Libya Foreign Minister Tells Inner City Press He Wants “Non-Military” Force to Protect Oil, Talks Nice(r) on Abu Khatallah's Arrest by US

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 17 -- When Libya's foreign minister Mohamed Abdel Aziz emerged from the UN Security Council on July 17 to take questions from the media, Inner City Press asked him to be more specific about what type of “support” force he is asking for.

  Mohamed Abdel Aziz replied that the request is not for a “military” force -- but then went on to say say the force should protect oil fields and ports. If that's not military, what is it?

  Inner City Press also asked Mohamed Abdel Aziz for Libya's current position on the US arresting Abu Khatallah. Compared to the complaints of others, Mohamed Abdel Aziz said that even though under international law it is unacceptable, since Libya can't protect witnesses, maybe it is okay.

  Given the current state of affairs, what is “Libya's” position?

  Meanwhile on July 17 the UN's envoy to Libya Tarek Mitri told the Security Council -- by video from his native Lebanon, while other UN international staff are in Tunisia -- that the fighting has “cast a shadow over the election on 25 June of the 200 member Council of Representatives.” Ya don't say.

 Mitri said that barely forty percent of the 1.5 million registered Libyans went to the polls. He said 12 seats will remain vacant; 41 candidates were disqualified under the post-Gaddafi Law on Political and Administrative Isolation. Final results are supposed to be announced on July 20. Watch this site.

   

As ISIL Moves in on Iraq Oil, UNSC Draft Statement Cites Terror Finance

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 27 -- Amid fighting for the Baiji oil refinery in Iraq, a draft UN Security Council presidential statement has been circulated to discourage the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) from profiting from oil sales.

  The draft was announced in Moscow and on June 26 at Russia's UN Mission on 67 Street in Manhattan by UN Ambassador Vitaly I. Churkin. Inner City Press asked as it had at the UN's June 26 noon briefing about Iraq's letter seeking “logistical” help from UN member states to fight off ISIS or ISIL; Ambassador Churkin confirmed receipt and circulation of the letter.

  (Inner City Press, before asking about Iraq's letter at the June 26 UN noon briefing, tweeted what Iraq's Permanent Representative told it just after turning the letter in, here; don't believe the Gulf hype.)

 From the UN's transcript of its June 26 noon briefing:

Inner City Press: The Permanent Representative of Iraq told me that he submitted a letter to the Secretary-General and to the Council saying that the country wants logistical support from Member States. I wanted to know, is that the case? And what’s the Secretariat doing on such a letter?

Spokesman Dujarric: Well, yes, the letter has been received. It was addressed… it was asked to be circulated to the Security Council, so I’m sure it will be if it hasn’t already done so, and I think that’s a matter for Member States to look at.

  Now from reliable sources, this draft Presidential Statement or PRST has been circulated:

“The Security Council recalls its resolution 2146 (2014) and expresses grave concern over the access to and seizure of the oilfields in Syria by the terrorist groups in Syria, namely 'Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant' and 'Jabhat Al-Nusra,' and recalls in this regard that any export or import of crude without authorization of sovereign State is illegal,

The Security Council notes with concern that the oilfields and related infrastructure if controlled by terrorist organizations generate one of the main sources of income for terrorists which supports their recruitment efforts and strengthens their operational capability to organize and carry out terrorist attacks,

The Security Council strongly condemns any engagement in direct or indirect trade of oil from Syria involving terrorist groups, and reminds that such engagement constitutes financial support for entities designated by the Security Council 1267/1989 Committee as terrorist and may lead to further listings by the Committee.

The Security Council recalls the obligation of the Member States to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts.

The Security Council encourages all Member States to take necessary measures to prevent their nationals and entities and individuals in their territory from engaging in any commercial and financial transactions with respect to crude oil in Syria in the possession of non-state actors or sold by them,

The Security Council calls upon all Member States to cooperate closely should any information on such activity be available to them.”

  But will they? Watch this site.

   

In South Sudan Talks, Few Women But UN Quiet as Bashir & Kiir Plan Joint Oil Protection Force

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 6 -- Despite the UN's stated focus on South Sudan, it will not answer the most basic questions about it. 

  At the UN noon briefing on January 6, Inner City Press asked spokesperson Farhan Haq to confirm that UNMISS had been asked to provide protection to MP Kong Dak Jishlive, whose house near UNDP in Juba was reported repeatedly raided by authorities.

  Three hours later there was neither confirmation nor denial. Inner City Press also asked Haq what the UN thought of the lack of women in the negotiations in Addis Ababa, other than Rebecca Garang and perhaps a few others. The UN talks endlessly about this, under Security Council resolution 1325 and many since.

  Haq said they are IGAD's negotiations, adding that of course the UN like representative delegations to talks. But what does the UN do about it? As long as South Sudan has been a country, and before, the UN has been there.

  Half an hour later at incoming Security Council president Zeid's press conference, Inner City Press asked about the talks between presidents Kiir and Bashir about a joint oil security force. He said to wait for the Security Council's January 9th meeting on Sudan and South Sudan. We'll be there.

Even in South Sudan, the lack of transparency by UN Peacekeeping does not serve it. On December 30, Department of Peacekeeping Operations chief Herve Ladsous admonished South Sudan to not put in "caveat" on accepting troops from any country.

Though Ladsous didn't name the country -- for reasons that soon became obvious -- and later in the week UN spokesperson Farhan Haq declined to specify any country being considered for South Sudan, later on December 30 at the UN Mission of an African (and troop contributing) country Inner City Press was told Ladsous was trying to push into South Sudan peacekeeping from Morocco. Click here for more on that.

  After telling Inner City Press "I don't answer you Mister," Ladsous dodged about the impact of shifting peacekeepers out of Darfur, where two had just been killed, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Then he mentioned, for South Sudan, "half a regiment" from the MINUSTAH mission in Haiti. UN Video here, from Minute 3:09.

  Now, which country's half-regiment could that be? Questions have been asked, particularly in light of UN Peacekeeping's dubious record in Haiti: the introduction of cholera, multiple cases of sexual abuse or exploitation, nearly always followed by mere repatriation and no update on any discipline meted out, for example in the case of repatriated Sri Lanka peacekeepers.

  The website of the UNMISS mission in South Sudan lists fully 55 countries as contributing peacekeepers (Morocconotably is NOT among them) and some additional countries contributing UN Police, including Zimbabwe.

On January 2 Inner City Press asked UN acting deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq:

Inner City Press: Yes, Farhan. I wanted to ask you two questions about peacekeeping in South Sudan. One is that, it’s reported that India is unhappy with not being consulted in some of the ways their peacekeepers were used and intends to send its own military team to meet with its peacekeepers there. I wanted to know, separately, [Permanent Representative Asoke Kumar] Mukerji has, over the holidays, said that the Force Intervention Brigade may put peacekeepers in danger. What’s your response to that? And also, if you could confirm, I’ve heard that the UN wants to send Moroccan peacekeepers to South Sudan and they’re pushing back. And one of their reasons for pushing back is that Morocco is not a member of the African Union due to the Western Sahara. And I wanted if it’s DPKO’s (Department of Peacekeeping Operations) position that countries don’t have a right to have a sort of principled, political stand on why they wouldn’t take peacekeepers? Or should they take anyone that DPKO sends?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson Haq: Well, first of all, we wouldn’t comment on the specifics of how we’re trying to bring more peacekeepers in. We, as you know, are in touch with a number of Member States trying to build up the forces, as was approved by the Security Council. And when we have details of which countries are coming in, we’ll provide those details at that point. But, I don’t have any specific names to give up until more arrivals come in.

Inner City Press: I ask that only because Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous at the stakeout made a big point of saying, it’s not… when the house is on fire, anyone must be taken. So, I just wanted to know, can you say… is that the UN’s position? That even if there’s a political, principled stated reason not to take them… that wouldn’t… that should be overridden?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: For us, the priority is to get as many peacekeepers in as we can. They’ve been authorized by the Security Council. We’re trying to get the right numbers in order to stop the bloodshed as soon as we possibly can. So, that’s our priority. But, if we have any specific announcements to make about different countries joining in, we’ll make it at that point. But, that’s not ready at this stage.

Inner City Press: And on India?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: I wouldn’t have any comment on that. Is that it? Okay? Pam?

Correspondent: Hi, Farhan. I’d like to just correct the record that was established at this briefing a few weeks ago that the UN Correspondents’ Association has not… does not have any new Samsung TV sets in the room, never has had and has never accepted any donation or loan from the UN for Samsung TVs. Thank you.

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: Yeah, thanks. I’m in receipt of aletter from the United Nations Correspondent’s Association, which says, which does read: “Please be advised that there are no new Samsung TV sets in the UNCA room and have never been. And the UN Correspondents’ Association has not accepted a donation or loan of new Samsung TVs”. Thanks for that update. We’ll try to get any updated guidance about the language that we had earlier received. Yes?

Inner City Press: Because I’m thinking maybe you’ll correct the transcript on the answer that was given to me in writing about the television. If so, do you have any response about the note verbale that was filed by Syria that we previously discussed here?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson: No, there’s no response to that at present. But, yes, if there’s any fresh language on the language that was given to you, we’ll try to correct the record here. Yes, Lou?

Watch this site.

   

Leaving UN, Susan Rice Tells Inenr City Press Cutting South Sudan Oil Flow Shaded View of Nafie Visit

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 25 -- When US Ambassador Susan Rice Tuesday did what was billed as her final UN stakeout, nearly all of the questions were about Syria. Inner City Press asked her about Sudan -- specifically, about Omar al Bashir's adviser Nafie Ali Nafie's postponed or canceled trip to Washington, what it would take to revive it, and where Sudan is going. Video here, from Minute 21:56.

  Ambassador Rice said that while the Obama administration has a preference for improving relations with Sudan, there's Darfur and more recently the Two Areas (Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, see last week's Inner City Press story here) and Sudan's violation of the September 27, 2012 agreement with South Sudan.

  On that, Rice focused on the flow of South Sudan's oil, which she was was only to be stopped for technical and not political reasons. Khartoum claims that South Sudan is assisting the SPLM-North rebels, whose shelling of Kadugli killed an Ethiopian UN peacekeeping in mid-June.

  She said the halt on South Sudan oil flow shaded the view of the timeliness of the encounter with Nafie, and that there are steps that ought to be taken.

  Inner City Press' talks with Sudanese diplomats finds them giddy that Rice is getting this promotion to National Security Adviser in Washington. But do they know what Samantha Power would bring? Can you say, A Problem from Hell? Watch this site.

Footnote: Rice spoke more than one might have expected about cost-savings at the UN, even about whistleblower protection (which Inner City Press in recent reporting on awhistleblower in Mogadishu finds to be almost non-existent, click here for that). 

 But the sound quality of UNTV during her final stakeout certainly seemed to indicate cost-cutting: an almost unintelligible echo, video here from Minute 21:56.

  As Inner City Press reported this morning, the UN's new audio visual contractor TeamPeople is planning to shift down to a “skeleton crew” on July 1, when the US takes over the Presidency of the Security Council.

   The new Free UN Coalition for Access, formed due to attempts at censorship in the UN,  has asked the Department of Public Information why it is going to a skeleton crew, here, so far without response. As Rice said, many improvements are needed. Watch this site.

From the US Mission to the UN's transcript:

Inner City Press: You mentioned Darfur and the Two Areas, and I wanted to know—since you’ve been here, in terms of Sudan as a whole, where is it going? There was—Nafie Ali Nafie was supposed to visit the US. It’s been put off. Do you think you will continue to work on this issue in your new role? And what can you say beyond sort of putting out the fires in the three areas that you’ve mentioned? There seem to be problems throughout the country. What’s the U.S. strategy? And what would it take for Sudan to do to have someone like Nafie or someone else actually come to the United States.

Ambassador Rice: Yes, Matthew, I expect to continue to work on this issue along with many others. (background noise) Hold on—if I might finish the answer. Yes, indeed, I will continue to work on the issue. The issues of Sudan and South Sudan have from the very beginning of the Administration been high priorities for President Obama and will continue to be.

We have long indicated that our preference is for an improved relationship with Sudan but in the context of Sudan meeting the most fundamental obligations to its own people. And what we have seen tragically in Darfur and more recently in the Two Areas—and now with Sudan’s violation of the September 27th Agreement with South Sudan reflected in their decision to suspend oil flows, which are not meant to be suspended under the September 27th Agreement but only for technical reasons, not for political reasons—is discouraging and has certainly shaded our view of the timeliness of such an encounter. We remain in communication with the leadership in Khartoum. We will continue to do so. But there are important steps that the United States feels ought to be taken to protect the people of Sudan, which is the responsibility of the government, and those have always been central to our interest in and ability to make meaningful progress in improving the relationship.

As Sudan Orders Halt to Oil Flow From South, Power Test for Post-Rice USUN?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, June 7 -- Sudan's president Omar al Bashir has ordered his minister of oil to cut off the flow from South Sudan on June 8, accusing Juba of continuing to support rebels in Sudan.

  Not only the African Union but also the UN, through now part-time envoy Haile Menkerios, has been trying to keep the oil flow deal on track. But where is Menkerios and the UN now? Recently Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave Menkerios another job, as UN representative to the AU in Addis Ababa, while still filling the Sudan - South Sudan post.

  Is part time enough? Now we'll find out. (It also remains unclear what will happen with Menkerios' Assistant SG salary line, now that he's paid a higher Under SG salary in Addis.)

  With Susan Rice leaving the US Mission to the UN -- her farewell reception is June 13 -- this may also be an early test of Samantha Power, if confirmed before the US Security Council presidency that starts July 1, or for a Rice-less USUN.

  Many Security Council ambassadors have told Inner City Press that the bi-weekly Sudan / South Sudan consultations were entirely at the request of Susan Rice. Will they continue with her gone? Would Powers take a different approach?

  For now, will the US Mission under Rice or any other mission call for Security Council meetings on what could be a return to war? Watch this site.

On South Sudan's Oil Cut Off Charges, Sudan Shows ICP Denial, Rice Tells ICP It's Started Flowing Again; UN on Darfur: See No Evil

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 23, updated twice -- Amid charges by South Sudan that Khartoum is responsible for a cut off in the flow of oil for export and sale, Sudan's Permanent Representative Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman arrived at the UN Security Council Thursday morning, some 20 minutes after US Ambassador Susan Rice.

Update: leaving the meeting, Ambassador Rice told Inner City Press it is the US' understanding the oil has started to flow again. She emphasized: started.

  Inner City Press asked him about the oil flow dispute. Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman opened a file folder and showed Inner City Press a series of formal documents.

  First was a letter from Sudan's Minister of Petroleum to his counterpart in Juba, saying that the claims of Sudanese governmental involvement in the cut off pumping and flow were false.

  Next was what Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman said was the signed agreement about responding to the "technical issues" which led to the cut off; he said that a consortium of oil companies, not the government, was responsible.

Update: after the meeting, Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman told Inner City Press that the technical issue was one of water: too much water in the oil, which could corrode the pipes.

  The Council's topic on Thursday morning was Sudan and South Sudan, as well as Abyei. On Wednesday, the UN sent Inner City Press a belated answer from Herve Ladsous' Department of Peacekeeping Operations to question asked by Inner City Press the previous week:

Subject: Regarding your question on Sudan
From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org
Date: Wed, May 22, 2013 at 5:50 PM
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com

In response to your recent question on reports of the Chadian air force bombing positions inside Darfur and on whether Chadian troops have crossed into Sudan:

On 18 May, a patrol from the joint African Union-United Nations mission conducted an assessment mission to Bamina, North Darfur, where an attack on Justice and Equality Movement-Sudan members took place. No military or armed elements were observed in the area.

  So was JEM lying? Or was the UN late? Watch this site.

On Syria, US Worried by Al Nusra, Russia Says They'll Get EU Oil Money

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 24 -- Both the US and Russia expressed concern at the Al Nusra Front in Syria at the UN on Wednesday. But which was more realistic?

  US Ambassador Susan Rice said that Al Nusra is a threat to the Syrian revolution. But even anti-Assad UN sources have estimated to Inner City Press that Al Nusra is half of the effective force of the armed opposition in Syria.

  Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin got more specific. He criticized the European Union's decision to accept and buy oil exports from what Churkin called the “so called liberated areas” of Syria -- the money, he said, will go to the strongest armed groups, like Al Nusra.

  Where does the EU think the money will go? What safeguards if any are in place?

  Churkin denounced what he called the armed opposition's kidnapping of bishops in the so-called liberated zones, and called the pending UN General Assembly resolution, drafted by Qatar and a few others, extremely negative.

  Inner City Press first reported the Qatari draft resolution and put later drafts online; then Inner City Press obtained and exclusively published letters raised objections to the draft, from six Latin American countries, Malaysia, India and South Africa, here.

  While some were saying that Qatar is being urged, “even by the P-3 [France, UK and US], Luxembourg, Germany and Italy,” to withdraw the draft resolution, Inner City Press asked a supporter who said, “no way, that would look terrible.”

  So when's the vote? And will Qatar's proposed language on recognitions of the opposition be removed? Watch this site.

UK Lyall Grant Says Must Support LAS Plan in Full, Cites China's Oil Interests

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, February 1 -- After Chinese Ambassador Li Baodong told Inner City Press, "it seems like the other side has started making concessions," this was conveyed to his UK counterpart Mark Lyall Grant.

"The other side being our side?" Lyall Grant asked Inner City Press with a smile. He grew more serious and said, "I thought we were sensing some concession coming from their side yesterday... We've always said we're prepared to look at some of the details of the text."

In fact, the track changes made Monday evening to the text were by a UK mission diplomat, as exclusive reported by Inner City Press, here. Lyall Grant continued, "we'd like unanimous text, but we have clear red lines."

What about transfer of power?

Lyall Grant said, "the fundamental issue, as Sheikh Hamad said, is full support of all aspects of the Arab League plan. That's the red line. Some of the other.. is negotiable."

Inner City Press had asked Li Baodong about the Arab League plan's reference to Assad tranferring power to his deputy, and Li Baodong responded that China would not accept even the "subtext of regime change."

Told of this, Lyall Grant said, "if they're going to get into subtext... The time will come when" they'll have to "stand up and be counted, are they with the Syrian president or with the Arabs." He paused. "For someone like China, with its oil and energy interests, it's clear where their strategic interests should lie."

Is it? Watch this site.

Footnote: Germany's Permanent Representative Peter Wittig, told of Li Baodong's statement of China's opposition to even the "subtext of regime change," only said, thanks for telling me.

On Libya, France Says Oil Question "Makes No Sense," Will Pay Market Price

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 16 -- When Nicolas Sarkozy of France and the UK's David Cameron visited Tripoli this week, Cameron said his country would help "hunt down" Gaddafi.

Meanwhile Sarkozy's foreign minister Alain Juppe has said it would be "natural" if French companies ending up getting 35% of oil contracts with the National Transitional Council, since France supported them.

Inner City Press on Friday asked French Ambassador Gerard Araud about this 35% of oil figure. Araud responded that the question "doesn't make sense." He said that "the Libya of Gaddafi also sold oil to Western companies" and that the new national government "will sell at the market price."

But the idea is that French companies like Total will get contracts, including exploration contracts. Dirk Vandewalle, the adviser to the UN's adviser Ian Martin, has noted that "international oil and gas companies continue to rank the Jamahiriyya as the top exploration spot anywhere in the world... due to the fact that three-quarters of the country's territory remained unexplored."

Inner City Press asked Araud, what about French companies? Araud replied that they too would pay the market price and that anyway this was "premature... we are in the middle of the fighting."

On that, Inner City Press asked how NATO now bombing Sirte and Bani Walid could be construed as protecting civilians. Araud merely said, NATO is protecting civilians.

UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, when asked the same question by Inner City Press, was more nuanced, noting that NATOs mandate will continue to be reviewed and might be ended, in consultation with the Libyan authorities.

The newly (re) accredited Libyan representative at the UN Ibrahim Dabbashi had been waiting to speak to the assembly press at the stakeout but previous speakers too too long and Dabbashi left to talk with a single channel.

Inner City Press asked Lyall Grant to explain what David Cameron meant by helping to "hunt down" Gaddafi. "I'm not going to comment," Lyall Grant said, on something said by the Prime Minister. What about Prime Minister's questions? Watch this site.