Exclusive: On UN Security Council Reform, PGA John Ashe Issues "Non-Paper" and San Marino PR Letter

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, December 10 -- On UN Security Council reform, President of the General Assembly John Ashe today sent a "non-paper" and letter from San Marino ambassador Daniele Bodini to Afghanistan's Ambassador Zahir Tanin as chief of the Inter-Governmental Negotiations.

  Inner City Press has obtained the letters and non-paper, which are not yet online on the UN's website, and publishes them here.

  Ashe's initial letter in this process did not immediately go online either; Inner City Press published it first. (His office said that was a snafu not to be repeated.) Now this.

  On December 2, Ashe wrote and put online a letter naming December 5 as the beginning of the "IGN" under Afghanistan Permanent Representative Zahir Tanin, and urging flexibility from states, presumably those groupings of states which protested the make-up and mandate of Ashe's advisory group: Belgium, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Sierra Leone, Brazil and Papua New Guinea.

   On Friday, December 6 Inner City Press was the only media staking out a meeting of the Advisory Group, including PGA Ashe and his colleague Ambassador Noel Sinclair, in Conference Room A in the UN basement.

  Brazil's Ambassador Patriota, when Inner City Press asked if reform is just around the corner, laughed and said "but we don't know how far the corner is."

  Ashe back on November 6 tried to assuage the critics by saying that, contrary to statements by Brazil and Germany in the Security Council debate on Working Methods, the Group of Six would neither negotiate nor draft.

  Still, France's Deputy Permanent Representative said France looked forward to the Advisory Group drafting. 

 Ashe had to write and go online again, canceling the December 5 beginning of Inter Governmental Negotiations and putting it back a week to December 12. Now Inner City Press publishes the non-paper here.

Watch this site.

   

At UN, Jordan Takes Saudi UNSC Seat, Dodges on Dysfunction and Reform Delay, Mandela Silence Broken by BNP Paribas

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, December 6 -- That Jordan on Friday would get the UN Security Council seat Saudi Arabia rejected was a foregone conclusion. It remained to be seen by how many votes it would win the uncontested election, and what Jordanian foreign minister Nasser Judeh would say afterward.

Of the UN's 193 member states, 185 showed up and voted. Two were "invalid," and four abstained. Of the rest, Jordan got 178 votes and Saudi Arabia got one.

When Judeh came to the penned-in stakeout after the vote, Inner City Press asked him: Saudi Arabia rejected the seat saying the Security Council is dysfunctional on Syria, a nuclear free Middle East, and the question of Palestine (and Israel). Does Jordan think the Council IS functional? And what does it intend to do on those three issues?

Judeh said Saudi Arabia declined the seat for its own sovereign reasons, "which we respect." He then said Jordan on the Council will work with its "allies" to advance the principles of the UN. Then he left.

Jordan's Permanent Representative to the UN Prince Zeid was there; he has done nitty gritty work at the UN on trying to limit abuse among UN Peacekeepers, and to stop a military figure from Sri Lanka accused of war crimes from serving with Zeid on the Senior Advisory Group on Peacekeeping Operations.

While the votes were counted, both Judeh and Zeid greeted Riyad Mansour of the Observer State of Palestine and other diplomats; Inner City Press from a table-less media booth took photos, tweeting some, including of Judeh greeted by Syria's Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari, here.

  Before the vote, President of the General Assembly John Ashe announced a minute of silence for the death (and life) of Nelson Mandela. A screen at the front of the room showed Mandela's picture on the front page of today's Wall Street Journal.

By contrast, the French bank BNP Parisbas sent a note to clients that Mandela's death would not be a "long term driver" of the markets. The International Criminal Court put out a statement -- it wasn't clear if by its judges, or prosecutor, or spokesperson -- as did the IMF's Christine Lagarde.

  PGA Ashe said there will be a separate General Assembly session on honor of Mandela. Ashe this week postponed a previously scheduled Inter Governmental Negotiation on Security Council reform from December 5 to December 12.

Inner City Press is exclusively informed this is due to a split in Ashe's six member Advisory Group (Liechtenstein, Belgium, San Marino, Brazil, Sierra Leone and Papua New Guinea). There is a GA "Advisory Group" meeting scheduled for the UN's basement at 4:30 pm today. But Jordan will be joining an UNreformed Council. Watch this site.

  

UNSC Reform Negotiations Delayed a Week, PGA Ashe's Group of 6 Divided, Inner City Press Is Told

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, December 5 -- On ever-elusive UN Security Council reform, today was supposed to be the beginning of a speeded up Inter-Governmental Negotiation triggered by  President of the General Assembly John Ashe naming a Group of Six advisers. 

  Ashe's initial letter did not go online; Inner City Press published it first. (His office said that was a snafu not to be repeated.)

  Now on December 2, Ashe wrote and put online a letter naming December 5 as the beginning of the "IGN" under Afghanistan Permanent Representative Zahir Tanin, and urging flexibility from states, presumably those groupings of states which protested the make-up and mandate of Ashe's advisory group: Belgium, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Sierra Leone, Brazil and Papua New Guinea.

  Ashe in November 6 tried to assuage the critics by saying that, contrary to statements by Brazil and Germany in the Security Council debate on Working Methods, the Group of Six would neither negotiate nor draft.

  Still, France's Deputy Permanent Representative said France looked forward to the Advisory Group drafting. 

 Now Ashe has had to write and go online again, cancelingtoday's beginning of Inter Governmental Negotiations and putting it back a week to December 12.

  Sources exclusively tell Inner City Press this is due to even Ashe's Advisory Group being divided after their December 3 session. 

   In a General Assembly session on December 4 about revitalization the GA's work, Egypt complained that the UN provided budget for Ashe's PGA Office is too low. This results in the Office being dependent on outside support and secondment. Inner City Press and the Free UN Coalition for Access asked for disclosure and transparency in this regard, and continue to await it. 

  Among the dozen speakers on GA revitalization were three of the Security Council's Permanent Five members: Russia, China and the US. Inner City Press asked why France and the UK did not speak.

  The UK to its credit responded, that the European Union spoke for both of them. Inner City Press tweet-reported this, but asked and asks: do EU members agree on the Security Council taking up issues in the bailiwick of the General Assembly? Many non-P5 countries protest this. 

  The EU statement, which the EU tweeted at Inner City Press, didn't directly address this issue. Some say: agreed position are bland positions. To what degree is the EU dominated by its two P5 members? Watch this site.

Footnote: Across the hall in the UN's North Lawn building during the last debate, Bolivia became the head of the Group of 77 for 2014, as Inner City Press reported. The meeting, which G77 asked to be on UNTV, was delayed because UNTV still showed it as closed. 

 The Free UN Coalition for Access @FUNCA_info asked why, after the delay hit half an hour. It subsequently went on UNTV and FUNCA offered thanks -- as well as a photograph. This is how problems get fixed in real time. Again, if only Security Council reform were this straight forward. FUNCA will continue.

   

At UN, PGA Ashe's Group of Six Should Not Draft or Negotiate, China Says, In Security Council Reform Spat

By Matthew Russell Lee, Follow up on Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, November 6 -- With the UN General Assembly set for a session on Security Council reform, after GA President John Ashe named a Group of Six advisers, now China has also chimed in with questions about the selection process. 

  Inner City Press has obtained and is publishing, here, China's Permanent Representative Liu Jieyi's letter to President Ashe, which among other things states

"With reference to your letter dated 22 October 2013, by which you established an Advisory Group on Security Council reform, I would like to make the following observations: the reform of Security Council bears on the interests of all 193 Member States and the long-term interests of the United Nations. Full transparency, inclusiveness and predictability are essential in order to build confidence among Member States... Based on our discussions,it is our understanding that the Advisory Group will serve as an informal personal advisory body to you without any negotiating or drafting role."

  That's not what Germany and Brazil said about the Advisory Group, in the Security Council's recent open debate of Working Methods.

Inner City Press observed the Group of Six going into the PGA's office on Tuesday morning; they reportedly met again Wednesday at 1 pm. What is their role? What do they think it is?

  Inner City Press understands that on Tuesday PGA Ashe met with the (also unhappy) Eastern European group, as well as Wednesday with Uniting for Consensus, on whose behalf Italy is set to speak on November 7.

The new UN Security Council reform advisory group picked by General Assembly President John Ashe, on which Inner City Press exclusively reported a week ago, has now been criticized in writing by Italy's Mission to the UN, on behalf of the Uniting for Consensus grouping.  Bahrain has also chimed in, for the Arab Group, here.

   Inner City Press is publishing the UfC letter, here.

  The advisory group of six has three European countries -- Belgium, Liechtenstein and San Marino -- as well as Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone and G4 member Brazil. 

  At the Security Council's "Working Methods" session this week, Brazil and Germany both said the group would come up with a text to be the basis of inter-governmental negotiations. Click here for Inner City Press report. This made UfC and other member states more angry.

  The UfC letter, signed by Italian ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, concludes that "it is important that the entire membership has the opportunity to review and agree on the composition and terms of reference of the group." It asserts that Ashe's naming of the group violated "Decision 62/557, as well as subsequent decisions of the General Assembly."

  After Inner City Press' first exclusive article, Ashe's spokesperson Afaf Konja explained to the Press that his initial letter hadn't gone onto the UN's website until Inner City Press published it due to an oversight; she insisted that Uniting for Consensus had been consulted with. She wrote:

"On the letter not being up immediately on the PGA website: As openly disclosed, it was a pure administrative lapse which has already been addressed to ensure a more streamlined and full-proof process.

"On the criticism you refer to as 'Euro-top heavy': As explained, the selection is not based on geographic criteria. It weighs more on the experience of nations in peace-building, and an openness to see beyond differences. Essentially, an advisory group that can help see the process forward.

"Please note that the President of the General Assembly met with the UFC group, at their request. They expressed their concerns and they were heard. Moreover, the advisory group chosen is not a negotiated group."

But now, this letter. And Bahrain's for the Arab Group, saying the Advisory Group can't replace the process. Watch this site.

   

At UN, PGA John Ashe's Security Council Reform Group of Six Slammed by Italy for UfC, Bahrain for Arab Group, Review Demanded

By Matthew Russell Lee, Follow up on exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, October 31 -- The new UN Security Council reform advisory group picked by General Assembly President John Ashe, on which Inner City Press exclusively reported a week ago, has now been criticized in writing by Italy's Mission to the UN, on behalf of the Uniting for Consensus grouping.  Bahrain has also chimed in, for the Arab Group, here.

   Inner City Press is publishing the letter, here.

  The advisory group of six has three European countries -- Belgium, Liechtenstein and San Marino -- as well as Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone and G4 member Brazil. 

  At the Security Council's "Working Methods" session this week, Brazil and Germany both said the group would come up with a text to be the basis of inter-governmental negotiations. Click here for Inner City Press report. This made UfC and other member states more angry.

  The UfC letter, signed by Italian ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, concludes that "it is important that the entire membership has the opportunity to review and agree on the composition and terms of reference of the group." It asserts that Ashe's naming of the group violated "Decision 62/557, as well as subsequent decisions of the General Assembly."

  After Inner City Press' first exclusive article, Ashe's spokesperson Afaf Konja explained to the Press that his initial letter hadn't gone onto the UN's website until Inner City Press published it due to an oversight; she insisted that Uniting for Consensus had been consulted with. She wrote:

"On the letter not being up immediately on the PGA website: As openly disclosed, it was a pure administrative lapse which has already been addressed to ensure a more streamlined and full-proof process.

"On the criticism you refer to as 'Euro-top heavy': As explained, the selection is not based on geographic criteria. It weighs more on the experience of nations in peace-building, and an openness to see beyond differences. Essentially, an advisory group that can help see the process forward.

"Please note that the President of the General Assembly met with the UFC group, at their request. They expressed their concerns and they were heard. Moreover, the advisory group chosen is not a negotiated group."

But now, this letter. And Bahrain's for the Arab Group, saying the Advisory Group can't replace the process.  Watch this site.

   

As UNSC Methods Reviewed, PGA John Ashe's Euro-Heavy Reform Group Says It's in Charge: ACT Up

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 30 -- During the all-day debate Tuesday in the UN Security Council, ostensibly of its Working Methods, the recent naming by President of the General Assembly John Ashe of a six-country advisory group on Council Reform was the elephant in the room, or Chamber.

  What was this group, first reported on by Inner City Press, set up to do? Why are three of its six members European, along with Sierra Leone, Papua New Guinea and Brazil?

  Some have complained to Inner City Press that Sierra Leone didn't attend the first, "slapped together" meeting. A second meeting, they say, was held yesterday October 29 -- again, sans Ashe. (In fairness, Inner City Press published Ashe's office's response, here.)

  Brazil came out and said: the group, which is it on, will come up with a text which is to be the basis of inter-governmental negotiations. Another G-4 member, Germany, echoed this in its speech (which as we noted, also mentioned the growing role of Twitter, which the German Mission told Inner City Press in context includes media tweets, here.)

Later Tuesday evening yet another G4 member told Inner City Press they like this process. United for Consensus? Not so much.

Japan of the G4 said that even the current Elected Ten members weren't consulted on Syria. (In fact, despite UK calling in Valerie Amos and France calling in Saudi-sponsored rebel Ahmad al Jarba, it's largely down to Russia and the US, which even envoy Lakhdar Brahimi seems to be chafing against.)

Many points were made by members of ACT, and some surprising ACT supporters. Here's another one, on issues of needed transparency: the Free UN Coalition for Access,@FUNCA_info. 

  And here's an example: even the question of which media could cover the "Council's" recent Africa trip was decided, without transparency, by a single colonial member, France. African members, and others, weren't consulted. It's time to ACT up.

  New Zealand recalled that the Secretary General, under Article 99 of the Charter, can put urgent matters in front of the Council. But as Inner City Press reported, daily at the time, on Sri Lanka Ban Ki-moon never did that.

  He has a report saying that should happen in the future -- but his Office of the Spokesperson told Inner City Press the report, already leaked to Inner City Press by a UN whistleblower, may or may not exist. And so it goes in this UN. Watch this site.

   

On Inner City Press Scoop on UN SC Reform, PGA Ashe's Spox Admits Slow To Go Online, Says Reached Out, Some Disagree

By Matthew Russell Lee, Follow up on exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, October 24 -- The possible reform of the UN Security Council, which may never happen but was made higher profile this month by Saudi Arabia's rejection of a seat due to dysfunction, is one of the more delicate and divisive issues among UN member states.

  For that reason, many were surprised by the letter by President of the General Assembly John Ashe which Inner City Press obtained and exclusively published on October 23, before it was put on the PGA's website, after inquiry, on October 24.

  Inner City Press asked PGA Ashe's spokesperson Afaf Konja about the delay in posting the letter on the UN website (this was also on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access), and about complaints it had received from a range of UN member states.

  For example, Ashe's advisory group will be composed of the Permanent Representative of Belgium, Liechtenstein, San Marino (Ban Ki-moon's golf partner), Sierra Leone, Papua New Guinea and Brazil, its former foreign minister.

 

 Several states complained to Inner City Press that the list is "top heavy with Europeans -- three out of six -- and as one Latin country put it, is being "led by the G4."

  Ms. Konja to her credit called several times and then provided a written answer, which we publish in full below, follow by some replies, with more we're sure to come.

From the office of PGA John Ashe, spokesperson Afaf Konja replied to Inner City Press:

On the letter not being up immediately on the PGA website: As openly disclosed, it was a pure administrative lapse which has already been addressed to ensure a more streamlined and full-proof process.

On the criticism you refer to as 'Euro-top heavy' - As explained, the selection is not based on geographic criteria. It weighs more on the experience of nations in peace-building, and an openness to see beyond differences. Essentially, an advisory group that can help see the process forward.

Please note that the President of the General Assembly met with the UFC group, at their request. They expressed their concerns and they were heard.

Moreover, the advisory group chosen is not a negotiated group.

The President has a responsibility to Member States, and to the international community at-large, to get this process moving forward with moral authority. He has, therefore, made his selection after careful reflection.

On the first point, Ms. Konja explained that from within the Department of General Assembly and Conference Management, which runs the PGA's website, there was surprise when Inner City Press was the first to publish PGA Ashe's letter. She said steps are being taken for this delay to never happen again.

  On the rest, replies so far are as follows: the "reaching out" consisted of "last minute calls and deadlines within the same day. There was no respect to basic diplomatic courtesy... Sierra Leone was not even present at first informal meeting held."

  Concern has been expressed at the line that "the advisory group chosen is not a negotiated group," questioning, Why not? An open meeting could have been held to hear all UN member states. That would have been the promised transparency and respect for the mandate given by General Assembly. After nineteen years of negotiations, a meeting should have been held to try to see a way forward.

We'll have more on this. For now we note that while continuing to dig into this, on October 24 Inner City Press was chided for calling John Ashe "genial." We maintain it: heis genial. But there are also these criticisms. This is the UN. Watch this site.

   

Exclusive: On UNSC Reform, PGA John Ashe Names "EU-Heavy" Group, Moves Debate Up to Nov 7-8 Amid Complaints

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Must Credit

UNITED NATIONS, October 23 -- The possible reform of the UN Security Council, made higher profile this month by Saudi Arabia's rejection of a seat due to dysfunction, is the subject of a letter by President of the General Assembly John Ashe, not yet put on his PGA website.

  Inner City Press has obtained the letter, and multiple complaints from UN member states, and puts the exclusively puts the letter online here.

  In it, John Ashe who was and perhaps will again be the Permanent Representative to the UN of Antigua and Barbuda announces a new "Advisory Group" on Security Council report and the speed-up fo the GA debate from December up to November 7-8.

  Some UN member states tell Inner City Press that Ashe is "acting for his own country which bodes badly" - but is of course not without precedent.

  Ashe's advisory group will be composed of the Permanent Representative of Belgium, Liechtenstein, San Marino (Ban Ki-moon's golf partner), Sierra Leone, Papua New Guinea and Brazil, its former foreign minister.

  Several states complain that the list is "top heavy with Europeans -- three out of six -- and as one Latin country put it, is being "led by the G4."

  The perspective of Inner City Press and the new Free UN Coalition for Access focuses on transparency -- if the PGA website has a section of "Letters," why on the evening of October 23 is this letter not it. It is published here, exclusive must credit -- but this should not be necessary.

  Inner City Press and FUNCA have previously asked that Ashe's office disclose which staff members are seconded from which missions, and any and all non-UN budget funding to the office. Ashe is a genial diplomat, who quoted Justin Timberlake in his most recent press conference. But transparency is key. We will have more on this. Watch this site.