Inner City Press -- Investigative Reporting From the United Nations to Wall Street to the Inner City

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 11, updated below -- With the India trip for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced on January 6, there was another off-camera comment by Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric, that India's prosecution of Italian sailor who killed Indian fishermen is an unresolved issued that requires a mutual solution.

  While this was reported in Italian and other media as a new fear, a new position, when Inner City Press asked on January 9, Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed it was only a statement from February 2014, re-read and re-heated. Video here. 

And in three UN read-outs from India of Ban Ki-moon, remarks at Vibrant Gujurat, read-out with PM Modi and a three questions press encounter, the issue was not raised. It was not asked about at the press encounter.

 From the UN's January 9 transcript:

Inner City Press: Because of the Secretary-General's upcoming trip to India, I saw — I know in this room, he was asked about this ongoing case of the Italian sailors who shot the Indian fisherman.  And I thought it was just said that his position remained the same, but after I saw a story in which Stéphane was quoted as adding that… that in fact, Secretary-General sees this as a threat to… affecting peace and international security, that this issue could affect international peace and security, which seemed something he often doesn't say about cases, so is this something that he's going to raise in his trip to India, if it in fact does impact peace and international security?

Spokesperson Haq:  Well, on that, what I can tell you is: Our position is the same as what we articulated in a piece of paper I have here dated 13 February 2014.  And here's what we said then and what we say today:  The Secretary-General is concerned that this longstanding matter between Italy and India remains unresolved and it is prompting tensions between two friendly and important Member States of the organization.  The Secretary-General feels it is important that both sides seek to come to a reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution.  He's concerned that the matter may have implications for wider common efforts and collaboration around matters of international peace and security, including anti-piracy operations.

Inner City Press:  So, basically, it would be incorrect to say the quotes that Stéphane gave on, whether it was the 5th or the 6th, represented sort of a new focus on the case.  It was simply reheated…

Spokesperson Haq:  No, no.  It was something consistent that we pulled up in this document from February.

Inner City Press:  And will he raise it on this trip, that's the last — does he anticipate raising it or intend to raise it?

Spokesperson Haq:  It's always difficult to say what's going to come up in a trip until the trip has happened.  What we'll try to do is provide readouts of discussions he has while he is on the trip.  Have a good weekend, everyone.

 On January 5, past and now returned president of the UN's Censorship Alliance Giampaolo Pioli, "on behalf of United Nations Correspondents Association," asked Dujarric, "does the Secretary-General has any recent involvement in the dispute between the… Italy and… Italy and India about the two soldiers accused of killing the fisherman or it considers this still a bilateral dispute?"

   Dujarric said, "I have nothing to add to what he's already said on the issue."  Video here.

  But then on January 6, Dujarric apparently gave a new quote on the case, and Pioli told those who pay his UNCA money for dues about a visit by Ban on January 7 to the clubhouse the UN gives UN, complete with "remarks" from Ban, not listed in the UN's Media Alert.

  Here's the new quote Dujarric gave to Italian media ANSA:

"United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is concerned at an ongoing dispute between India and Italy over two Italian marines, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told ANSA on Tuesday. '(He) is concerned that the issue remains unresolved thus sharpening tensions between two important member States,' Dujarric said. It is 'important for both parties to try to reach a reasonable and mutually acceptable solution,' Dujarric said. Ban 'fears the issue could affect common efforts for peace and international security.'"

  If on January 5 Dujarric had "nothing to add" on the issue, why provide all this on January 6? Why partner with one segment of UN correspondents, one which actively tried to get the investigative Press thrown out of the UN? It's the UN Censorship Alliance. And now Ban heads to India - will he actually be raising this case Dujarric says Ban is so concerned and afraid about?

  Here was Dujarric's January 6 confirmation of Ban's trip to India, about which Inner City Press previously asked Dujarric:

"The Secretary-General will travel to India later this week to visit Gujarat and New Delhi.  This will be his fourth trip to the country as the UN Secretary-General.  He will travel to Ahmedabad, capital of Gujarat, on Saturday, 10 January, and deliver a keynote speech at the Inaugural Session of the seventh Vibrant Gujarat Summit the following day.  Addressing world leaders, policymakers and representatives from the business community and academia, the Secretary-General will stress the need to promote inclusive and sustainable development in India and globally.

"While in Gujarat, the Secretary-General is also expected to visit Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram.  And he will also visit a solar power plant to see for himself national efforts in India to promote sustainable development.  In Gujarat and Delhi, the Secretary-General is scheduled to meet with key Indian leaders, including President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.  The Secretary-General will also meet Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi and UN Goodwill Ambassadors in India."

  Back on March 17, 2014, when Italian interior minister Angelino Alfano visited the UN and President of the General Assembly John Ashe and Ban, Ban's spokesman Dujarric didn't even issue a read-out.

  By contrast, PGA Ashe's office did issue a read-out, and mentioned the obvious the Italian marines in detention in India for killing, saying Alfano

  But now Ashe's 188 word read out of his meeting with Manmohan Singh does not even mention the issue of sailors or marines.  Was there no opportunity?

   Is Ban's decidedly "quiet diplomacy" with major powers -- to an increasing number of people, this is a euphemism -- spreading throughout the UN system? And is it abetted by Ban's spokesperson's Dujarric's diplomatic dance with some in the UN press corps? Here is an article in Italian, here a view of yesterday.

 On March 18, Inner City Press asked Dujarric for a read-out of Ban's meeting with the Italian interior minister, and if the marines or sailors were discussed.

  Dujarric said he had no information. But after the briefing, his office sent this to Inner City Press:

   So how in these 86 words is there no mention of the marines?

  On March 19, Inner City Press asked Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq:

  So it wasn't raised or mentioned by Ban Ki-moon?

    As the Italian delegation left the UN, Inner City Press tweeted a photograph marveling at the convoy (which was larger that that for the President of Madagascar earlier in the day).  While it was pointed out that several of the vehicles were US security, it was the Maserati Inner City Press was particularly pointing at...

  Back on February 13 Inner City Press asked: what does it take to get UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, some have asked, to change his position? Apparently a call from Italy's foreign minister Emma Bonino, they say, and an impending meeting with the European Union's Cathy Ashton.

  Earlier this week the UN characterized as a "bilateral issue" the detention of two Italian marines in India, for shooting two fishermen they mistook for pirates.

   This gave rise to a flurry of outrage and activity in Italy. In New York, Italy's Mission to the UN tweeted on February 12 that at the EU coordination meeting, Italy got support.

  At the February 13 UN noon briefing, three separate Italian correspondents asked about the issue. (One wondered if one of them had also raised the issue in Ban's "secret" Q&A session with insider scribes, click here for that.)

   Ban's spokesperson Martin Nesirky had a written statement, now expressing concern and saying the issue could have wider import: no longer bilateral. So that is what it takes.

  (By contrast, on February 12 a demonstration of Tamils protested Ban Ki-moon's (in) action on killings in Sri Lanka. Inner City Press tweeted photo here. UN security officers, one a Sinhalese Sri Lankan, stared across First Avenue at them. There was no meeting, no change of position. Inner City Press continues and will continue to cover the UN's post Sri Lanka failure "Rights Up Front" initiative.
 
  Some also note that the UN stayed away from the issue of the Indian diplomat Khobragade whom the US arrested, strip searched and says it will re-arrest is she returns, on a dispute about payment to her housekeeper. Did India make enough calls to the UN? There are other comparisons.

 There's also this Italy - UN - US Digital Millennium Copyright Act censorship related news, with old Sri Lanka related photo, here, in Italian.

    In other Italian news, alongside foreign minister Bonino's calls, prime minister Letta is reportedly set to resign. Back in September, as reported by Inner City Press, Letta gallivanted around New York. From Media Alerts sent out by the Italian Mission to the UN:

September 24: "We are pleased to confirm that the Italian Prime Minister, Enrico Letta, will hold a stakeout in the UN Rose Garden, TODAY, Tuesday September 24, following the address of the President of the United States of America."

The connection to Obama's speech was unclear. Also September 24:

"We are glad to inform that the Italian Prime Minister, Enrico Letta, will meet the press TODAY AT 12:15 PM outside the New York Times building located at 242 West 41st between 7th and 8th Avenues."

The next day, Letta was back in the UN Rose Garden, apparently looking through rose-colored glasses:

"Please be advised that the Italian Prime Minister, Enrico Letta, will hold a possible stakeout in the Rose Garden of the UN, tomorrow, Wednesday, September 25, following his address to the UN General Assembly, at approximately 1 pm."

Also on September 25 Letta Occupied Wall Street, in his way, with the so-called (and once self-described) Money Honey:

"8.20-10.15 Meeting at the New York Stock Exchange with NYSE delegation headed by CEO Niederaurer (Statement, Opening Bell, visit to the trading floor, interview with Ms. Maria Bartiromo for 'Closing Bell' show) (2 Broad Street)"

And then it all wrapped up:

"The concluding press conference of Prime Minister, Hon. Enrico Letta will be held, as scheduled, tomorrow Thursday 26 September at 1:20 pm at the Italian Academy, Columbia University (1161 Amsterdam Avenue)."

While Letta was up to this in New York, also meeting with Hassan Rouhani, his support at home was falling apart even then. And now, he's about to resign. What about the sailors? Watch this site.