On Kenya, ICP Asks UN Spox of Arrest for Insulting Kenyatta, UN's Akombe, Sid Cited

By Matthew Russell Lee, Juma Exclusive, this

UNITED NATIONS, September 25 – After the Kenya elections results the UN praised on August 12 were thrown out on September 1, Inner City Press immediately asked the three top spokespeople of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for comment. There was none then, and when Guterres took some media questions on September 5, Inner City Press loudly asked Guterres if he has any update to its praise of Kenya's now reversed election. Video here. Now on September 25, Inner City Press asked Guterres's spokesman, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: In Kenya, the… the UN staff member on leave, Roselyn Akombe, has said she's facing death threats.  There's also reports of investigation of her role in the… in the Electoral Commission and the arrest of a… of a member of parliament for allegedly insulting the President, [Uhuru] Kenyatta.  I'm just wondering, what is the UN… the UN, since it has an office in Nairobi and is seeing these things take place, including the arrest of parliamentarians for verbal insults to the President, does the UN have any response to what's taking place…? Spokesman:  I don't have anything on that.  You're welcome to check also with the office in Nairobi." But the head of the UN office in Nairobi, Ban Ki-moon's son in law Siddharth Chatterjee, blocks Inner City Press. Back on September 5 Guterres stopped - and then bragged that his official letter (a belated one on Myanmar) will be in Dujarric's office. Not a single question, or even sentence, was about Africa, where most of the UN's peacekeeping operations are. On September 11, Inner City Press asked Dujarric about Uhuru Kenyatta saying if Raila Odinga is elected president in the re-run election on October 17, his party will remove him from office: "even if he is elected, we have the opportunity in two months, three months to remove him." Dujarric wouldn't criticize even this, and refused Inner City Press' question on UN Roselyn Akombe, except to refer to some written request that has never been shown to the public. Then Dujarric walked off; see this. Back on September 5, three hours after Guterres refused its question, the UN sent Inner City Press this: "Regarding your question on the Kenyan election process, we have the following to say: The United Nations takes note of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the 8 August 2017 presidential elections. The Secretary-General's position, as conferred in previous statements and calls, has been that parties should take their grievances to Court and respect the Court’s decisions, which both Jubilee and NASA have demonstrated today. He reiterates his call on all political leaders and their supporters to respect and abide by the ruling of the Court, as the legal and constitutionally mandated body with the highest authority to decide on this matter." On September 7, Inner City Press asked Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Kenya obviously, the drought readout.  But, as I'm sure you know, beyond what you emailed after the Secretary-General's stakeout, the election results were thrown out, and now, there's an enormous fight around the Electoral Commission.   Given that there's one on-hiatus UN DPA [Department of Political Affairs] staffer on the commission and given that person being now ousted from the commission was a former UNDP staffer, there are many people in Kenya wondering what the… if the UN is, in fact, impartial in this case.  What is the UN's view of the… of the Electoral Commission dispute?  And is Ms. Roslyn Akombe still on…? Spokesman:  She's still on special leave.  I think the ruling of the Supreme Court is something we've taken note of.  I think the Secretary-General, in an interview that he did yesterday, I think said it was a sign of democracy, of the democratic process.  From the beginning, I think we have been calling on parties who had grievances to follow the legal pathways.  That has happened.  It is now up to the Kenyans and the established procedures to be followed. Inner City Press: So, I mean, just because as you may have seen, the President [Uhuru] Kenyatta of Kenya has called the head of the Supreme Court a "crook" and said that if he wins on a second term he will "take care of the Court".  So, does that… I didn't see this interview, but is that within… within… in keeping with the Secretary-General's saying that everyone is following the legal procedure? Spokesman:  "That would not be." The dubious August 8 electoral results have been thrown out by the Supreme Court, because the "Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission" IEBC) “failed, neglected or refused to conduct the presidential election in a manner consistent with the dictates of the constitution." At the UN, Secretary General Guterres had very quickly congratulated August 8 "winner" Uhuru Kenyatta; since then Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric has dodged and then refused Inner City Press' questions. On the morning of September 1, Inner City Press asked Dujarric and his top two deputies: "On deadline, what are the comments of the Secretary General and, separately, of the UN's Resident Coordinator in Kenya, and the USG of DPA, on the throwing-out of the August 8 electoral “win” of Uhuru Kenyatta? Again, what is the status of Roselyn Akombe with the UN, especially now? Confirm or deny that the DPA post held by Taye Brook Zerihoun was offered to Monica Juma, and separately if, after August 8, she said she didn't (any longer?) want the position. Please now answer Inner City Press' August 28 questions about Kenya, and the entirely unanswered questions from August 29 and August 30. Please confirm receipt of this email." But Dujarric and his deputies didn't answer, didn't confirm receipt or even put out anything on Kenya. The UN is corrupt. Will Kenyatta still come speak at the UN General Assembly high level week on September 20, scheduled as put online by the Free UN Coalition for Access (also cracked down on by the UN), here? What of the cravenly pro-Kenyatta work of UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee, the son in law of former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon whom Ban gave the job without any recusal? When Inner City Press asked its questions, Chatterjee blocked Inner City Press on Twitter and UN Headquarters said that' fine. The UN has become a place of censorship for corruption. We'll have more on this. 

On Burundi, UN Peacebuilding Configuration Statement, Bland But Issued, Here

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 15 -- When the UN Peacebuilding Configuration on Burundi held a closed meeting on May 15, Burundi's ambassador began by saying that almost all of the coup plotters have been arrested. Later when it was suggested that the Configuration issue a statement, Inner City Press is told, the United States expressed doubt. But one was circulated, and was agreed to and issued past 7 pm on May 15, as this:

The Situation in Burundi
Statement by the Burundi Configuration of the UN Peacebuilding Commission

New York, 15 May 2015 – The PBC Burundi Configuration (see below)  met today to hear an update on the situation in Burundi by the Permanent Representative of Burundi, H.E. Mr. Albert Shingiro, as well as by the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Jeffrey Feltman. Today’s meeting of the PBC Burundi Configuration has been its third since 29 April 2015.

The PBC Burundi Configuration highlights the importance of dialogue and reconciliation among all Burundians to address the root causes of the current crisis. It stresses the need to find a lasting political solution that ensures Burundi’s hard gained progress in peace consolidation and peacebuilding.

The PBC Burundi Configuration calls on all Burundians to urgently establish, through open dialogue and a spirit of compromise, the necessary conditions for the holding of free, transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful elections.

The PBC Burundi Configuration welcomes, encourages and fully supports continued regional engagement in Burundi, particularly by the East African Community, the African Union and the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

The PBC Burundi Configuration equally commends UN efforts, particularly through the Special Envoy of the Secretary General to the Great Lakes Region, Mr. Saïd Djinnit, and MENUB. It fully backs the Special Envoy’s mandate.

The PBC Burundi Configuration will continue to follow the situation closely and stands ready to help Burundi at this critical juncture of its journey towards sustainable peace and development.

The Configuration is composed of the following countries, UN representatives and regional and international financial institutions: Angola, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Croatia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, African Development Bank, African Union, Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale, Economic Commission for Africa, Economic Community of Central African States, European Union, International Monetary Fund, Organisation internationale de la francophonie, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations Development Programme, World Bank. 

   During the meeting, Inner City Press is exclusively informed, Tanzania's Ambassador asked the UN's head of Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman why the UN and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had been so slow to condemn the coup.

   Inner City Press put the question to Ban's deputy spokesman Farhan Haq at the UN's public noon briefing on May 15, to give the UN a change to publicly explain. 

  But as on a scandal about Ban and his nephew being reported on here by Inner City Press and media in Vietnam and South Korea, where Ban Ki-moon is headed, Haq response was essentially that the UN is good, that is does not need to explain (in the case of Ban's nephew) or should be presumed to be always deeply engaged and deeply concerned. Some simply don't believe that.

   While Haq at the May 15 noon briefing said that Ban, who has yet to speak with Nkurunziza, spoke with Kenya's President Kenyatta, Inner City Press is informed that in the closed Peacebuilding Configuration meeting it was said that Ban called Rwanda's Paul Kagame as well. If so, why didn't Haq say that? (Click here for another exclusive story about Ban's office not disclosing Ban's call with US John Kerry about Yemen).

  Much of the Peacebuilding Configuration meeting involved indirect criticism of the European Union for getting “too involved” in Burundi's constitution, followed by a proposal that the Configuration should issue a statement on Burundi. 

 The US, Inner City Press was informed, expressed opposition or skepticism of the latter; Inner City Press reported that a draft would still be circulated by the configuration chair, Swiss Ambassador Paul Seger. It was not blocked.

  France, Inner City Press is informed -- that Mission responds to but does not answer its questions -- said that the Security Council spoke and that those (mere) Elements to the Press remain as valid today as the day before.

  The EU for its part said it is in discussions with the African Union about a human rights mission to Burundi. After the meeting, some expressed doubt to Inner City Press this will ever happen; at the noon briefing Inner City Press asked Haq if the UN would participate and was told that the UN has other more mediate focus right now.

  While Haq did not deliver the UN's best defense, in fairness Inner City Press will: it could say it was waiting for the East African Community and African Union to speak first, which the US - which quickly condemned the coup, even after criticism the possible third term - and EU don't have to consider, as much.

 (Click here for Tanzanian President Kikwete telling Inner City Press, a week ago, to "be patient" on Burundi, with video.)

  Feltman was asked if the US has better intelligence than the UN (he should know, having been with the US State Department). Of course, Feltman is said to have replied, the US has intelligence that works and the UN does not.

   Some in the meeting, including Brazil, said that uncoordinated statements can enflame. In this case, Inner City Press or the Free UN Coalition for Access would say it is good to have a configuration, so to speak, other than the Security Council which can speak. Watch this site.

Footnotes: as Inner City Press tweeted, the US pulled out non-essential personnel (Haq wouldn't confirm UN actions), and also the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said Pierre-Claver Mbonimpa has gone into hiding, under death threats. (Sadly, seems it's true; you may read more on this.)

As Inner City Press reported yesterday, along with theresponse it got on Burundi from the International Monetary Fund, it has been exclusively informed of some $9 million in UN Peacekeeping “Contingent Owned Equipment” funds about which doubts are being raised. We'll have more on this.

   

On South Sudan, UN's Ban Ki-moon Goes From Pressuring to Pleading With Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina' Kenyatta as Mediator

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 26 -- Earlier this month, the UN was calling on Bangladesh' Sheikh Hasina to show flexibility. On December 11, the UN announced that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had expressed to Sheikh Hasina concern about

"the widespread violence that has left dozens of people dead since last month. The Secretary-General urged the Prime Minister to resolve differences over the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for January through dialogue."

Now two weeks later UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has contacted Sheikh Hasina asking to transfer 1000 Bangledeshi soldiers to South Sudan, and she has nearly immediately said yes, and bragged about it -- as nearly all leaders and countries do -- witness Norway bragging it's giving $50 million to South Sudan where its Hilde Johnson is UN envoy, or the Netherlands bragging about spying in Mali where its Bert Koenders is envoy.

But it's worth considering the relation between the UN's pressure on Sheikh Hasina before this South Sudan crisis erupted, and after Ban's request and Sheikh Hasina's quick approval.

So to the case of President Kenyatta of Kenya. In November, either Security Council members abstained on the African Union's request that the Council suspended the International Criminal Court's proceedings against Kenyatta for one year.

Now, along with Ethiopia's prime minister, Kenyatta is going to South Sudan to mediate. What do the abstainers say now? Watch this site.

   

As ICC Defers Kenya to Feb 5, Ethiopia for AU Asks UNSC For Full Year, Tells Inner City Press: Resolution Soon

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 31 -- After the African Union met the UN Security Council asking for deferral under Article 16 of the International Criminal Court's Kenya cases, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom spoke on camera to the press.

  He said Kenya is "at war" and its leaders should not be distracted by these cases. The ICC's decision earlier in the day to defer the case against President Kenyatta to February 5 is not enough, he said. There should be a one year deferral, and that time should be used to find a "solution."

  While Kenya's minister ended up not speaking on camera, saying that Tedros Adhanom had spoken for them all, sources in the meeting told Inner City Press that she said when Kenya joined the ICC it didn't know there was a "hierarchy" in which a higher standard was applied to invoking Article 16 on deferrals.

  She told the Security Council members to look at their own Council press statement on the Westgate mall attack, which called it a threat to international peace and security.

  Inner City Press asked Tedros Adhanom what the timing would be, if a resolution would be put forward. Yes, he said. (Video soon. Here's an Inner City Press photo of the AU ministers the day before the meeting, here's one of their huddle afterward.)

As Inner City Press reported during the meeting, Russia and China spoke clearly in favor of the African position, while the US and France were called "unclear." US Ambassador Samantha Power left just before noon, and declined comment.

  Inner City Press ran to the day's UN noon briefing and asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin Nesirky if Ban had any comment, on the ICC putting the case off to February 5. Nesirky said no, that the Secretariat does not get involved with the Court -- except to encourage cooperation.

  But Ban and members of this team (not including his Special Adviser on Africa Maged Abdelaziz) called African heads of state before their meeting in Addis. So what is Ban's position? Watch this site.

   

On African Union & Kenya Request for ICC Deferral, UNSC Meets Oct 31, Minister in Town

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 28 -- The UN Security Council will meet October 31 on the African Union and Kenya letters to Council asking for deferral of the International Criminal Court cases on Kenya, Inner City Press can report. 

  Inner City Press, having obtained the letters, exclusively a week ago published the full letters here (AU) and here (Kenya). Now it can report that Kenya's minister, in town, will be speaking before the Council considers the request on Thursday.

   This session wasn't, for example, on UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant's summary of the week to come (then again, neither was the UN's role in renewed fighting in Eastern Congo, put on the agenda.) Would the UK support the AU Kenya request?

   Back on October 18 amid conflicting reports about a forthcoming request to the UN Security Council to defer the International Criminal Court's Kenya case or cases, Inner City Press asked French Permanent Representative Gerard Araud what France's response would be to such a request.

  Earlier that day Kenya's Permanent Representative Macharia Kamau told Inner City Press that it was not a move by Kenya, but by the African Union, not yet formally filed by the AU.

  Also earlier on October 18 in The Hague, ICC judges excused Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta from "continuous presence" at his trial, to begin November 12 (presiding Judge Kuniko Ozaki dissented).

  When Inner City Press asked Araud for France's position on a request to defer ICC prosecution of Kenyatta, he stopped and exclusively told Inner City Press, "Frankly that's not the question. The ICC granted the request. In a sense, we won't get to the step you describe."

  Inner City Press reported: "the answer is appreciated. But is it certain that the request for full deferral won't be made?"

  Now Araud's prediction has been disproved. What will the UN Security Council do next? Watch this site.

On October 14, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin Nesikry:

Inner City Press: there's a report that says that the Secretary-General called a number of the Presidents in attendance [at the AU] and told them that he would use his position to amend the Rome Statute... it also includes the response of one of the Presidents, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, saying that the Secretary-General has no ability to amend the Rome Statute. Is it? Could we get just a factual readout of who he called in connection with that AU summit?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I will check. What we will be able to say: the Secretary-General certainly did make a number of telephone calls, but I don’t think that we will be going into the details of those calls.

Inner City Press: What about just WHO he called?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I can tell you that a number of telephone calls were made, and not just by the Secretary-General.

The Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info believes that as a matter of transparency, such calls by the UN Secretary General should be disclosed. Selectively disclosing some but not all calls to heads of state turns the UN (further) into a House of Spin. Watch this site.

   

After ICC Relieves Kenyatta of "Continuous Presence" at Trial, French PR Araud Tells Innet City Press UNSC "Won't Get" to Deferral Request

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, October 18 -- Amid still conflicting reports about a request to the UN Security Council to defer the International Criminal Court's Kenya case or cases, Inner City Press on Friday asked French Permanent Representative Gerard Araud what France's response would be to such a request.

  Earlier on Friday Kenya's Permanent Representative Macharia Kamau exclusively told Inner City Press that it was not a move by Kenya, but by the African Union, not yet formally filed by the AU.

  Also earlier on Friday in The Hague, ICC judges excused Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta from "continuous presence" at his trial, to begin November 12 (presiding Judge Kuniko Ozaki dissented).

  When Inner City Press asked Araud for France's position on a request to defer ICC prosecution of Kenyatta, he stopped and exclusively told Inner City Press, "Frankly that's not the question. The ICC granted the request. In a sense, we won't get to the step you describe."

  The answer is appreciated. But is it certain that the request for full deferral won't be made? And are the ICC judges' decisions now openly political, almost a form of negotiation to keep jurisdiction or relevance?

On October 14, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Martin Nesikry:

Inner City Press: there's a report that says that the Secretary-General called a number of the Presidents in attendance [at the AU] and told them that he would use his position to amend the Rome Statute... it also includes the response of one of the Presidents, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, saying that the Secretary-General has no ability to amend the Rome Statute. Is it? Could we get just a factual readout of who he called in connection with that AU summit?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I will check. What we will be able to say: the Secretary-General certainly did make a number of telephone calls, but I don’t think that we will be going into the details of those calls.

Inner City Press: What about just WHO he called?

Spokesperson Nesirky: I can tell you that a number of telephone calls were made, and not just by the Secretary-General.

The Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info believes that as a matter of transparency, such calls by the UN Secretary General should be disclosed. Selectively disclosing some but not all calls to heads of state turns the UN (further) into a House of Spin. Watch this site.

   

Exclusive: In UNSC, No Consensus Even on Where & How to Hear Kenya's ICC Case, ICP's Told, "No Respect"

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, May 9 -- Kenya sent a letter to the UN Security Council about the International Criminal Court cases against President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. 

  Then Rwanda pushed Kenya's request under Any Other Business on Thursday afternoon, after a meeting about Guinea Bissau.

Hours later, at 7 pm, Rwanda's Eugene Richard Gasana emerged shaking his head. They don't get it, he told Inner City Press exclusively. Africa is angry about this.

Gasana said the opponents did not even want Kenya's Permanent Representative to be able to address the Security Council with this country's request, but instead to refer it to a working group on tribunals.

That's insulting, Gasana said. Numerous other Council members Inner City Press spoke with agreed. But what did the Western permanent members say? Inner City Press asked, but they would not answer, the representative of one of them even saying that "no comment" was "off the record." These are the same countries which did little in 2009 as Sri Lanka was killed tens of thousands of civilians.

  Later, Inner City Press was exclusively told by other members that while it was Guatemala which proposed that Kenya address the working group rather than the Council, the US -- which is not a member of the ICC -- joined in this.

  Morocco on the other hand said Kenya could be heard first by the Council, which could then refer the issues down to the working group if it saw fit.

  With no consensus, Argentina proposed that Kenya submitted a second letter, asking for a meeting or informal interactive dialogue. Round and round it goes.

  Another complaint arose: that current ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, when she comes to New York, does not even make a courtesy call on the Permanent Representative of Kenya. "No respect," as one Council member put it to Inner City Press.

  Earlier on Thursday Inner City Press asked UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson:

Inner City Press: I wanted to know if in your discussions with Uhuru Kenyatta, he made a request of the Security Council to have the International Criminal Court (ICC) proceedings deferred for a year, or suspended, and I wanted to know if this was raised in your meeting, or if you have any thoughts on it; they were saying it would be a danger to regional security to continue it.

DSG Jan Eliasson: Thank you very much. The matter was not raised. We are taking the stand that we should be in contact with President Kenyatta. He is a very important actor of course in the African scene; he has just been elected President in Kenya. He is absolutely crucial for developments in Somalia, and it was an important meeting. The ICC aspect we are, of course, completely aware of, but it seems to me that he cooperates fully with the Court, and as long as this cooperation is as good as it is, there are no problems for us to deal with the President of Kenya, and I had a very good meeting with him. [Video here.]

  At the Guinea Bissau meeting that preceded the Kenya session, Brazil's Permanent Representative noted that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime had suspended work in Guinea Bissau a month ago. A UN official, asked by Inner City Press to confirm this, said yes, it is a contradiction. The UN is full of them.

After IMF Ignores Kenya Question for 3 Days, It Says Doesn't Deal with Individuals

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 26 -- Hours after the International Criminal Court in the Hague on January 23 confirmed charges against four of six Kenyan officials for crimes against humanity during the post-election violence, Inner City Press formally asked several International Monetary Fund spokespeople to "state how this ICC indictment changes the ways in which the ICC will engage with this finance minister," Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.

Given past IMF stonewalling, on questions ranging from IMF financing of Dominique Strauss Kahn's forays to the place of human rights if any in its decision-making, after submitting the Kenya question to the IMF, Inner City Press made the question public, here and on Twitter.

Three full days went by without the IMF stating its position. On Thursday, Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki e-mailed out a statement that "the president has accepted the decision by Uhuru Kenyatta to step aside as the minister for finance."

Kenyatta is, however, remaining on as deputy prime minister. While this was a post created in the 2008 deal, the partial resignation impacting only the Finance post implies that Kibaki felt that someone -- the IMF? -- would not have dealt with the country through Kenyatta.

Inner City Press on Thursday morning reiterated its question of Monday, by e-mail before the IMF's biweekly online briefing and through the Fund's "Media Center" during the briefing.

While not having acknowledged Inner City Press' formal and public question on January 23, on January 26 IMF deputy spokesman David Hawley took the question from another publication -- and dodged it.

Hawley said the IMF has no comment, it has relations with "governments, not individuals."

This is a dodge. The IMF is ostensibly part of the UN system; while the UN could say it deals with governments not individuals, it has a stated policy that it will deal with ICC-indictees only "as necessary."

How can the IMF deal with governments except through people? And what is its policy?

Inner City Press before the embargo expired asked the IMF:

a follow up for deadline on your Kenya answer: what is the IMF's policy on dealing with government officials who have been indicted for war crimes or genocide when they have not, as here, resigned? please explain why the question when I submitted it on Monday was never answered or even acknowledged. And the Sri Lanka questions, and the ones of last briefing:

On Sri Lanka, what is the IMF's response to Central Bank Governor Ajit Nivad Cabraal statement on January 3 that Sri Lanka will seek a fresh “follow up or surveillance program” with the IMF as the $2.6 billion loan obtained in 2009 is reportedly due to expire early this year? What is the IMF's thinking on Sri Lanka's failure to fully meet the budget deficit targets and its refusal to devalue the rupee?

On Ukraine, what if the relation between that country's negotiations with Russia on gas prices and the IMF resuming talks, after Ukraine passed the bankruptcy legislation it said the IMF wanted? Etc.

Watch this site.