In Libya "UN" Envoy Salame Was on UAE Advisory Board, Inner City Press Asks UN

By Matthew Russell Lee, Vine, Periscope

UNITED NATIONS, May 25 – A week after Inner City Press on Libya asked the UN about General Haftar's moves on Derna, it was reported there that "UN" envoy Ghassan Salame refused to meet with people in Derna because Egypt, the UAE and France did not want him too. Salame was largely selected / placed in the position by France; Egypt backs Haftar. The UAE bought the UN's previous envoy Bernardino Leon. This is today's UN. It was not worth asking the UN Spokesman in writing - he does not respond, evicted and restricts Inner City Press and bans it then its Periscope from Antonio Guterres UNTV filmed events. Inner City Press then in person asked Guterres' lead spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who said he'd inquire and revert, but never did, as is his practices. On May 25 when Guterres' deputy Farhan Haq limited Inner City Press to only two questions, Inner City Press used one of them this way, UN transcript: Inner City Press: I had asked Stéphane [Dujarric] about whether the  the UN's envoy on Libya, Ghassan Salamé,  as has been reported there, declined to speak with civilians in Derna, and I had wanted to ask you.  It wasn't much in his briefing to the Security Council, and people there say that, in fact, the hospital has no more oxygen because of the siege laid.  So what is the UN's position on General [Khalifa] Haftar's siege?  And number two, I've gone back and looked and it seems that Mr. Salamé, at least as of 2016, was on the advisory board of the UAE's [United Arab Emirates] Diplomatic Academy, where now Bernardino León, the former envoy, has a position, and I wanted to know.  There's nothing since then and there's no Ghassan Salamé financial disclosure online, at least, to disclose his outside activities.  Is he still affiliated with the UAE Diplomatic Academy, given that the UAE is supportive of General Haftar?  And number two, was this some kind of a problem, his affiliation with the UAE, given their influence in Libya, and position in Libya, positions on Libya?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, first of all, regarding what you said about Mr. Salamé and this report that he did not… that he refused to talk to Derna representatives, we've checked with the Mission.  That report is false.  Mr. Salamé and the Mission have been in touch with several people and entities from Derna and they are ready to speak to all Libyans.  Regarding…
Inner City Press:  Can you say which entities because the groups went on the record saying he wouldn't speak to them.  Can you say which groups those are?

Deputy Spokesman:  This is the information I have.  And… but he has been in touch, and he continues to be open and available to talk to all the various parties, including in Derna.  There's… we do not believe that there's any problems with any conflicts regarding Mr. Salamé.  He was vetted during the course of his recruitment.

Inner City Press:  Did he stop his position as being on the advisory board of the UAE Diplomatic Academy when he began working for the UN?

Deputy Spokesman:  I'm… as far as I'm aware, there are no conflicts regarding his roles.  Hold on." Yeah, hold on. Back on April 19 with questions abounding in Libya about where General Haftar was and about his health and mental state, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: there's a lack of clarity of the health and whereabouts of General [Khalifa] Haftar in Libya. He sort of disappeared.  Some diplomats have said he's had a serious heart attack and may not function.  So, I'm wondering, since the UN does have an envoy, Ghassan Salamé, is he aware where General Haftar is?  When's the last time he spoke to him?

Spokesman:  "Mr. Salamé spoke to… hold on a second.  I know he spoke to… I think last week he spoke to General Haftar.  I'll have to get you the exact date.  And, as for the whereabouts, I mean, I think that's up for those… those… Mr. Haftar and his people to talk about....Mr. Salamé spoke to General Haftar last Friday." And since?

   With Libya on the UN Security Council's agenda on March 21, Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Jonathan Allen about continued reports of slavery there. From the UK transcript: Inner City Press: On the issue of human trafficking and even slavery, migrants: BBC had another story today about people who had been imprisoned for months and who had been sold. Is the UN doing anything? Is the UN doing enough? What should be done about that?

We obviously have passed the resolution in the Security Council I think last November which was really clear about the expectations the Council has, and that I know a number of countries are working with Libya but also other countries in Africa, including European Union projects, including through bilateral means, to try and resolve some of the problems that we’re seeing because there is a huge problem that needs to be fixed and ultimately it will be fixed when Libya is able to have political institutions that work and is able to come together as a country, which is what we’re talking about this morning, of course." We'll see. At the end of the open meeting on Libya, Russia's Ambassador Nebenzia distributed a video about.. Eastern Ghouta. Inner City Press Periscope here. When the Libya sanctions committee of the UN Security Council met on February 9 in the UN basement, only one media was covering it: Inner City Press. This is in contrast to a meeting earlier in the week in the same room of the North Korea sanctions committee, covered by more than a half dozen media, all but one of which (Inner City Press) was Japanese. Libya despite the UN's role and the atrocities is no longer in the attention span of the media the UN gives full access to. To his credit, Libya sanctions committee chair Olof Skoog nevertheless stopped after the meeting and spoke with Inner City Press, saying that while human smuggling is not explicitly part of the sanctions he views it as such, given not only human rights but also its potential to fund terrorism. Full audio here. He said there are recommendations not yet agreed to by all 15 members; he cited the briefing by Panel of Experts coordinator Lipika Majumdar Roy Choudhury. After she briefed the Committee, Inner City Press spokes briefly to her as well; she was more accessible than her North Korea sanctions counterpart. Earlier in the day the North Korea committee's briefing for member states was closed to the press. After it, Inner City Press asked the Dutch chair if the letters granting exemption as to Choe Hwi are put on the Committee's web site; no, was the answer. Periscope video here. Amid the disparities in focus, Inner City Press is ramping up its coverage - watch this site. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo the UN has little to say when civilians protesting holdover President Joseph Kabila are killed, and speaks only after questions about their own peacekeepers killing each other, it seems. RIP. 

Inner City Press Asked UN About Syria Heading UN Conference on Disarmament, Dodge Then French Only

By Matthew Russell Lee, Periscope, Video, Video II

UNITED NATIONS, May 25 – There are many ironies in the UN system; Syria becoming the president of the UN Conference on Disarmament on May 28 seems one. On April 10 Inner City Press went to the US State Department briefing and asked spokesperson Heather Nauert about it. Video here from 32:03. On April 16, Inner City Press asked the UN Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein about it; he said (Scope here, video here) that he was surprised (as was a self-described "UN resident correspondent" to whom the UN gives more access than Inner City Press). But unless these surprised Ambassadors actually do something, the alphabet will rule: on April 11, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' two top spokesmen, "Given what the Secretary General has said about the reported use of chemical weapons most recently in Douma, what is his position on, and what will he do about, Syria being slated to become President of the Conference on Disarmament in May?" Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq replied to Inner City Press (while not responding to another UN corruption question), "On the disarmament question, our colleagues in Geneva have shared the following: 'We can confirm that, following the current presidency of Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic should serve as President of the Conference as of 28 May 2018 for four weeks. According to the Rules of Procedure ‘The Presidency of the Conference shall rotate among all its members; ... The rotation which began in January 1979, based on the English alphabetical list of membership, shall be followed.’  Therefore, the next State in the list after Switzerland is indeed the Syrian Arab Republic. It is to be noted that only the Member States of the Conference on Disarmament can take decisions about their Rules of Procedure including with regard to their rotating Presidency.'"  Ah, leadership under Antonio Guterres....

 Now it gets worse. After Guterres' spokesmen told Inner City Press Guterres had no role, now on May 24 in Geneva Guterres tried to have it both ways, with a weak statement, only in French, which the UN distributedwithout translating. Some even praised Guterres for this - which was his goal, to have it both ways. We'll have more on this.

From the US transcript: Inner City Press:  Matthew Russell Lee.

MS NAUERT:  Okay.

QUESTION:  Yeah.  So I wanted --

MS NAUERT:  Nice to meet you.

QUESTION:  All right.  I’m glad to be here.  I wanted to ask you, this is maybe – I don’t know if it’s in your binder or not, if – two things I wanted to ask.  One has to do with Syria’s set to the president of the Conference on Disarmament of the UN.

MS NAUERT:  Mm-hmm, I saw that.

Inner City Press:  And Robert Wood, your – yeah, your ambassador said --

MS NAUERT:  Ironic, right?

Inner City Press:  Yeah, highly ironic. [Wood said] they’re un – not qualified.  I wanted to know:  Do you have any ideas yet what that will mean?  Will the U.S. walk out?  Will they not participate?  And I have one other question for you.

MS NAUERT:  Okay.  I’m certainly aware of that story and that story taking place.  That would be an outrage if Syria were to take control of that.  We have seen these types of things happen at the United Nations before where suspicious countries, which countries that run against everything that an individual committee should stand for, will then head up that committee.  I haven’t spoken to Ambassador Haley about that and what she may or may not do, so I don’t want to get ahead of any decisions she might make.

  At least some response - on the same day, the UN refused to answer a single one of Inner City Press' three questions, after having evicted and still restricting Inner City Press. We will continue to cover this. For now, thisPeriscope video just after the State Department briefing. Watch this site.

At UN's World Bee Day Claim of Benefiting Charity Disproved As Gifts of Honey UNseen

By Matthew Russell Lee, Periscope

UNITED NATIONS, May 24 – When the UN belatedly celebrated World Bee Day on May 24, they bragged that the hives they established on the UN's North Lawn produce 250 pounds of honey a year. Inner City Press asked at the noon briefing, Where does the honey go? 

The General Assembly President's spokesman said he had anticipated Inner City Press asking that so had inquired. He said that contrary to what had been earlier said, that the honey would be sold in the UN gift shop with the proceeds to a charity, that had not occurred. Inner City Press went to the North Lawn Slovenian sponsored bee event in the afternoon, complete with biodegradable flutes of champagne, and asked one of the beekeepers, who said “We do something with the UN.” But what? Video here.

  Later the PGA's Office emailed Inner City Press, "The original idea was for the honey to be sold with the proceeds given to a non-profit which supports sustainable apiaries in developing countries. Currently, however, the honey is not being sold but rather given out as gifts." Inner City Press replied, "Thanks but I have to ask: the 250 pounds of honey is being given out as gifts by who? To whom? At the event today there were some sample containers but nowhere near 250 pounds.So where else has it been given out, and by who?" Hours later it is still not clear. The PGA's Office in its subsequent summary said "the hives are managed by the United Nations Office of Central Support Services." So Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who stonewalls questions about nepotism, corruption and sexual harassment cover ups, is in charge? Watch this site.

 Follow the honey. Or, take the honey and run. Secretary General Antonio Guterres is, typically, away. But PGA Miroslav Lajcak gave a speech, saying he was glad it was outside so the bees could attend. He said the lesson to be learned from bees is that they are industrious and patriotic. Earlier in the day the North Korea - US talks were cancelled, at least for now. The chief beekeeper said he is “installing” a Slovenian queen to take over the the previous Italian regime. Sort of like the split or shared Security Council seat of Italy, one wag buzzed. One final lesson: don't stand between bees and their hive.

UN Security Council Website Given To DPA Chief of Staff's Husband, UN Spox Sure Rules Followed

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, May 24 – At the UN, even the Security Council's website is a prize to quietly be given to a top official's spouse, with no competition or transparency. Inner City Press is exclusively informed by whistleblowers that Department of Political Affairs chief of staff Kyoko Shiotani's husband John van Rosendaal has been brought in to run the Council's website, as if the UN and its Security Council were a small business suffused in nepotism. On May 24, as part of its exclusive reporting, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric about it. From the UN transcript: Inner City Press: people that work in your UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) have been confused and surprised to see, according to them, that the husband of the Chief of Staff, Kyoko Shiotani, a John van Rosendaal, has been designated to run the Security Council's website.  They… they found it kind of strange because there was… there was no need for it.  He was brought in without any competition, according to them, and it seemed like a classic case of nepotism and affecting the Security Council itself.  So, I'm wondering… maybe you don't have the information at your fingertips, but can you find out how it is that… that it's… I've seen this thing.  He's now called a senior programme officer after being a self-employed consultant.

Spokesman:  I'm not aware of the case, and I'm sure all the rules were followed.  Carole?

Inner City Press:  How are you so sure?" This was not answered. On LinkedIn, van Rosendaal lists himself as “Strategic Communications Consultant at United Nations” as well as Self-Employed, Photographic Wanderings.

   Here is van Rosendaal's website, Photographic Wanderings dot com: “Professionally, I’ve worked as a journalist, media company manager and communications consultant. I plan to combine my passion and my expertise to build this site into something interesting, useful and entertaining. I’m originally Dutch but left Holland in 1989. Since then I’ve mostly lived in or close to New York, with stints in Switzerland, Cyprus and Austria.” 

 He's a communications strategist with 39 Twitter followers. Now he's to run the Security Council's website. Why not? 

  Inner City Press asks, how did this "self employed communications consultant" (with 39 Twitter followers) become, as his signature block now says, "Senior Program Officer, Security Council Affairs Division"? 

  This is the UN of Antonio Guterres. Rosemary DiCarlo has just taken over at DPA. Guterres and his spokesman Stephane Dujarric banned Inner City Press from covering the ceremony where Dicarlo presumably pledged to serve the public. It is impossible to know since UNTV did not film it and Inner City Press was then and now banned from its own livestream Periscope broadcast on Guterres' 38th floor. 

Now what will DiCarlo, or perhaps despite his spokesman's knee-jerk defenses of and evictions for anything the UN does Guterres who is already charged with overseeing cover ups of sexual harassment in the IAEA, do? Watch this site.

For Burundi Referendum Media Was Censored, Files Destroyed, UN Called It Calm, Belated Meeting

By Matthew Russell Lee, Photo, Video

UNITED NATIONS, May 24 – On Burundi the day after the May 17 referendum, in the run up to which at least 26 people were killed in Cibitoke, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Farhan Haq about the deaths. He said things were reportedly calm. UN transcript here and below. Maybe it was reported as calm because the local media was censored. Per RSF, the reporter Jean Bosco Ndarurenze was expelled from a ruling party meeting in the northern city of Kirundo on May 7. His audio recorder was confiscated and was then returned on the condition that its contents were deleted. As Inner City Press previously reported, Radio Insanganiro reporter Pacifique Cubahiro and his cameraman suffered a similar fate last weekend when they tried to do a report on the massacre of 26 residents of a village in the northwest of the country. They were briefly arrested and their recorded video material was seized. On May 9, journalists with the Renouveau Burundi newspaper were prevented from covering members of the public collecting their voter cards from the city hall in the capital, Bujumbura. The Security Council belatedly meets about Burundi on May 24. Watch this site. On May 21, after Burundi claimed 74% in favor and only three percent abstaining, Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: late last week in Burundi, this constitutional referendum.  They've just announced the results.  They said that only 3 per cent of people abstained, 74 per cent in favour 19 against, which would put Pierre Nkurunziza able to stay in power till 2034.  And people that abstained were threatened with arrest or worse.  So, I wanted to know, what is the UN's statement on the election… referendum?

Spokesman:  You know, the… we did not have… obviously, we were not participating in the elections, in the observing or in the running of the elections.  I would refer you to what the Secretary-General said in his last report on Burundi, in which he said there was no alternative to dialogue but… and, as he said, it is Burundi's sovereign right to amend its Constitution.  But I will leave it at that.
Inner City Press:  Wait. I just… I'm just trying to compare it to your previous answer on Venezuela.  Did the UN have observers there?

Spokesman:  In Venezuela?
Inner City Press: :  Yeah.

Spokesman:  No.
Inner City Press:  Okay.  So…

Spokesman:  And I would refer you… the Secretary-General's report on Burundi, I think, his last report, was fairly clear-eyed and direct about his observations and his recommendations for Burundi.  So I would refer you to that.

Inner City Press:  It's a sovereign right, but does the Secretary-General believe that the… the constitutional amendments now os… ostensibly passed violate the spirit or letter of the Arusha Agreements?

Spokesman:  Again, I would refer you to the report and, again, the Secretary-General's point that there's no alternative to dialogue, especially the ongoing regional dialogue.  Evelyn?" Menawhie the US issued this: "The United States notes that the May 17 referendum process in Burundi was marred by a lack of transparency, the suspension of media outlets, and attempts to pressure voters.  The government allowed vigorous campaigning by the opposition during the designated two-week campaign period, but numerous cases of harassment and repression of referendum opponents in the months preceding the vote contributed to a climate of fear and intimidation.  The absence of independent observers also undermines confidence in the reported result. We remain concerned that passage of the revised constitution will be interpreted as resetting presidential term limits.  We recall the ruling party’s commitment under the Pretoria Protocol to respect the principles of the Arusha Agreement, including respect for term limits.  Other amendments run counter to the power-sharing principles of the Arusha Agreement.  We condemn the government’s recent decision to suspend Voice of America and BBC broadcasts.  This decision along with other media restrictions, arbitrary arrests, and harsh sentences for human rights defenders signals continuing limitations on civic and political space in Burundi.  We call on the government to respect its citizens’ rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association. The United States supports the Burundian people and hopes for a future in which they enjoy vibrant and sustainable economic growth, security, and fundamental freedoms." From UN's May 18 transcript:  Inner City Press: Do you have anything on Burundi and the referendum that was held yesterday?  Fifteen people, it's said, were killed in the run-up to it.  Is there a UN statement on that event?

Deputy Spokesman:  No.  I mean, we're aware that the polls took place yesterday.  There's no international or regional observers accredited to observe the referendum in Burundi, but we did see the reports that the situation there was calm." The day before, Inner City Press asked Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok, who said among other things that leaders should know when to leave. Video here. On Cibitoke, tellingly, Isanganiro journalist Pacifique Cubahiro and his cameraman were detained for looking into it, and their images seized. Meanwhile from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, whom the Free UN Coalition for Access has shown linked to UN censorship and from the UN Security Council, so far nothing. But France's Ambassador in Burundi Laurent Delahousse has seen fit to reply, "Hippos?" to a tweet about seven people reportedly killed and left floating in a river. See here. Burundians have called it shameful; Laurent Delahousse has doubled down saying he was protesting the use of inapposite photos on social media - this while France was speaking about the Rohingya in the UN Security Council, while seemingly unaware as penholder of Burundi meetings, or killings. Would France communicate this way about Syria? It seems more akin to French Ambassador Gilles Thibault's communications in Cameroon, ignoring or downplaying the Biya government's killings in the Anglophone zones, like the UN does. On May 14 Inner City Press asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: In Burundi, as you… 26 people were killed in Cibitoke, which is a… on the border, and it’s a pretty large number.  And two journalists that were investigating it were detained.  Their files were seized. And I’m just wondering, the run-up to the election, given the UN’s role there, including Mr. [Michel] Kafando, what does the UN have to say about this murder of 26 people?

Spokesman:  Of course, we’re concerned about any violence in the run-up to the elections.  We wanted and have made clear the idea that voting needs to be held in a free and fair atmosphere where people can vote without fear.  Regarding the views of Michel Kafando, the Special Envoy, he’s expected to brief the Security Council later this month, I believe in a little over a week from now, around the 24th.  And so he’ll express his views at that point.  But, certainly, we are concerned about any violence and want it to be investigated thoroughly.
Inner City Press: And I wanted to ask, in Vienna, what he said…

Spokesman:  Hold on.

Inner City Press: Well, you just… I have another question.

Spokesman:  "Yeah, but it’s on a separate topic." We'll have more on this. With the Council presidency for May being taken over by Poland's Ambassador Joanna Wronecka, Inner City Press on May 3 asked her about the month's program of work, and to be kept informed. On May 9, this:  on May 10, after Darfur, "the SC will then proceed in closed consultations with Any Other Business on Burundi. Mr. Michel Kafando, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Burundi will brief the Council" - behind closed doors, of course. Inner City Press asked Francois Delattre, UN Ambassdor of France which "holds the pen" in the Security Council on Burundi, about the consultations and though polite he seemed not to know. Video here. Inner City Press aims to follow up, even amid exclusion orders by Secretary General Antonio Guterres' Stephane Dujarric. The referendum, which the US and others say runs counter to Arusha, is set for May 17. Watch this site. Inner City Press on May 3 asked about UN sexual abuse and exploitation, with 54 new cases in just the first quarter of 2018, and about DR Congo interference in the investigation of the murders of UN experts Michael Sharp and Zaida Catalan. In response, she cited an Arria formula meeting on May 7 about Children and Armed Conflict, and as an issue of particular interest to her, stigmatization in Myanmar. She described the Council's recent visit to that country and to Bangladesh. For the Free UN Coalition for Access, FUNCA, Inner City Press asked that the Polish Mission send out daily emails about who has requested Any Other Business meetings and who the briefers are. Back on April 2 Inner City Press asked the then incoming UNSC President Peru's Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra about Haiti and the cholera the UN brought, and the Western Sahara letter filed with the Council on April 1. Meza-Cuadra said the Peru had participated extensively in the UN's now defunct MINUSTAH mission; he acknowledged the need for the UN to raise more funds about cholera. Video here. On Western Sahara he acknowledged receipt of the letter alleging violations by the Frente Polisario which the UN says it has not observed. He said it has been circulated, and his political coordinator after the meeting denied reports of an "Any Other Business" briefing about Western Sahara before the consultations on April 17. There may be Council trips to Iraq and to Myanmar / Bangladesh. Inner City Press for the Free UN Coalition for Access asked Meza-Cuadra to revert to the practice of at least purporting to answer questions after closed consultations of the Council. We'll have more on this. Back on March 1 with the Council presidency being taken over by Dutch Ambassador Karel van Oosterom, Inner City Press asked him about Burundi, where the Council's decision to send 228 UN Police was never implemented, and about the (lack of) transparency of the North Korea sanctions committee which he chairs. He replied that each sanctions committee has its own transparency procedures. Not explained is when the votes were taken, to make confidential requests for and rulings on exemptions such as that involving DPRK Foreign Trade Bank, see Inner City Press' credited scoop here. 

After UN Bribery Indictee Patrick Ho Denied Bail, UN's Guterres Not Even An Audit, Corruption Speech Lies

By Matthew Russell Lee, Video, Q&A, HK here

UNITED NATIONS, May 23 – Four months after the arrest for UN bribery of Patrick Ho, the head of China Energy Fund Committee full funded by CEFC China Energy, his ultimate boss at CEFC Ye Jianming was brought in for questioning in China.  On May 17, Ho was denied bail in a proceeding in which the UN was described as corrupted, and Ho's emails offering bribes to the foundation of UN President of the General Assembly Sam Kutesa were made part of the judge's order. Post-hearing Periscope video here. On May 23, after UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres gave a speech about corruption and the UN being a leader, Inner City Press asked his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcripthere: Inner City Press: the Convention against Corruption.  I did notice in his speech that he called for… for… for free press in civil society, exposing wrongdoing, and… and so the UN's role is essential and so lead by example.  So, I want to ask you again — I'm sorry to do this, but there's a current case in the Southern District of New York of Patrick Ho and China Energy Fund Committee, where it was just described in… in… when he was held over in jail, Patrick Ho, that there… this corrupted many individuals in the UN and the institution itself.  This was said in the courtroom.  So, given that, can you explain why the Secretary-General, in the spirit of leading by example, hasn't even held… even an OIOS [Office of Internal Oversight Services] audit of how deeply this ran and why China Energy Fund Committee remains… I know you're going to say it's Member States but…?

Spokesman:  Well, that happens to be a fact.  That happens to be a fact.  As I've said, we have fully cooperated with the federal authorities on this case.
Inner City Press: Is that leading by example?

Spokesman:  Yes.  Yes.

Inner City Press: That's enough?

Spokesman:  Go ahead." He moved on. On May 18, Inner City Press asked UN spokesman Farhan Haq about it, video here, UN transcript here: Inner City Press:  Yesterday, there was a court hearing down in the Southern District of New York where Patrick Ho was applying once again…  of the China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC) was applying again for bail. He was denied, but I'm asking you this, because in the court hearing, it was said, these were two direct quotes.  One quote was that he's charged with "corrupting the UN", and second quote is "many people at the UN were involved".  So it made me wonder, and I looked around the courtroom, whether the UN is already following this case?  I'm aware that there has yet…  at least my understanding is there's no audit yet.  Is OLA (Office of Legal Affairs)…  do they have somebody there?  Are they ringing up fees, would be one way to put it, but what's your response to these statements in court?

Deputy Spokesman:  We're monitoring this case and, as you know, we've been cooperating with the US legal authorities concerning this overall case.

Inner City Press:  In this case…  in this case…  I know that in the previous case documents were provided and $302,000 were paid as legal fees back to the UN.  In the case of Patrick Ho and CEFC, have documents been provided to the prosecution?

Deputy Spokesman:  We're cooperating as needed with the authorities." And charging?  China Energy Fund Committee, the bribery vehicle, is still in special consultative status with UN ECOSOC. Oft-traveling Secretary General Antonio Guterres has not even ordered an audit (though he keeps restrictions on Inner City Press which covered the Ng Lap Seng and now Patrick Ho UN bribery scandals. The UN is a corrupted institution. In court on May 17, Ho's lawyer Andrew Levander argued that now China is cutting "the energy company" CEFC China Energy no slack. Prosecutor Douglas Zolkind on the other hand emphasized that the energy company has now essentially been taken over the Chinese government, which he also said controls Hong Kong's decisions to extradite or not. Judge Katherine Forrest noted that the energy company is paying Ho's legal fees and said its motives could not be known. She read into the record not only the Kutesa emails in Paragraph 40 of the complaintbut also those about Chad's president Deby in Paragraphs 24 and 26. It was said the case "involves many people at the UN." We'll have more on this. On May 15 the prosecution detailed how the bribes were paid, as part of responding to Ho's motion to dismissed. The funds to Kutesa when from HSBC in Hong Kong to Deutsche Bank in New York to Stanbic in Uganda. The funded to Gadio, in two tranches, when from HSBC in Hong Kong to HSBC in New York to Mashreq Bank in New York to Mashreq Bank in Dubai. On May 17 Ho should hear a ruling on his re-request for bail. At the UN, which has yet to even order an audit while Ho's China Energy Fund Committee is still in special consultative status with UN ECOSOC, Inner City Press asked if the UN hopes to get awarded attorneys fees like it did, to the tune of $302,000, in the case of Ng Lap Seng, with the same prosecutors. The UN declined to comment - it remains UNreformed. Watch this site. On May 2, Patrick Ho and five lawyers argued for more than an hour to try to get bail granted - it was not. Judge Katherine Forrest noted that even if Ho's motions to dismiss some counts, and to suppress evidence collected with his iPad password, are in fact granted, the case will still proceed. She asked his lawyers to research whether the equity in his mother's home in Hong Kong could be transferred to a bank in the United States. Ho's lawyer Andrew Levander quoted him that this is a case not only against Ho, but also against CEFC and China it its "One Belt, One Road." The prosecution's Douglas Zolkind recounted how Ho inside the UN worked with former Senegal foreign minister Gadio to bribe Chadian president Gadio, who "laughingly" referred to Brazilian bribes for another oil concession. Ho's lawyers analogized him to Jeff Bezos of Amazon and to Donald J. Trump. He will be back in court in a forthnight on May 17 at 3 pm - and so will we. Post hearing Periscope video here. 


Management and day to day operations of CEFC have reportedly been taken over by the Shanghai city government's investment arm, Shanghai Guosheng Group Company. At the UN, Inner City Press asked if this meant that its fundee could not longer be in special consultative status to UN ECOSOC; this has not been answered. Inner City Press made this connection: the president of ECOSOC is Marie Chatardová, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the UN. Her president, in Prague Castle, is Miloš Zeman -- who, like Uganda's Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa when he was UN President of the General Assembly, made Ye Jianming an official adviser.(Inner City Press' CEFC investigative covered has been picked up in the Czech media, for example here.) Amazingly, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has yet to even order an audit, which his predecessor Ban Ki-moon did in the case resulting in a 48 month sentence for Ng Lap Seng (while also evicted Inner City Press for pursuing the story; Guterres and his Global Communicator Alison Smale continue the restrictions). Watch this site.

As Palestine Joins UNIDO, Some Talk US Funding Cut, But US Long Gone Like France

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, May 23 – UN official Nickolay Mladenov announced in the Security Council on May 23 that "on May 15 Palestine acceded to the United Nations Industrial Development Agency (UNIDO), UNCTAD and the OPCW." Some quickly said that the United States would cut funding, including to UNIDO. But as Inner City Press reported, the US left UNIDO long ago, and France left it in 2013-14. Back on September 13, 2013 when Peru's President Ollanta Humala Tasso and Li Yong, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO, held a media stakeout at the UN on Monday, one expected them to take at least a few questions.

France cut funding to and dropped out of UNIDO in April 2013, following the UK. What does the agency think of this? What did Peru think of it?

But after each man read out a statement, there was confusion. "No questions!" came a call from the side of the stakeout. Inner City Press asked anyway, about the cutting of funding. A spokesperson came up and said, if you want to ask a question, give me your card. Inner City Press did.

But what is the point of a stakeout, with the media present, if no questions are taken? Are the journalists just extras? This is a question asked by the Free UN Coalition for Access, @FUNCA_info. 

  Ironically under Guterres the UN's chief executive board in April 2017 met on, and Inner City Press published an internal list including, this Montreux topic: the UN common position on the admission of the State of Palestine to UN Specialized Agencies, Programs and Funds by Sept. 2107, how to thrive without UN/Western funding -  learn from the experience of UNIDO and UNESCO in this regard." Thriving?  We'll have more on UNCTAD, and on this. Watch this site.

Exclusive: Of UN Sex Scandal Inner City Press' Told IAEA DG Knew of Krems-Gate, Cover Ups in Guterres' UN

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Must Credit

UNITED NATIONS, May 23 -- UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on May 14 in Viennatold UN staff that sexual exploitation and abuse is not relevant, only sexual harassment is. This statement was made amid allegations of physical sexual abuse by UNAIDS' Luiz Loures, and the purchase of sex by a D1 UNofficial in Somalia. Are those cases of harassment? Inner City Press asked the UN to explain Guterres' statement, below - and then was informed by sources in Vienna that the #MeTooUN problem there is wider than heretofor reported. An abrupt resignation at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, of Tero Varjoranta, was by some like Reuters linked to Trump's pull out from the Iran JCPOA deal. Varjoranta was linked to the JCPOA - but his resignation, multiple whistleblowers tell Inner City Press, was more tied to a sexual harassment incident witnessed by many staff. Inner City Press' sources, understandably afraid of retaliation in Guterres' UN (which continues to restrict Inner City Press) now exclusively provide Inner City Press: it was a retreat held in October 2017 by one division within the Department of Safeguards. That Department was responsible for the JCPOA, and is responsible for monitoring Iran. DDG Varjoranta was the most senior UN official advising DG IAEA on nuclear issues globally.

The retreat involved the staff member participants staying at a hotel in Krems, outside Vienna. At the retreat, there was a casual bar night where participants got together. DDG Varjoranta spent a large part of the night with one junior female professional officer - 'openly  kissing her, putting his arm around her, being massaged by her.' Numerous witnesses saw this and subsequently gave witness testimony in an internal investigation.There was also another incident where he put his hand on a female staff member’s leg.

This behaviour is clearly inconsistent with the Standards of Conduct and the IAEAs code of conduct. The matter was investigated by the Office of Internal Oversight. The DDG is required to be provided a copy of the internal investigation report, and was allowed to provide written comment on it, which he did. [As the Press moved in] the DDG resigned without notice and sent an email to Safeguards staff saying he was leaving for “family reasons”.

Subsequently, senior management have not addressed the real reason for his sudden departure with staff, simply telling staff not to spread rumours. It's called a cover up [which Inner City Press has found in many parts of Guterres' UN system, and suffering consequences for exposing and reporting and asking about.] In the background, the IAEA is planning “respectful workplace training” for general staff.

Senior management at the IAEA act with impunity. [A source affirmsthat] the DG [Amano] has known about the DDGs behaviour since January 2018, raised to him by senior staff. It seem he knew further back, since shortly after the Krems retreat. Given the status of the DDG and the facts proven by the Office of internal Oversight, Mr Varjoranta should have been sacked, not allowed to resign with full UN benefits,  the ability to gain other UN employment, and no outcome for the victims or the witnesses." But this is Guterres' UN system. Amano knew; it seems Guterres knew (Inner City Press asked his spokesman and was told, personal reasons - the resignation email is about family reasons. Another has exclusively told Inner City Press that "at a senior management retreat at the start of the year, the Deputy Director General  was seen to publicly 'kiss a female subordinate long and hard'and then was seen retiring to the bed chamber with the female person. Nonetheless, Amano approved a contract extension for the DDG subsequently... In my view the DG also should resign for his cover up -but he is laying the ground for a fourth term citing DPRK denuclearization." Now, as global media ask restricted Inner City Press for more information on the case, here was a bit more - and there is yet more than this - from IAEA whistleblowers, even as corporate wires cover up: "It’s all about ‘Kremsgate’ in late 2017, where the DDG Tero Varjoranta acted in front of up to 30 IAEA staff and touched 2 women.  Senior management - including Director General Amano - have known about this since about October 2017 and taken no action. The DG himself knew of this.  There was an internal investigation that supported the above facts. There are numerous witnesses in the Department of Safeguards. The two women have been badly impacted by the incidents. Witnesses are scared to talk due to lack of protection.  The issue fits well into the global ‘me too’ dialogue. The perpetrator resigned without sanction, and returned to his home country Finland. With all of the usual UN benefits and no repercussions.  The twofemale victims and the 30 odd witnesses are left traumatized and with no faith in the UN system." For now, rightfully so. "This issue ONLY came to light because the Office of Internal Oversight received a whistleblower complaint. The IAEA - and in particular the Director General of the IAEA - knew about the misconduct of the DDG and did nothing about it. Kremsgate was an open secret. But the DG did not request an internal investigation. He was fully aware of the potential misconduct, and did nothing. He himself should be held to account for this failure to comply with UN standards." This is today's UN, which confines Inner City Press to minders while serving corporate wire services pan seared corvina and wine, in exchange for no questions on the UN's sexual harassment scandal. On May 17, Inner City Press asked Guerres' deputy spokesman, UN transcript here, Inner City Press: Earlier this year, I asked a number of questions about UNFPA in India and the allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against a Diego Palacios there and there's just been a large press conference of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in India, both saying that the…  asking that the Secretary-General remove immunity from Mr. Diego Palacios and also tying it into the situation at UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme against HIV/AIDS) with Michel Sidibé, but I wanted to know an update from you.  They seem to say at this press conference that Mr. Palacios hasn't really even been interviewed, that there's not…  that the UN hasn't acted in any way on this detailed allegation of sexual harassment.  Are you aware of what UNFPA has done, if the Secretary-General is aware of and may act on this request that immunity be removed, particularly given the inaction by the UNFPA?

Deputy Spokesman:  As far as I'm aware at this stage, it remains in the hands of the UN Population Fund, and they're the ones who are looking into this, and we'll leave it in their hands.

Inner City Press:  Recently, there was an abrupt resignation of a Deputy Director General of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in Geneva, Tero Varjoranta, and we've been hearing various reasons for it, and since the Secretary-General was just in Vienna, is he aware of any quote "#MeToo issues” at IAEA, and if so, what did he do while he's there?

Deputy Spokesman:  I don't really have any comment to share on this.  As far as I'm aware, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that he had stepped down for personal reasons, and so that is the information we have on that." Really. Guterres' statement was made at a staff Town Hall meeting for which he was 45 minutes late. After he said it, a staff member complained that her application to set up a #MeToo club had been denied and would Guterres help? He did not say yes. So on May 15 in New York, Inner City Press asked Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: At yesterday's town-hall meeting in Vienna, one of the questions from the floor was from a self-described victim of sexual harassment within the UN system, and she asked Secretary-General whether he supported the idea of a "me too" club, I guess, within the UN in Vienna.  He didn't seem to say yes.  He seemed to say, well, if I understand it better.  She said, do you support it, and they just moved on.  Can you say now does the Secretary-General support the idea?  She was apparently rejected by the UN in Vienna to set up this, such a club.  Does he support that idea, and will he follow up with the staff member who asked him this explicitly in the town-hall meeting?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, first, we are trying to get input from all staff about what needs to happen in order to deal more effectively with sexual harassment, including through a survey of staff, and so we will try to evaluate what staff broadly say and see what steps need to be taken." Oh. Guterres also on May 14 said his attempted reform of the UN development system had "passed silence," with but without assessed contributions. On May 15 Inner City Press also asked Haq: He also seemed to say that, I don't know if that the assessed contributions, that the reform of the development system had passed through silence procedure; it still has not been voted on, but he seemed to say that it's passed, but without the Resident Coordinator system being funded through assessed contributions.  What is his plan, given that it seems like that he thinks that now it's going to be approved by the General Assembly, hasn’t passed through, what is the plan to actually fund these resident coordinators?

Deputy Spokesman:  Well, first, we will see what the final results are once the Member States agree on it.  We hope in the coming days we will be able to provide some details about what the development reform is about. " Back on May 14 in New York at the UN noon briefing Inner City Press asked Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan Haq if Guteres doesn't think the Loures cases is about sexual abuse, beyond harassment. Haq seemed to say Guterres uses these terms based on the identify of the victim, not the use of force or economicpressure. #MeTooUN?  Days after first banning the Press from his photo ops with Al Sharpton and new Political Affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo, Guterres' UN then prohibited Inner City Press' livestreaming of a photo op with Finland's foreign minister even though UN Television shot video and audio there. This has continued and been reaffirmed - but not explained or justified.  Is Guterres going to take his absurd restrictions on and censorship of the Press on the road? Or create a double standard where the restrictions apply only inside UN headquarters? How long will he continue his rote expressions of support for UNAIDS' Michel Sidibe, who threatened staff with retaliation for speaking about against Luiz Loures? And given the statements, when will Guterres have to start recusing himself? Watch this site.