaite was at the UN Television stakeout on the first floor, following an “Arria formula” meeting about Crimea with Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev. 

  On what the UN's John Ging had said, Permanent Representative Murmokaite said while of course Kyiv could do more, the fault lay mostly with the separatists and their supporters. Russia had said it would not attend the Arria formula meeting; as it turned out, also declining to attend were China, Angola and Venezuela. 

  One long-time Council watcher told Inner City Press this was the largest number of no-shows for a Arria formula meeting in memory. 

  Speaking of memory, it seemed ironic that the first floor stakeout where Murmokaite and Dzhemilev spoke shared the wide UN hallway with a large memorial to the life of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.  Murmokaite pointed out, correctly, that she spoke in front of a UN logo backdrop brought to the first floor stakeout location. 

   Further inquiry by Inner City Press gleaned that the request had been to hold the stakeout in the 1B level, but it was denied due to too many people walking by that location. The battle for space in the UN may mirror that in the real world outside. Inner City Press tries to cover both. Watch this site.

   

At UN on Chavez, IMF, Brecht & Marti, FM Jaua Answers ICP on Syria, Jimmy Carter, Probe

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 13 – After a more than two hour memorial for Hugo Chavez in the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Inner City Press asked Venezuela's foreign minister Elias Jaua about his country's position on Syria.

  Jaua said Venezuela opposes any foreign intervention, “direct or indirect.” He said the solution should come from the Syrian people (“pueblo”), with international help, but peacefully. He did not explain more. Video here.

  Asked about elections and an investigation mentioned by Nicolas Maduro, Jaua cited Jimmy Carter as validating previous Venezuelan elections, and findings that Chavez' cancer was “strange.”

  The United States, when there was silence in the Security Council, sent a person multiply described as a lower level diplomat. Wednesday as the longer General Assembly memorial began, China's Li Baodong and Russia's Vitaly Churkin went into the GA.

  Later, much later, Inner City Press witnessed a legal adviser from the US Mission going in, near the end of the memorial.

  In the speeches, there were more literary references than is usual for the UN. The Permanent Representative of Uruguay cited Bertolt Brecht. (Afterward, in front of the GA, he told Inner City Press he was quoting MERCOSUR.) 

  The Permanent Representative of Argentina quoted Jose Marti about “rivers of bones,” leading to the wonder if there can be poetry in consultations of the Security Council, reform of which Chavez called for in 2006, and on which Argentina now serves for two years.

Bolivia's Permanent Representative offered “revolutionary greetings” to Jaua, and said Chavez stood up to the IMF. While Chile was speaking, Inner City Press mused on Twitter that it was Michele Bachelet should should have spoken for the UN. A helpful reply came in, linking to Bachelet calling Chavez “un gran amigo.”

  When UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke, he cited Chavez' work in Haiti. It was hard not to think: the UN brought cholera, then found the legal claims “not receivable.” Jamaica's former prime minister P J Patterson has called the UN's rule “disgusting.” What would Chavez have said?

Footnote: in the entrance of the GA is a photo exhibit of the victims in Halabja. One floor down in the basement, it is now said that the Security Council will move out on March 28. Watch this site.

On DRC, ICP Asks Ban Ki-moon of Inaction on Minova Rapes, He Says Doing Utmost

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, March 5 -- After a UN Security Council session on the Democratic Republic of Congo, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon emerged to take questions from the media. 

  The two questions selected were on North Korea and Hugo Chavez. Then Inner City Press asked, “A Congo question?” Ban said yes.

  Inner City Press asked about the 126 rapes by the Congolese Army in Minova from November 20 to 22, and the seeming failure of UN Peacekeeping under Herve Ladsous to implement Ban's stated Human Rights Due Diligence policy.

  That policy prohibits the UN from offering support to military units engaged in abuses like the rapes at Minova.

  Three times Ladsous refused to answer Inner City Press' questions about the rapes, each time on video: on November 27, December 7 and December 18, when his spokesman grabbed the UNTV microphone from Inner City Press, click here to view.

  Finally on February 6, after advocacy by the new Free UN Coalition on Access, Ladsous took the question, and said that the UN knows the identity of the majority of the perpetrators of the rape.

  But they have not stopped working with or supporting anyone. After follow-ups, the UN says it is not waiting for the completion of the Congolese investigation. 

  Notably, the DRC ambassador Ignace Gata Mavita in his speech on Tuesday did not mention the Minova rapes, or any investigation.

  It appears that DPKO under Ladsous has created or allowed a rape grace period, at least with respect to Minova.

  In his response to Inner City Press' question on Tuesday, Ban Ki-moon said that the new framework will address sexual violence.

   Ban Ki-moon said the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy is always applied wherever the UN is operating. He said that discussing this matter himself and through his Special Representatives on ending sexual violence in conflict, he aims to give the highest political priorities at the leaders' level and protect the human right rights and human dignity of the civilian population.

   Ban Ki-moon concluded, we will do our best, we will use our utmost efforts.

   Even French minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem told Inner City Press earlier on Tuesday that “time is the enemy” in rape investigations; Inner City Press suggested she convey this to Ladsous.

   Ban Ki-moon, of course, would be in the best position to get this issue address and his stated policy implemented. Watch this site.

From the UN's March 5, 2013 transcription:

Inner City Press:  I wanted to ask you about these rapes in Minova [in eastern DRC]. I wanted to get your direct answer on this. There is something called the human rights due diligence policy – the UN is not supposed to support units of the FARDC [Congolese armed forces] who engaged in abuse. But your own DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] has said that there were 126 rapes in Minova in late November… It’s been 3.5 months and Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous [Under-Secretary-General of DPKO] has said they know identity of the perpetrators. How can it be implemented so that those who engage in abuse don’t receive support from MONUSCO or yourself? Thank you.

SG Ban Ki-moon: This Framework is going to address comprehensively all of the situations. Of course sexual violence is one of the areas the United Nations will continue to address. This is not only in the DRC, [but] all around the world in conflict areas. The human rights due diligence policy will be always applied, wherever the United Nations will be operating. And I have been discussing this matter, directly myself and through my Special Representatives, on ending sexual violence in conflict zones, to give political priority, highest political priority, at the leaders’ level to eradicate sexual violence and protecting the human rights, human dignity, of civilian populations. The Framework for the security, cooperation, and development of the DRC is focusing on this issue. Of course, peace and stability will be the key concerns and priority. But to have peace and security, we need to protect the civilian population, particularly women and girls whose human rights have been abused during the last many, many, many years. We will do our best, our utmost efforts, to eliminate this practice. Thank you very much.

UN GA Schedule Has Iran, Chavez & Sri Lanka, Syria on Last Day, Qatar on First

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, August 14 -- After next month's UN General Assembly is kicked off on the morning of Tuesday, September 25 by Brazil's Dilma Rousseff and US President Barack Obama, then things get interesting. Inner City Press is putting the Provisional List of Speakers online here.

  The next day, Iran's head of state Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to speak in the morning. Sri Lanka's Mahinda Rajapaksa starts that afternoon's session, which includes Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe.

  Also on the afternoon of September 26 is Rwanda's President Paul Kagame, followed the next morning by Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the so-called M23 mutineers probably still on the agenda.

  But another son-of-a-leader, Syria's Bashar al-Assad, is not scheduled to come. Syria is related to what some call "garbage time" the next week and even month. On Monday, October 1, Syria is penciled in at only the Ministerial level.

  The same is true of the world's most populous democracy, India: only a minister will come, on October 1. Ethiopia, perhaps not surprisingly, plans to send its Deputy Prime Minister, on Friday, September 28 -- the same day Venezuela's Head of State -- Hugo Chavez? -- is scheduled to speak.

  Evo Morales of Bolivia is the last speaker on September 26, perhaps ready with the coca leaf he's waved before. Palestine is the last speaker on the morning of September 27 -- will another announcement be made?

  Turkey, which roughed up UN Security during Mahmoud Abbas' presentation last year, is set this year for the first day, but not in the premium time between Barack Obama and, well, France's new president Francois Hollande.

  In that Tuesday morning space is Qatar, armer of rebels everywhere, and Serbia whose Vuk Jeremic will have taken over the presidency of the the General Assembly from Qatar. 

  Morocco is in there, in the midst of its supposed dispute with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about his Western Sahara envoy Christopher Ross.

  Also Tuesday morning there is Cyprus, which holds the presidency of the European Union (whose own spot comes on the next afternooon), Georgia, Indonesia and Bulgaria, sure to talk about this summer's terrorist attack.

Tuesday afternoon, beyond Turkey, has Finland (which isrunning for a Security Council seat against Australia -- confined to Thursday -- and Luxembourg). There are also Argentina sure to talk about the Malvinas, and Myanmar, unlikely to meaningfully address the abused Rohingyas.

What will have happened with the Rohingyas, with Assad and M23, by this debate in late September? Watch this site.

At UN, Venezuela Bicentenial Feted by Oscar D'Leon, on Eve of Sudan Vote

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 7 -- Just after Hugo Chavez resurfaced after diagnosis of a tumor in Cuba, the Venezuelan Mission to the UN threw a bash for the country's bicentenial, with Oscar D'Leon backed by trombones, tres and violin blasting out hits from Puerto Rico, Colombia and even Russia.

The turnout in the UN cafeteria was impressive. Inner City Press spoke with Permanent Representatives ranging from Costa Rica through Haiti to Jamaica, Deputy Perm Reps from Russia to South Africa and larger number diplomats who asked not to be identified.

Palestine's Observer worked the crowd; his delegation explained to Inner City Press that despite whispers they must decide or not to ask for statehood by mid July, that is not the case.

The spokesperson of a Western member of the Security Council told Inner City Press that the South Sudan mission resolution would be voted on at 8 pm; others quickly disagreed.

On a more nitty gritty level, delegates to the UN's Fifth (Budget) Committee reviewed for Inner City Press the recent all-night fight on the Peacekeeping budget.

“The UN won,” a well placed budget maven said. “An issue which had gone unresolved for years, how much to pay the peacekeepers, finally got acted on, despite shouting and yelling from France and others.” A pause. “This is on background, right?”

Russia's Deputy Perm Rep Pankin, never shy, joked that this was much better than dry meetings about the Libya sanctions regime. He said he farewells and left, just before D'Leon launched into a tribute to Russian music.

While the UK's Permanent and Deputy Permanent Representatives put in appearances, the US for example appeared at what's called a lower level, the same individual they sent to the Libya Sanctions committee earlier in the day.

Venezuela's Perm Rep Valero began the proceedings, wishing Hugo Chavez good health, which Oscar D'Leon echoed. There was a hat tip to the Venezuela controlled oil giant Citgo.

Then followed the music, which politics aside took the event over the top. There's been other good music this year, by Cameroon in the UN, and Colombia at the Permanent Representative's house. But Oscar D'Leon in the cafeteria has yet to be topped. Watch this site - and this, Inner City Press debate on BloggingHeads.tv on July 7.

At UN, Peru's Toledo Coy about Election, Blasts Chavez, Draws Venezuelan Protest

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unu1toledo032610.html

UNITED NATIONS, March 26 -- Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, reportedly polling at 11% support in the run up to the 2011 election, spoke Friday at the UN in New York. Inner City Press asked him about his poll numbers and plans, including if he might join forces with the leader of the Partido Popular Cristiano, Lourdes Flores Nano, who polls lower at six percent.

"I understand you are a journalist," Toledo began. "You do your job and I do mine. I am not a candidate, I'm sorry to disappoint you." He paused. "At least not yet."

Toledo went on to describe his "heavy burden" as the first president elected in 500 years from "an Andean background... I'm concerned how to implement, how to change lives."

Describing his life as a professor, he concluded that he'd "lost him mind" once moving from "academia to politics, I'm trying to be care not to commit the same mistake."

Toledo was also asked, twice, about Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. Toledo contrasts a leader flush with oil money with one, implicitly like him, who tries to manage an economy correctly. He denounced the shutting down of media and arrests of political opponents.

A representative of Venezuela's Mission to the UN ran out into the hallway of the UN's new Temporary North Lawn Building, clutching his cell phone. Later, a more senior Venezuelan representative, Ms. Medina, entered the room. She was given the last question of the UN University event.

She chided Toledo for criticizing President Chavez without giving any notice to the Venezuelan Mission, calling this "cobardia" or cowardice.

The audience, with many Toledo supporters in attendance, booed the use of this word, and urged the UNU moderator to cut off the question. But Ms. Medina continued, in Spanish, with the colleague who had called her providing a monotone translation.

She said the Toledo had supported the coup against Chavez in 2003. While some argue that it was not a coup at all, Toledo when he responded countered that he had issued a press released condemning the attempt to oust Chavez. He conceded that for a time his popularity had sunk to 8%, but he said this was because he was not "managing for polls." Ms. Medina rolled her eyes. She said Toledo did not understand democracy.

Afterwards, Ms. Medina was heard to say while in the UN coffee line that "there are going to be problems." It was unclear if this meant a complaint against UNU. She also told a journalist to be sure to report "objectively." Or what?

Also after the showdown, sources say that Toledo's wife complained to the UNU moderator about the Venezuelan intervention, and ask that he deliver a short apology for the camera crew following Toledo. Some surmised a campaign commercial being filmed.

At Friday's UN noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky about the relation between UNU and the UN, and whether UN events held inside UN buildings implied that member states have the "right of reply" as they have in the General Assembly. Nesirky said he'd look into it. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unu1toledo032610.html

At UN Entrance, Chavez on Zelaya, Mugabe, Obama Watch, Turkmen and Entourage

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un64ga1m092309.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 23, updated -- At the UN's entrance Wednesday morning, Robert Mugabe and then Hugo Chavez came in. Chavez came over to the crowded stakeout the Press was penned into, and even answered a few questions. Zelaya? He is "un valiente," a valiant. Chavez said he hasn't been to the UN General Assembly for three years, but he is hoping for "good speeches."

One TV journalist yelled out, "Any books for President Obama?" The reference was to Chavez' gift of Chomsky to Bush. Inner City Press wonders, if not sulfur, what will it smell like?

The second entering president to speak to the Press was Fernandez of the Dominican Republic, with what one photographer called an "insanely large" entourage. As he spoke about coup d'etat -- presumably, Honduras -- a trio of journalists with "Turkmenistan" emblazoned on their jackets grumbled. Who is this guy?

The question was, where is Obama? Michele Obama came in...

Update of 9:32 a.m. -- security tells the Press, Obama will arrive in two minutes. The Press is locked in the stakeout. As we wait, Inner City Press is asked, why does Brazil always speak first? A UN staffer answers, the first GA president did it, and they've kept the tradition.

During the wait, a UN security officer tells TV camera people to stop standing on the chairs. When they ignore him, he starts taking the chairs. The camera people just push closer to the front edge of the stakeout.

Even diplomats are stopped for a time from entering. A Sri Lankan diplomat flashes her "secondary pass," but the security officer shrugs. You have to wait just like the others. Entourages pour in.

Update of 9:40 p.m. -- the two minutes have turned to eight. Now a security officer says, in Spanish, cinco minutos. Then, diez minutos. There is a strangely near reverential lull and silence.

Update of 9:42 a.m. - Gaddafi comes in. "What is your message to the people of Britain?" one journalist shouts out. Gaddafi is flashing theV peace sign -- for the record, two fingers. He is trailed by women in combat fatigues with long black hair.

Update of 9:53 a.m. -- Rwanda's President Paul Kagame walks in, and no one at the stakeout calls out a question or even notices, so intent on Obama's now delayed entrance.... We can call this, political paparazzi....

Update of 9:59 a.m. -- "this is is," the woman from the UN's Department of Public Information says. And after a slew of security officers, there is Obama, waving to the Press. Reporters shout only his name, no questions. Then in his wake, anther call: "Hilary!" By the time Ambassador Susan Rice walks by, next to a tall red headed woman -- we are assuming Samantha Power -- no reporter shouts anything. Two minutes later, the stakeout has emptied out. It's all about Obama...

Update of 10:26 a.m. -- as Obama, with the green marble backdrop, says the U.S. will work with Russia, the UN TV camera pans to Russia's seat, in which the country's Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin sits nonplussed. Coming up from the stakeout, reporters are crowded around TV screens on the third floor -- even without sound! filming each other! It is hard to describe Obama's tone: teacher-ly? He might (want to) appear to be lecturing...

Update of 10:31 a.m. -- a press conference by the spokesman for Japan's new prime minister, which was scheduled to start at 10 a.m., has been delayed. Deferred, one might say, out of deference, not wanting to overlap with Obama. Perhaps its that no repoters would go to the Japanese presser at this time. The next is Spain's Zapatero at noon.

Update of 11:39 a.m. -- Obama went 38 minutes, and Gaddafi for now is at 32 minutes. He has called the Security Council the "Terror Council." This is the PG version of what he may do and say in the Security Council tomorrow...

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un64ga1m092309.html

Zelaya and d'Escoto Flew in Chavez' Plane, Some Questions UNanswered

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/unpga5honduras070609.html

UNITED NATIONS, July 6 -- Venezuela's Hugo Chavez provided the plane on which Manuel Zelaya and UN General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann flew July 5 over Tegucigalpa, d'Escoto Brockmann's spokesman Enrique Yeves confirmed to Inner City Press on July 6.

Brockmann's return from his native Nicaragua to brief the General Assembly in New York will be paid "from the President's budget," Yeves said, adding that the PGA's budget is "audited by external and internal auditors like everything else at the UN." Video here, from Minute 17:44.

Now that it is confirmed that Chavez provided the plane to Zelaya and presumably paid for jet fuel, the extent of his support and control in Honduras is worth re-examining. As noted, Zelaya refused to provide the Honduran parliament with his budget in September 2008.

After the Honduras Supreme Court ruled that Zelaya could not hold a flash referendum removing presidential term limits, it has been reported that the referendum -- or "opinion poll" -- materials were prepared and paid for by Chavez.

On July 5, Nicaragua's ambassador to the Organization of American States predicted that Honduras will say that it and Venezuela are behind and funding protests in Tegucigalpa, in an echo of Iranian claims that the UK is behind the protests in Tehran. Sticking with that comparison, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon was asked by the Los Angeles Times

LAT: If President Ahmadinejad comes to the U.N. General Assembly in September as the elected president of Iran, will you acknowledge his election as legitimate?

BKM: It's up to the member states who should represent their country. If he comes as president of Iran, I'm ready to meet with him again and discuss all matters.

By that logic, once Honduras' Supreme Court ruled it legal that Zelaya be replaced by Micheletti, Ban and the UN Secretariat would have deferred to the country's highest court. But getting a sense of the political winds, Ban applied a different test. Either test can be defended, but a double standard can't. Or hasn't.

Back at the UN, D'Escoto Brockmann refused to defend his use of UN funds to hire two relatives. After that, his spokesman Enrique Yeves refused to answer, or even listen to, Inner City Press' question about how much of the PGA's Office's $280,000 budget from the UN has been spent. Several correspondents at the UN say the amount has nearly or entirely all been spent. Has it been replenished?

UN General Assembly Resolution 53/214

13. Requests the Secretary-General to enhance the Office of the President of the General Assembly by taking all the necessary steps to ensure the full implementation of paragraph 1B.10 of the report of the Secretary-General entitled “United Nations reform: measures and proposals”,6 [A/52/303] as adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 52/220, so as to provide transparency and accountability and thereby strengthen the ability of the President of the General Assembly effectively and efficiently to discharge the responsibilities of the Office as deemed appropriate;

14. Decides that the President of the General Assembly, consistent with the approved programme budget, should have full authority to use the funds provided in the budget for the Office, including hospitality and travel and any other requirements for the accomplishment of the official responsibilities;

Paragraph 1B.10 of S-G report [A/52/303] provides

1B.10 In order to enhance further the ability of the President of the General Assembly to discharge his responsibilities, it is proposed that the budget include a sum of $250,000 for each year of the biennium to supplement the level of support currently provided. Consultations would be held with each President of the Assembly to determine the way in which these funds would be used to enhance support for his/her Office.

Given this, can the funds be used without explanation to hire relatives? Are the funds in fact subject to audit by the UN Board of Auditors and investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services? These are transparency and accountability questions, like the "how much has been spent" question which has still not been answered. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unpga5honduras070609.html