UN Debate Ends With Whimper, Kashmir to Nagorno-Karabakh, Circus Leaving

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 1 -- The week-long UN General Debate, which began with Barack Obama as second speaker Tuesday twice citing KFC but not once Sudan, Haiti or Congo, ended with a whimper and not a bang on Monday night.

  Monday in the morning Syria and Sri Lanka spoke of double standards. By the afternoon it was Palau talking of sharks, Portugal saying we are "impotent witnesses" to what Canada's John Baird called the "crimson tide" in Syria.

  In the UN Media Center, which had been standing room only during Obama's speech, a dozen scribes remained. But the UN couldn't wait to the end to throw them out. "After Venezuela we're shutting it down and calling security," Inner City Press was told. And so it closed, even as Dominica gave its speech.

Over in a photo booth above the GA Hall, Inner City Press watched the final 10 rights of reply play out. Pakistan's Deputy Permanent Representative said Jammu and Kashmir are not an integral part of India; the Indian political coordinator insisted that they were.

Azerbaijan's Permanent Representative said Armenia had abused its right to speak, and left the hall before the Armenian duo's second reply.

Eritrea downplayed its 2008 skirmish with Djibouti; Iran defended its right to peaceful nuclear use. In the end, new President of the General Assembly Vuk Jeremic of Serbia offered up a summary, smiling as he said how many spoke of territorial integrity. One thought of Kosovo, which does not have a seat. Nor does Somaliland, nor the apparently soon to be re-conquered Azawad in northern Mali.

Much of the week's action took place outside the UN, for example at the Waldorf Astoria where the Friends of Syria met on Friday. In the side hallways of the lobby, European and African diplomats talked in a hush about the M23 rebels, then went their separate ways. Deals were cut, then diplomats cut out. Only the bitterness remained, the backwash of conflicts, the rights of reply. But it will continue. Watch this site.

At UN, Obama Twice Cites KFC, No Congo, Mali or Sudan, Nor UN Reform

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 25 -- Twice in US President Barack Obama's speech to the UN General Assembly he cited the destruction of restaurants, by fire and smashing.

  Among with these two apparent references to the attack on Kentucky Fried Chicken in Lebanon (KFC has since closed its stores in Pakistan), Obama delivered a 3900 word speech which did not mention Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or Haiti, or the need for UN reform.

  As Inner City Press noted yesterday, quoting a UN official that it was "insulting or depressing," Obama will not stay after his speech to give the toast at Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's luncheon for heads of state, which it's said American Presidents have gone since 1986.

  Obama will head crosstown to the Clinton Global Initiative -- a fifteen minute appearance he appeared to plug in his UN speech, saying he would talk about human trafficking later in the day -- and then to the airport and back to Washington. The campaign is calling. But what are the events?

  Obama drew applause, after saying he was Christian, by saying he supports the right to be harshly critical of him. In a portion of the speech that Ban Ki-moon, notably, has not echoed Obama defended freedom of speech. He chided Iranian leader(s), it seems clear, for Holocaust denial, and called for criticism of attacks on Shiite pilgrims and Sufi shrines.

  

 But what about mausoleums in Timbuktu? The words Sahel or Mali did not appear in Obama's speech. 

 Earlier, Ban Ki-moon had said that "the crisis in the Sahelis not getting sufficient attention." Ya don't say. But on September 19 when Ban Ki-moon held a pre-GA press conference, of the 10 questions chosen none were on Africa.

  

Africa is over 50% of the world of the Security Council and UN, but it featured little not only in Ban Ki-moon's press conference but also in Obama's speech. Syria is the big one: but what will these speeches accomplish? Watch this site.

At UN, Treki Says AU & Arab League Will Have Powers like EU, KFC Dodge

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/ga2treki091310.html

UNITED NATIONS, September 13 -- “I want General Assembly resolutions to be binding and respected,” outgoing President of the GA Ali Treki told the Press on Monday. Inner City Press asked Treki if he supports the European Union's proposal to get more power than the African Union or Arab League have in the GA. Video here, from Minute 16:06.

Treki said the EU request should not be rejected, but that the African Union and Arab League should get the same powers -- in the future. But when?

Inner City Press asked Treki about the PGA Office's budget of $280,000 which supports only four professional posts. Should these posts be allowed to be doled out entirely or even mostly to the PGA's own national? Video here, from Minute 32:15.

Treki, seeming to misunderstand the question, launched into an answer praising member states for cooperating with him. The seeming hearing problem may, however, have been intentional: when Inner City Press asked if a Treki family member had invited in the KFC Colonel Sanders impersonator, which led to the suspension of two UN Security officers, Treki twice acted like he hadn't heard the question.

First, Inner City Press joked that the question was about a Colonel, not Qaddafi but Sanders -- was Treki satisfied with the suspension of the officers?

Since Inner City Press asked if Treki had been on a Swiss travel ban list of Libyan officials, Treki answered that question rather than KFC.

Treki said that was a thing of the past, that Libya and Switzerland have “now normalized their relations.” Inner City Press asked, have the UN and KFC normalized their relations? Video here at Minute 35:09.

Treki smiled and turned away. There are other issues. Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/ga2treki091310.html

UN Finally Admits Barring NGO After GA Stakeout Speech, Cites Technicality, Precedent Not Needed

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/unngo2credentials112009.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 20 -- Days after denying it had stripped the entry pass of a non governmental organization representative who spoke November 5 at the General Assembly stakeout microphone after the Assembly's vote on the Goldstone report on Gaza, the UN on November 19 reversed itself and acknowledged the action.

Inner City Press, which covered the expulsion on November 5 and later asked the UN to confirm it, on November 19 asked for the reason and precedent for the stripping of credentials. Outgoing spokesperson Michele Montas denied that speaking at the GA microphone was the reason, but could not cite any precedent for expelling an NGO for a minor entry violation.

The Wall Street Journal of November 20 chimed in on the topic, citing this reporter's work. Some wondered if the UN only confessed to the expulsion because of inquiries by the WSJ; other hearkened back to a meeting by five senior UN officials, including Ms. Montas, as which legal action against both the WSJ and Inner City Press was discussed.

The UN likes to expel its critics, then deny doing so.

From this week's transcripts on l'affaire Bayefsky:

November 16: Could you give us a status report on Anne Bayefsky, whether her credentials have been restored, or whether there is a plan to restore them or…?

Associate Spokesperson Haq: No, no. Her credentials and the credentials of her organization are not changed at this stage. She belongs to a non-governmental organization. It’s possible in the future that there could be a review, but at this stage there has been no removal of credentials from that non-governmental organization or from Ms. Bayefsky.

Then on November 18, Inner City Press asked

Inner City Press: you’d said, regarding this non-governmental organization that had the pass stripped after speaking in front of the General Assembly the day of the Goldstone Report vote. I think you said on Monday, there has been no change in the status, but I spoke to the person and they can’t get into the building. So can you explain how what you say is consistent with the person actually not having their pass, and who made the decision to remove it and what the process is to follow up on that?

Associate Spokesperson: Well, the accreditation of the NGO has not changed. That non-governmental organization is still accredited with ECOSOC [Economic and Social Council]. In terms of pass cards, I believe their passes had been taken at the time of the incident that occurred when they spoke without authorization. I believe that those were being kept so the NGO could then pick them up. So I believe the NGO can pick up those passes once more. That’s what I was informed.

Inner City Press: Okay. Because the person says they were asked to fill out a statement and if they didn’t turn it in exchange for getting the pass, then the pass was never returned. I just wanted to clear that up, since you’d said that there had been no change, that was your understanding.

Associate Spokesperson: As far as I am aware, the NGO is an accredited NGO, so it’s still entitled to have passes. Until that changes, they have accreditation through ECOSOC.

Then on November 19, Spokesperson Montas reversed course, and Inner City Press followed up:

Spokesperson Montas: We were asked about the situation of a pass card belonging to Anne Bayefsky yesterday. We have received some information from the Department of Safety and Security (DSS) about the matter, and I’d like to make the following clarification:

On Thursday, 5 November 2009, at approximately 1800 hours, Ms. Anne Bayefsky, an accredited member of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Non-Govermental Organization (NGO) Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, utilized her UNHQ-issued building pass in an unauthorized manner at the security turnstiles to grant access to Mr. Joel B. Pollak into restricted areas of the Headquarters complex. Further, Ms. Bayefsky transferred her Geneva-issued UN building pass to Mr. Pollak, in whose possession it was discovered. Based on these breaches of security protocol, both passes were retrieved. The outcome of the security inquiry will be forwarded by DSS to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs/ECOSOC for their determination as to final disposition. So I hope this clarifies what was said yesterday. We got more information today on the issue.

...Inner City Press: On the announcement or the clarification that you gave on this Bayefsky pass -- and thanks for that -- I just wanted to know two things. One is, is there no relation between this continued suspension of the pass and the person speaking at the General Assembly stakeout on 5 November? Because that seemed to trigger the incident, and…

Spokesperson: Well that was part of it. I gave you the two issues that were pending in terms of the security breach, and I already said about the intervention in front of the Security Council stakeout that it was a matter for… Whoever speaks at the stakeout has to be introduced either by a Member State or by an organization within the UN system. An NGO cannot step up unless that person is accompanied by a Member State, cannot step up to the microphone and just make a statement.

Inner City Press: No, no, I understand that, I just want to know if that’s part of the basis for the suspension of the pass or…?

Spokesperson: No, I already said what the basis was.

Inner City Press: Okay.

Spokesperson: …the introduction of someone with a pass that was hers.

Inner City Press: And has DSS ever run across a similar situation with other NGOs and not suspended their passes?

Spokesperson: Not that I know of. In every case where there is a security breach the passes are temporarily suspended until the case is fully investigated.

Inner City Press: And just one last thing on security breaches, is there any update in terms of suspensions or removal of suspensions on the -- I’m trying to think of the best way to say it -- the “chicken episode”? Because these two gentlemen were suspended.

Spokesperson: I don’t know what was done after what I told you. I can, of course, follow up on whether there were any other measures taken.

Inner City Press: Notice the name of the company wasn’t said to give them any publicity. We’ll just call them the “chicken company” for now.

Spokesperson: The “chicken company” yes, thank you so much! [Laughter]

And see, www.innercitypress.com/unngo2credentials112009.html

On KFC, UN's Treki "Is Not An Admirer" of Fried Chicken, No Answers on Invite

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un3kfcgate110609.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 6 -- The President of the UN General Assembly Ali Treki of Libya, whose photo op with KFC's impersonator of Colonel Sanders had led so far to the suspension of two UN Security officers, one of them a thirty year veteran, was asked by Inner City Press on Friday if anyone in his office invited the Colonel in, and if he views the suspension as appropriate.

"I don't know the man," Treki responded, in reference to Colonel Sanders. "I personally don't consumer fried chicken very often. I am not an admirer of him." Video here, from Minute 19:25.

The response, which made nearly all in the press room laugh while to some seeming pre-scripted, may undercut in some circle the advertising value of the photo op to KFC and its parent Yum! Brands. (They might point out that they seek a "seat at the UN" for KFC's grilled chicken, not fried.)

But Treki did not answer whether a member of Treki's staff, reportedly his daughter, invited the Colonel Sanders impersonator up to the UN's second floor, where he took photos at the Security Council stakeout as well. And Officers Rodriguez and Herring, the latter a 30 year veteran who has flown with Security Council Ambassadors from the U.S., China, Russia, France and the UK to trip in Africa and elsewhere, remain suspended.

Concerns are being raised about the suspension's possible effect on Herring's pension. In short, the answer was funny, but the scapegoating is not. Watch this site.

Footnote: Another UN stakeout snafu took place on the evening of November 5, when after Treki spoke at the General Assembly stakeout, a representative of an NGO did, and then was escorted from the premises and had her UN identification pass revoked, click here for Inner City Press' story.

At Friday's press conference, about the Goldstone report vote Inner City Press asked Treki why the resolution does not mention Hamas by name. Treki referred to Egypt's response, that Hamas was elected and will investigate itself. Video here, from Minute 18:12. On all these fronts, we'll see.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un3kfcgate110609.html

UN Suspends Two for KFC Photos, But Did Treki's Daughter Invite the Colonel In?

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un2kfcgate110209.html

UNITED NATIONS, November 2, updated below -- The UN confirmed on Monday that in the wake of the embarrassing photo op by UN General Assembly President Ali Treki with a man advertising KFC chicken by impersonating Colonel Sanders, it has placed to UN Security officers on administrative suspension.

Inner City Press asked for the confirmation, and relatedly if President Treki's daughter, who is working in the Office of the President of the GA, had invited the Colonel Sanders to the UN's second floor, where he stood and spoke some words at the Security Council stakeout. Video here from Minute 24:21. Debate here.

UN Spokesperson Michele Montas confirmed the two suspensions "while investigating" the matter, but referred the other question to Treki's spokesman Jean-Victor Nkoko, who acknowledged on camera having seen a photo of Colonel Sanders with Treki's daughter. On the rest, he said it is under investigation and would not comment. Video here, from Minute 27:33.

But since two UN Security officers have been placed on administrative leave, Inner City Press asked Nkolo to get a yes or no answer whether Mr. Treki's daughter was involved, and if so why she too was not suspended. "That's a lot of if's," Nkolo responded.

Inner City Press asked, is she subject to UN (Office of Human Resources Management) discipline? Or does she have some special status? She is a diplomat seconded by the Libyan mission, Nkolo answered, adding that everyone who comes into the UN "even as a visitor" is subject to some rules.

But visitors, and apparently the daughter of the GA President while working in the GA President's Office, cannot be suspended. And one wonders if the Secretariat can truly let the chips or nuggest fall where they may while investigating the General Assembly President's Office and daughter. These are UN questions larger or separate than the commercial punking of the UN by KFC and its parent, Yum! Brands. Watch this site.

Foodnotes: While Officers Herring and Rodriguez have been suspended, Inner City Press is informed by a person present at the scene that the Colonel Sanders went into the Security office on the UN's first floor and photos of taken with him with higher level Security Officer David Bongi. Within the ranks of UN Security, there is talk of scapegoating of the two officers, and particular interest in what some call nepotism within the Office of the President of the General Assembly.

While UN spokesperson Michele Montas was dismissive when Inner City Press asked what the repercussions of the incident for Yum! Brands' partnership with the UN World Food Program might be, arguing that its was KFC, not its parent, KFC's letter to Ban Ki-moon came from the Yum! Brands' public relations firm.

Here is what Yum! said upon opening a restaurant in India:

"One of Yum! Brands’ four key business strategies is to drive aggressive international expansion and build strong brands everywhere 'The number of people who can afford our food will reach 200 million people within five years and we are very excited about serving Pizza Hut, KFC and soon Taco Bell to them'... In 2007, the company launched World Hunger Relief, the world’s largest private sector hunger relief effort to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds to benefit the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies."

What was that again, about a prohibition on using the UN's name for commercial purposes?

After a phone call to WFP, Ms. Montas said in the UN briefing room that this is about KFP, not Yum! Brands, which is the parent company and is responsible Then Ms. Montas told Inner City Press to stop asking about the incident, ostensibly so that KFC would not get more publicity, and that she would herself return to the incident when there was new information. That was said in response to Inner City Press' question of if any Security officers had been suspended.

But, after a colleague confirmed the suspension of two unnamed officers, Ms. Montas went through more than ten minutes of announcement without providing the update. Only after Inner City Press asked did she confirm, while declining to provide any further information. As in the ongoing nepotism scandals, the UN's refusal to answer questions and attempts to bury issues in investigations only ensures that the issues are drawn out, some predict toward explosive conclusions. The cover up, as is said, is often worse than the crime. Watch this space.

Click here for Inner City Press' October 30 debate on 'KFC-gate.'

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un2kfcgate110209.html

In Ban's UN, Tinker Bell and Bolton, Kentucky Fried Scapegoats

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- This week a diplomat of a country under UN sanctions stopped just outside the Security Council and told Inner City Press, "The UN has become a joke, all they have now are seminars and panels for discussion, with no knowledge of the ground." He missed one of the more incongruous UN events of October, the naming of Disney's Tinker Bell as Goodwill Ambassador, after the UN screening of the straight to DVD film

Only this week, John Bolton was at the UN with other conservatives, promoting a book about UN reform. Another group held a working lunch about the defamation of religion. The Office of Internal Oversight Services held another celebration of itself, this time complete with former UN journalistic talent, at which it was finally said in the open that the 38th floor is seeking a new Communications strategist.

The John Bolton gab-best at least was interesting. It was sponsored by Fiji, and headlined by C-FAM, which denounced Special Rapporteur Martin Scheinin for "redefining gender" and addressing gay rights. Inner City Press asked, did this mean they were on the same side of Eygpt and Syria? Apparently it did. What about Belarus, which fought off and get canceled its own Rapporteur? Bolton handled this one, saying he likes country specific rapporteurs, the thematics not so much.

To salad with walnuts and grilled breast of chicken, the Becket Fund denounced moves by the Organization of Islamic Conference to get language in the UN against the defaming of religion. It was mentioned that the Dutch director of Fitna got a screening this month down on Capitol Hill.

In a mockery of due process, two UN Security officers have been placed on administrative leave for the entry of a KFC Colonel Sanders impersonator last week, rather than highers-up who knew all about it. We'll have more on this.

After KFC's Photo Op with UN's Treki, No UN Action on Parent Yum! Brands

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1yum102609.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 26 -- In a breakdown of security in UN headquarters, a man off the street impersonating fried chicken magnate Colonel Sanders on behalf of KFC had a photo op with UN General Assembly President Ali Treki on October 22, before as Inner City Press first reported going to the UN Security Council stakeout microphone where Council Ambassadors speak.

The publicity stunt was carried out by KFC and its parent, Yum! Brands, which has a partnership with the UN World Food Program. On October 26, Inner City Press asked UN spokesperson Michele Montas what the UN system will do about being used by Yum! Brands. She said the Office of Legal Affairs is looking into it. But OLA chief Patricia O'Brien has refused to answer questions about past corporate uses of the UN and its name and logo, including in corporate press releases.

While the UN is saying that "an NGO" signed him in, and a security officer erroneously escorted him around, mistaking the white suited imposter as a visiting dignitary, Ali Treki has his own security detail, paid by the UN. How could Colonel Sanders get in?

Inner City Press on October 26 asked Treki's spokesman Jean Victor Nkolo:

Inner City Press: Jean Victor, I’m sorry this is one more on this whole “KFC-gate” situation. Is it… Can you, I mean, can you confirm that [inaudible] impersonator or advertising man actually met with the President of the General Assembly Treki and if so what does that say about his own security?

Spokesperson: I wouldn’t call that a meeting. There was no meeting, no appointment scheduled with the actor impersonating Colonel Sanders. But I can confirm that he, that Colonel Sanders was wandering about the second floor and there was a brief encounter with the President of the General Assembly. Yes. Any other question?

Inner City Press: On the Internet, there is a picture of the two of them shaking hands with the UN flag there, so have you seen this photo?

Spokesperson: I have seen these photos. I just cannot really add much on what Michele has already told you. The commercial exploitation of the UN emblem, and logos and flags is definitively unacceptable and, you know, the President of the General Assembly, somebody walked into his office and wanted to shake hands and he shook hands because he is a very polite man in a sense.

As Inner City Press was also first to report, Treki when asked called homosexuality -- and by extension homosexuals -- "not acceptable." Some now joke: but a photo op with Colonel Sanders is acceptable?

In terms of the UN standing up to corporations, at least those which openly abuse it, Inner City Press on October 26 asked UN Spokesperson Michele Montas:

Inner City Press: I’m wondering from, I mean, Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC is owned by something called Yum Brands, a conglomerate. It actually has a kind of a partnership deal with the World Food Programme and puts out press releases saying we work with the World Food Programme obviously trying to advertise itself. What’s the UN going to do on it, because KFC also wrote a letter supposedly to the Secretary-General. Are you aware, they’ve put on their website a letter they claim…

Spokesperson Montas: I can tell you that the Secretary-General never received that letter.

Inner City Press: Okay.

Spokesperson: And, at any rate, that letter is void to us. It has absolutely no meaning whatsoever. The UN cannot be involved in a commercial venture, period.

Inner City Press: But then, so what are the repercussions for Yum Brands or KFC for having kind of used the UN somewhat effectively to advertise themselves.

Spokesperson: Well this is being, being touched upon by our legal department.

While under the previously UN administration, some fight back at corporations which used and abused the UN was undertaken and describe, now under OLA chief Patricia O'Brien, questions in this regard aren't taken or answered. Should KFC and Yum! Brands' taking things to the next level, openly making a mockery of the UN a la Ali G, be any surprise? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1yum102609.html

At UN, Col. Sanders of KFC Promotes Chicken As UN's Laxity on Corporations Discussed

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un1kfc102209.html

UNITED NATIONS, October 22, follow up here -- At the UN Security Council stakeout on Thursday, Kentucky Fried Chicken was promoted by a visitor to the UN dressed up as KFC figurehead Colonel Sanders. As the Security Council discussed, among other things, the plight of refugees from Darfur in camps in Eastern Chad, KFC's Sanders stood before the flags of the 15 Council members, at the UN microphone.

Ironically, just next to the Security Council in the UN's briefing room, the UN's expert on transnational corporation and Human Rights John Ruggie explained his mandate to the Press. Inner City Press asked why the UN is so soft on corporation, through its UN Global Compact, including Deutsche Bank which holds the funds of Turkmenistan's dictators and Nestle which is reported to be involved in the production of chocolate by children trafficked from Mali into Ivory Coast.

One might have added KFC, whose Col. Sanders as one wag joked bitterly may have killed, through heart congestion and attacks, as many people as some of those indicted by the International Criminal Court, despite not being a military and therefore not a war criminal despite the Colonel in his name. The wag imagined a sign board or campaign, "Send KFC to the ICC."

Inner City Press has asked the Office of the Spokesperson for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to provide information on how the KFC Colonel Sanders impersonator was allowed into the UN, and to the Security Council stakeout area, from which even UN staff members are often prohibited.

"Maybe they got observer status -- why not KFC, if they gave it to IOC?" asked the wag, referring to the International Olympics Committee, which joined the Holy See and Palestine in UN Observer Status this week. Watch this site.

Update of Thursday evening: Despite the Office of the Spokesperson for Ban Ki-moon being asked about KFC's presence in the UN at the stakeout both at the noon briefing and, again, by Inner City Press just after, no explanation was received, nor yet to these submitted questions:

1. Did any United Nations staff person facilitate the entry into the HQ of a character portraying "Colonel Sanders" on Thursday Oct 22nd?

2. Did KFC, its parent YUM! Brands, or its PR agency Weber Shandwick solicit and receive permission from the United Nations to use the the Secretary-General's and/or the UN's name in its corporate press release and advertising campaign?

3. Has the Secretary-General received the letter cited in KFC's corporate press release and advertising campaign?

4. Will the UN's Office of Legal Affairs take steps to inform YUM! Brands or its agents that it is misusing the UN's name, in violation of applicable General Assembly resolutions?

5. Has the UN's Office of Legal Affairs previously given permission to YUM! Brands or its agents to use the UN's name in other advertising materials?

6. Does the UN think that the UN Security Council should be used as a backdrop for the sale of grilled chicken?

Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1kfc102209.html