On
Ban's
Big Day, Sanitation Presser Allows No Questions on Haiti
Cholera
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 21 -- On the day Ban Ki-moon is slated for
re-annointment for a second five year term as UN Secretary General,
he appeared for a press availability about sustainable sanitation.
But
after delivering remarks and taking photos with the Prince of the
Netherlands, the event ended without allowing any questions from the
press.
We
know it is a
busy day for you, the Prince told Ban. But not so busy that Ban's
spokesperson's office had not already pre-invited select media for
time with Ban, in advance even of the vote on his second term.
There
were
questions to be answered, too, about the UN's own sanitation
practices during Ban Ki-moon's first term. His
own Panel of Experts
on cholera in Haiti found that the sanitation practices of the
Mirebalais peacekeeping base of MINUSTAH did not prevent the spread
of fecal material into nearly drinking water sources. The UN
largely
dodged the charges: but what if anything has it learned?
Ban at his podium June 21, no questions taken (c) MRLee
Ban's
Advisory
Group
on Water and Sanitation has been criticized, as has been a
trend in Ban's first term, as too pro-corporate and in favor of
privatization, with lobbyists who have represented Suez and others.
These type of
questions, it seems, could and should have been
addressed. But in the gathered crowd, Ban's speechwriter and
spokesman conferred. Communications strategy, it seems, does not
involve taking or answering
questions, except by invitation and some
say pre-arrangement. Watch this site.
* * *
As
Ban
Claims Libya Talks Are Led by Khatib, Jordan Activities Still
UNexplained
By
Matthew
Russell
Lee, News analysis
UNITED
NATIONS,
June
19 -- As Libyan rebels deny negotiating with Gaddafi,
on June 18 UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's office issued a
statement that “the beginnings of a negotiation process are now
underway under the auspices of [Ban's] Special Envoy to Libya, Mr.
Abdul-Elah Al-Khatib.”
Khatib,
who
notably did not attend or engage with the African
Union ministerial
delegation to the UN in New York last week, has been allowed by
Ban
to continue as a paid Jordanian senator. Inner City Press has
repeatedly asked Ban's spokesperson how this double-service for the
UN and Jordan complies with the letter and spirit of UN rules.
While
Ban's lead
spokesperson Martin Nesirky took to saying that Khatib's contract
with the UN was still being formalized, a US diplomat on background
assured Inner City Press weeks ago that it would all soon be
normalized.
But
nothing has
been said by Ban's office. The Obama administration has nevertheless
reflexively quickly supported Ban's campaign, announced June 6, for a
second five year term as Secretary General.
As
Inner City
Press reported, Khatib after Ban hurriedly hired him refused to give
up or suspend his political work and business in Jordan. Inner City
Press asked Khatib on camera about protests and democracy in Jordan
itself, and Khatib minimized the protests. Since then, with the
King's convoy stoned by protesters, media that reported it were
cracked down on.
Ban's
office has
dodged even specifying which exemptions or special powers they may be
invoking to be declaring as a UN Under Secretary General and staff
member a sitting politician.
Ban and Khatib, explanation of continued Jordan
business not shown
Similarly,
when
asked throughout last week what safeguards will be imposed on the
lobbying of Ban by his son in law Siddarth Chatterjee now that he's
confirmed as hired as “Chief Diplomatic Officer” of the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
Nesirky has simply said there are rules and we'll comply with them.
What
rules? How
can the UN preach rule of law when it would even describe it own
processes with regard to lobbying of the UN by members of the
Secretary General's immediate family and double service for the UN
fraught with conflicts of interest? Watch this site.
* * *
At
UN
on
Libya, African Council Members Want Statement on Compliance With
Resolution 1973,
US Said to Oppose
By
Matthew
Russell
Lee,
Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
June
14
-- When African Union ministers wanted to come
engage with the UN Security Council about NATO's bombing of Libya,
the United
States
wanted
to keep the meeting behind closed doors, the
UK even suggesting it merely be a lunch, sources told Inner City
Press.
Now
in advance of
the June 15 meeting, which will be a briefing and “interactive
dialogue,” sources tell Inner City Press that the US is opposing an
African proposed Presidential Statement, which would reiterate the
importance of compliance with Council Resolution 1973.
Below is a
copy of the draft, obtained by Inner City Press, which among other
things “reaffirms that
resolution 1973 (2011) explicitly excludes a foreign occupation force
of any form on any part of Libyan territory.”
The
three African
members of the Security Council -- South Africa, Nigeria and Gabon --
are proposing the Statement. The US is apparently saying they cannot
decide on the draft in 24 hours. (Others note that recently on Sudan,
US Ambassador Susan Rice put forward a draft Presidential Statement
at 2 pm and asked for it to be adopted that day.)
The
timing excuse,
some feel, is a ruse: the US is hoping that Gaddafi can be killed and
taken from power before the Security Council issues any further
statement on Libya.
Before
publication
of
this
story, Inner City Press asked US Mission to the UN in writing
to answer three questions, including this one. While the Mission's
spokesman provide an interim answer to one of the three questions,
there was not answer to the request for denial or confirmation and
comment on the US "opposing on Libya a proposed statement reiterating
compliance with Resolution 1973, and why."
Inner
City
Press
spoke
to an anti-Gaddafi member of Libya's Mission to the UN, who
confirmed the African proposed statement and that the US will not
accept it. He said, “the freedom fighters are now within 40
kilometers of Tripoli.”
Neither
Libyan
side,
he
predicted, will speak in the interactive segment of the June
15 meeting. “We don't have credentials,” he said. Previously, the
UN let Ambassadors Shalgam and Dabbashi speak, but no more. Nor does
Gaddafi have a representative at the UN, after Nicaraguan former
president of the General Assembly Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann was
blocked, with Susan Rice saying his tourist visa would be revoked if
he tried to speak for Gaddafi.
Footnote:
No
other
than
Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam has moved to
hold a press conference at the UN. As it happens, it will not be
inside the UN but rather across the street. Watch this site.
Here
is
the
African-proposed
Draft Presidential Statement on Libya
At
the
_____th
meeting
of the Security Council, held on 15 June 2011, in
connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled
“the situation in Libya”, and having received a briefing from a
ministerial delegation of the African Union High-Level Ad-hoc
Committee on Libya, the President of the Security Council made the
following statement on behalf of the Council:
The
Security
Council
expresses
its deep concern over the continuation of
violence in Libya, and reaffirms its commitment to the full
implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1970
(2011) and 1973 (2011) in letter and spirit to ensure protection of
civilians in Libya. The Security Council reaffirms that resolution
1973 (2011) explicitly excludes a foreign occupation force of any
form on any part of Libyan territory.
The
Security
Council
demands
a complete end to violence and all attacks
against and abuses of civilians, perpetrated by all parties and the
establishment of an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. They
stressed the need for such a ceasefire to be credible and verifiable,
and encouraged the African Union and the United Nations, as well as
other stakeholders, to spare no efforts in achieving this objective.
The Security Council further demands a speedy solution to the crisis
which responds to the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people and
tackles the underlying causes of the current crisis.
The
Security
Council
stresses
the need for a political solution to the
conflict in Libya. In this respect, and recalling the provisions of
paragraph 2 of UN Security Council resolution 1973(2011), they
welcome the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for
Libya, Mr. Abdel-Elah Mohamed Al-Khatib, and those of the AU
High-Level ad hoc Committee on Libya in the context of the AU
Roadmap. The Security Council agreed on the need for close
coordination of all efforts in support of the UN and in accordance
with paragraph 2 of Security Council resolution 1973(2011) to find a
solution to the crisis. The Security Council welcomes the joint
effort being undertaken by the UN, AU, LAS, OIC and EU and looks
forward to the outcome of their next meeting to be held in Cairo,
Egypt on 18 June 2011.
The
Security
Council
expresses
its serious concern over the deteriorating
humanitarian situation in the country, and calls for full compliance
with human rights and International Humanitarian Law and the creation
of the required conditions for the delivery of assistance to all
needy populations across Libya, including by guaranteeing appropriate
access to humanitarian organisations. The Security Council stresses
the need to provide necessary support to the African migrant workers
living in Libya, including those seeking to leave the country.
The
Security
Council
reaffirms
its strong commitment to the sovereignty,
independence, territorial integrity and national unity of the Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya.
The
Security
Council
will
remain seized of this matter and will continue
to meet to review the implementation of its resolutions on the
situation in Libya.
, 
