On Volcanic Ash, ICAO Has No Standards, No Answers of EU's African Blacklist

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/icao1ashes042110.html

UNITED NATIONS, April 21 -- The expectation was of volcanic ash when the two heads of the International Civilian Aviation Organization arranged to speak to the Press on Tuesday. They had come to the UN to meet with Ban Ki-moon, amid ash-trigger flight cancellations which even killed off the UN Security Council's long planned trip to the Congo to try to save its peacekeeping mission.

But after meeting Ban, they claimed that ash was not among the three main issues discussed: climate change, security against terrorism, and the reconstruction of Haiti.

Inner City Press asked, about criticism of ICAOs lack of leadership during the six days of flight cancellations. It is up to member states to decide when to close their air space, was the answer. But shouldn't ICAO develop standards, for the effects of ash concentration? It is not easy, the president off ICAO's Council Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez said.

Inner City Press asked about the decision by the European Union to block -- "blacklist" -- all aircraft from 13 African nations, as well as about the U.S. decisions after the so-called Nigerian underwear bomber.

Raymond Benjamin, ICAO Secretary General, tried to chide Inner City Press for mixing the two issues, and said that the U.S. blockages have all been resolved. But what about the EU blacklist?

When Pressed, the two men insisted that their only focus was safety. But when Inner City Press asked for their response to many letters asking that ICAO let in Taiwan -- province of China! -- at least as an observer, given the number of flights in and out of Taipei, they shook their heads. So are the letters a waste of time? Yes they are, was the answer from Raymond Benjamin, ICAO Secretary General. Video here. Only at the UN. Leaving the stakeout, one correspondent muttered, "What ashes."

And see, www.innercitypress.com/icao1ashes042110.html

At UN, China Says It's Slandered, No Haiti Relations Due to Taiwan

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/china1slander012810.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 28 -- "China does not have diplomatic relations with Haiti," a senior Chinese diplomat confirmed to Inner City Press over spicy shredded chicken Thursday night at the Chinese Mission to the UN. The reason is that Haiti still recognizes Taiwan.

"But we search our search and rescue," the diplomat continued. Inner City Press informed him that the UN, earlier this week, told the Press that the Chinese search and rescue team, after digging out Chinese casualties under the Christopher Hotel, "returned to Beijing."

"That's just a rumor," the diplomat protested, adding the UN humanitarian chief "John Holmes denied that." But UN Haiti spokesman David Winhurst said that it was true, the Chinese "returned to Beijing."

"We don't care that they think," another Chinese diplomat told Inner City Press.

Inner City Press had suggested that whoever becomes the next Chinese Ambassador to the UN make more of an effort of stating the country's position at the stakeout, as for example both the French and American Ambassadors have done in recent days. The diplomat shrugged. "If you want clarifications or facts, you can call us. But we don't care what they think."

About the International Monetary Fund requiring a reduction in size of the "Chinese" deal with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Chinese diplomat scoffed that it was a deal not by the Chinese government, but "companies." He said of the Joseph Kabila government, "They are sitting on riches but don't have the money to dig them out. We provide that, and the give us minerals, like copper."

He added that the Chinese deal with Guinea, right after the 2009 massacre, was by a Hong Kong based company.

At the Chinese end of Security Council presidency reception on Thursday night, the Permanent Representatives of such Council members as Russia, the UK, Brazil, Mexico and Austria milled around with the Sudanese counterpart. The US was represented by Deputy Alejandro Wolff.

General Assembly President Ali Treki, with bodyguard, put in an appearance. There was Moutai -- cut off when one reporter got too boisterous -- and blackened pepper steak. "We don't care what they think," the diplomat had said -- but this did not appear to apply to, or undermine, the Mission's hospitality. But African resource deals? Watch this site.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/china1slander012810.html

On Haiti, While US Says $70M of Obama's $100M Through UN, US Overhead Costs Listed When Other Countries' Are Not

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
www.innercitypress.com/usocha1haiti012010.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 20 -- How aid to Haiti is being accounted for appears unclear. The UN has asked for $562 million; US President Barack Obama has announced $100 million in American aid. Inner City Press has asked both the UN and US whether Obama's $100 million will be part of the UN's $562 million flash appeal, and has received three different answers, none consistent with the UN web site.

Inner City Press asked Deputy U.S. Permanent Representative Alejandro Wolff, who said on camera at the Security Council stakeout that "the one hundred million dollars that have been announced is bilateral contributions to the Haitian Government. We will also be contributing a significant amount to the Flash Appeal, which should be announced shortly." Video here, from Minute 4:24.

Later, to its credit, the US Mission to the UN called Inner City Press and said this was not correct, that in fact $70 million of the $100 million announced by President Obama would be part of the UN flash appeal. For this proposition, the US Mission helpfully sent a link to the UN web site.

The difficulty is that the UN's "List of all commitments / contributions and pledges as of 20 January, 2010," numerous US pledges and expenditures are listed and counted, some of which are explicitly labeled "bilateral," and $36 million of which are USFEMA search and rescue. Click here for the UN link, here for copy saved by Inner City Press as it appeared on the afternoon of January 20, 2010.

Listed by the UN for the United States --

United States of America USAID 50,000 0

United States of America USAID Administrative costs 70,930 0

To provide three Dominican Public Hospitals

near the Haiti border crossing at Jiman with

medications and supplies

United States of America USAID 1,000,000 0

United States of America USAID Logistics and relief supplies 1,350,000 0

United States of America USDOD Logistics and relief items 1,500,000 0

United States of America WHO Basic health services 5,000,000 0

United States of America IOM to be allocated to specific projects 7,000,000 0

United States of America USAID Logistics and relief supplies 7,893,641 0

United States of America WFP to be allocated to specific projects 10,000,000 0

United States of America USDHHS Health (USAID/OFDA) 13,000,000 0

United States of America USFEMA Search and rescue (USAID/OFDA) 36,000,000 0

United States of America WFP Food aid 48,000,000 0

The listings for China, by contrast, includes $4.4 million for "humanitarian aid, including medicines, tents, food, emergency lights, clothing and water," but puts no value for China's search and rescue effort -- ''50-member rescue team; three
sniffer dogs" -- which came by air from China less than three hours after the earthquake. Similar flights and food from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Greece, Iran, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, the UAE, South Africa, "Taiwan (Province of China)" and Canada are also given zero value as of January 20.

Canada's "Disaster Emergency Response Team deployed to Haiti; C-17 aircraft full of medical aid and a pair of search and rescue helicopters" is, as of January 20, valued at zero by the UN. So are 60 Cuban doctors. For France Morocco and South Korea, on the other hand, every listed item is given a dollar value.

On January 20, Inner City Press asked top UN humanitarian John Holmes about this. Before the press conference monitor cut the questions off, Holmes said that "we depend on member states to give us [information]...they will decide, they don't give to us." Video here, from Minute 23:31.

To a skeptic it appears that both the UN and the Obama Administration want to make it appear that unlike previously, the US is now working through the UN. But the American funds listed on the UN web site, to which the US Mission to the UN referred Inner City Press, are nearly entirely bilateral, or even simply US expenditures on, apparently, its own administrative costs ($70,930).

Back on January 15, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon if there would be an independent watchdog -- to audit and report on how aid is spent, and if donors following through on their loud pledges.

Mr. Ban replied that "there needs to be some transparency as well as accountability on how this money should be effectively and properly used. That we will discuss later."

That "later," it would seem, has arrived. The time is now.

Footnote: also listed by the UN as contribution are tabacconist Philip Morris' parent company Altria, multi level marketing concern Amway, the "Build a Bear Workshop Foundation," $3000 from Burger King, Dollar General Corporation, food speculator Cargill, Go Daddy -- a cynic wondered, why not Moussa Dadis Camara?

And see, www.innercitypress.com/usocha1haiti012010.html

In Haiti, China's 8 Dead Include 4 Diplomats Meeting with UN's Annabi, Mission Staffer Tells Inner City Press

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/un4quakehaiti011310.html

UNITED NATIONS, January 13 -- With the UN still vague about its top envoy in Haiti Hedi Annabi, in front of the UN Security Council on Wednesday morning Inner City Press asked a diplomat from China about reports of eight dead Chinese.

The diplomat confirmed the figure, but also told Inner City Press that four of the eight were members of a Chinese delegation to Haiti. They were meeting with Mr. Annabi at the time of the earthquake, the diplomat said, adding "they are dead."

If Chinese officials know that their diplomats meeting with Mr. Annabi have been killed, it is more than that Annabi is "missing" or unaccounted for.

For the UN to be cautious before releasing death figures is one thing. But to lag so far behind its member states, particularly regarding it top leader in Haiti, is subject to question.

On a media conference call by Doctors without Border / MSF on Wednesday morning, Inner City Press asked it MSF has any information about the UN headquarters in the Hotel Christopher.

MSF' Paul McPhun replied that the UN has been badly damaged, MSF does not expect much help from the UN as they will have to face their internal challenges. MSF says, unprompted, that it cannot confirm how the top leadership of the UN in Haiti has been impacted. But China says it has the information.

We hope it is somehow not true. But this source is well positioned and has been impeccable in the past. Watch this site.

Footnotes: Some in Haiti have noted to Inner City Press that the Chinese "riot squad" unit with MINUSTAH was also active in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, to which the previous contingent flew back (see above). Also, in the UN Security Council, China in the past threatened to veto or shorten the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Mission MINUSTAH due to Haiti recognizing Taiwan. This recognition, like many in the Caribbean, was revoked.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/un4quakehaiti011310.html

As UN Flies 700 Staff to Copenhagen, Coup Leader Set to Speak, Major Emitter Excluded

By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/uncope8offmessage121009.html

UNITED NATIONS, December 10 -- In the run up to the Copenhagen climate change conference, Inner City Press on December 4 asked UN climateer Janos Pasztor how many UN system staff, officials and consultants would be traveling to Denmark, with what carbon footprint. Pasztor said it wouldn't be known until the conference began.

On December 10, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky finally answered the question, or part of it. He said that the Copenhagen conference has among its participants 477 people from the UN Secretariat and 309 from 19 specialized agencies and related organizations. That is, 786 people from the UN. But does this include consultants? And what is the carbon footprint and will it be offset?

Nesirky did however answer two questions Inner City Press asked on December 10, after an ill attended noon briefing held at the same time as a media stakeout by U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice. Inner City Press asked if Ban Ki-moon is aware of the request that the coup leader of Madagascar not be allowed to participate in the Copenhagen conference, just as he was barred from speaking before the General Assembly in September.

Nesirky answered, "As for Madagascar, it is scheduled to speak on next Wednesday 16 December, sometime after 6 p.m., so they seem to have been invited." But what about the request that, as at the UN General Debate in September, they be disinvited?

On December 8, Inner City Press asked Ban Ki-moon

Inner City Press: Has Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, has he indicated to you – we’ve heard that you’ve spoken to him weekly by videoconference – he represents the African Union. Is the $10 billion enough? They threatened to walk out if not sufficient funds were committed. What’s you stance on how that issue’s going to play out?

SG: As you know I, together with Prime Minister [Lars Løkke] Rasmussen [of Denmark], have been engaging in weekly videoconferences with major stakeholders on climate change - particularly the representatives of the most vulnerable countries, including the African Union and small island developing countries. We are going to continue to do that, as we did in Trinidad and Tobago. Now the idea of short-term fast-track financial support is supported by developing countries. We had a very in-depth discussion on this issue during our Commonwealth summit meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. As you know the 53-Member State Commonwealth adopted a consensus declaration where this financial support – fast-track support – was agreed by all the Member States, including a provision that 10% of this $10 billion will be provided to small island developing countries.

So the Commonweath agreed -- but has the African Union? Inner City Press asked Ban's top humanitarian John Holmes on December 10, but he said he hadn't been involved in setting the $10 billion figure. So who was?

Inner City Press also asking about the block on participation by Taiwan, which is a major industrial emitter. Nesirky answered only that "Taiwan is not a party to the UNFCCC." But why not? Would the UN want a major source of emission like Taiwan to participate?

The answer, of course, in China, a senior diplomat of which told Inner City Press a good joke on Thursday. He noted that U.S.' Susan Rice had been harsh against Iran in that morning's Council meeting. She has to play to the electorate, he said, just as Iran's teetered regime tries to strengthen its power by being ever more hard-line. The Chinese diplomat said, "This is the problem with democracy." And then he laughed.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/uncope8offmessage121009.html