On New
North Korea
Launch, US
&Japan Got
Meeting But No
Outcome
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
August
24 --
On August 23,
North Korea
asked for an
urgent UN
Security
Council
meeting on
joint military
operations,
then fired a
submarine-launched
ballistic
missile. Can
you hear me
now?
On August 24,
the US, Japan
and South
Korea asked
for a Security
Council
meeting, and
got it
scheduled for
that
afternoon,
into the
evening, after
a session on
Lebanon.
On the way
into Lebanon
meeting, UK
deputy
ambassador
Peter Wilson
said the
submarine-launched
ballistic
missile shows
“yet again
that DPRK is
prepared to
flout Security
Council
resolutions...
We expect
counties to
condemn that
action, we're
looking for a
united SC
response.”
French deputy
ambassador
Alexis Lamec
said France
wants a
Council
reaction that
is “quick and
firm.” Then he
turned and
went in.
At the White
House
briefing, the
Security
Council
meeting came
up, and
spokesman Josh
Earnest
defended the
US' THAAD
deployment.
More than
three hours
later, with
the Security
Council
meetings
ended, there
was nothing.
US Deputy
Ambassador
Sisson left,
with the
Mission's
spokesman.
Wilson and
Lamek left
together,
indicating to
ask Japan,
whose deputy
did not speak
either.
Malaysia's
Permanent
Representative
said there was
a general
sense of
condemnation
and alluded to
a draft that
would or might
be circulated.
Several
delegations
tried to leave
through the
45th Street
entrance but
found it
locked and had
to return.
That was that.
AAfter
North Korea's
missile
launch, on the
morning of
August 3 US
Ambassador to
the UN
Samantha Power
told the
press, “We
expect to be
convening an
emergency
meeting this
afternoon...
with our
Japanese
colleagues.”
Later than
day, Inner
City Press
asked Power
and Japan's
Ambassador
Bessho if the
US deployment
of the THAAD
system in
South Korea
had come up -
this issue has
now doomed the
proposed Press
Statement on
the North
Korean launch.
On August 3,
here were the
answers given,
UN
video her
from 14:20;
USUN
transcript
here:
INNER CITY
PRESS: Was the
THAAD
deployment
discussed? The
deployment of
the THAAD
missiles in
South Korea by
any member?
Did they raise
it?
AMBASSADOR
BESSHO: I
don’t think
this launch –
INNER CITY
PRESS: – I’m
not asking the
reaction. I’m
just asking if
it came up.
AMBASSADOR
BESSHO: No. I
don’t think
so....
AMBASSADOR
POWER: I think
just because
it’s come up a
couple of
times, it’s
worth
responding to
this idea of
this grave
violation –
it’s about
somehow being
a response.
The actions
that we have
taken with the
Republic of
Korea are
purely
defensive.
They are about
protecting the
people of
South Korea,
protecting
alliance
forces who are
stationed in
the Republic
of Korea, and
they are
focused – in
the case of
the THAAD
system –
focused
squarely on
ballistic
missile
defense as it
relates to the
threat posed
by the country
that we have
gathered yet
again to
discuss.
So these
defensive
measures come
about because
– as you all
know as well
as we do –
again and
again, you see
the DPRK
seeking to
enhance its
capabilities;
firing short-
and
medium-range
ballistic
missiles.
Failing
sometimes.
Refining
capabilities.
Succeeding in
firing them
farther and
farther. And
we, the United
States and the
Republic of
Korea, and all
of us who are
allied, have a
responsibility
to our
citizens to
ensure that we
can defend
against this
threat.
So any
suggestion
that – or any
justification,
any notion
that there’s
some predicate
by anybody
other than Kim
Jong Un and
the DPRK
regime is not
grounded in
reality and
it’s not
grounded in
history."
History...Later
than day,
Inner City
Press asked
Power and
Japan's
Ambassador
Bessho if the
US deployment
of the THAAD
system in
South Korea
had come up -
this issue has
now doomed the
proposed Press
Statement on
the North
Korean launch.
On August 3,
here were the
answers given,
UN video here
from
14:20; USUN
transcript
here:
INNER CITY
PRESS: Was the
THAAD
deployment
discussed? The
deployment of
the THAAD
missiles in
South Korea by
any member?
Did they raise
it?
AMBASSADOR
BESSHO: I
don’t think
this launch –
INNER CITY
PRESS: – I’m
not asking the
reaction. I’m
just asking if
it came up.
AMBASSADOR
BESSHO: No. I
don’t think
so....
AMBASSADOR
POWER: I think
just because
it’s come up a
couple of
times, it’s
worth
responding to
this idea of
this grave
violation –
it’s about
somehow being
a response.
The actions
that we have
taken with the
Republic of
Korea are
purely
defensive.
They are about
protecting the
people of
South Korea,
protecting
alliance
forces who are
stationed in
the Republic
of Korea, and
they are
focused – in
the case of
the THAAD
system –
focused
squarely on
ballistic
missile
defense as it
relates to the
threat posed
by the country
that we have
gathered yet
again to
discuss.
So these
defensive
measures come
about because
– as you all
know as well
as we do –
again and
again, you see
the DPRK
seeking to
enhance its
capabilities;
firing short-
and
medium-range
ballistic
missiles.
Failing
sometimes.
Refining
capabilities.
Succeeding in
firing them
farther and
farther. And
we, the United
States and the
Republic of
Korea, and all
of us who are
allied, have a
responsibility
to our
citizens to
ensure that we
can defend
against this
threat.
So any
suggestion
that – or any
justification,
any notion
that there’s
some predicate
by anybody
other than Kim
Jong Un and
the DPRK
regime is not
grounded in
reality and
it’s not
grounded in
history."
History...
After the 4 pm
meeting ended
without a
statement or
even Elements
to the Press,
Ambassador
Power, Japan's
Koro Bessho
and South
Korea's Oh
Joon came to
speak at the
stakeout.
After a few
picked
questions,
Inner City
Press asked if
the deployment
of the THAAD
system in
South Korea
had come up.
Koro Bessho
said no;
Ambassador
Power took the
mic to say
that the
system is
defensive and
there is no
justification
for what North
Korea is
doing. Video
here.
China's
Liu Jieyi,
when asked if
there will be
a Council
statement,
said Let's
see. Another
P5 ambassador
said a
statement is
doubtful.
There was talk
of the US'
deployment of
the THAAD
system in
South Korea. "
Back on July
19 a
spokesperson
of UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon, seen
by many as
already
running for
president of
South Korea,
was quoted
that it was
“deeply
troubling.”
But Ban's
office issued
no statement,
seeming to
want to have
it both ways.
Inner City
Press went to
the July 19 UN
noon briefing
and asked
Ban's deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq,
UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: on the
launches by…
by DPRK
(Democratic
People’s
Republic of
Korea), do you
have… I've
seen a quote,
a spokesman's
quote.
Is there a
formal
statement by
the
Secretary-General
on these
launches?
Deputy
Spokesman:
It's not a
formal
statement, but
what I have to
say on that is
simply
this:
That the
Democratic
People’s
Republic of
Korea's firing
of missiles is
deeply
troubling.
Such actions
are not
conducive to
reducing
tensions on
the Korean
Peninsula.
Inner City
Press:
How… but I
guess… I just
want to
understand how
is that
different
than, like, a
note to
correspondents
or a
statement?
Is there going
to be
something
later, or is
this… that's
all there is?
Deputy
Spokesman:
This is what I
have to say.
The US
State
Department on
July 6
announced
deployment of
the THAAD
system in
South Korea.
On July 8,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq for
Ban's comment
on it, video
here,UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: there's
been an
announcement
of the US
deploying
these advanced
missile system
in South
Korea.
It's something
that it's
said… I know
he's in China
now. I
don't know if
the issue has
come up, but
it's also
something that
North Korea
has put out a
number of
statements
condemning.
Does the sec…
in terms of
peace and
security and
stability and
dialogue on
the Korean
Peninsula,
does the
Secretary-General
have any view
of this
deployment?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We don't have
any particular
comment on the
deployment at
this
stage.
It's something
to be
monitored.
Of course, for
us the
priority is
that all
concerned
parties need
to step up
efforts to
reduce tension
and find a
path to resume
dialogue for
denuclearization.
On July 7
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric for
Ban's comment
on the new US
sanctions, and
if Ban has
invited Kim
Jong Un to a
conference in
Turkmenistan.
Video
here,UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press:
the
Secretary-General
has invite…
well, first,
does he have
any comment on
the US
sanctions on
DPRK
(Democratic
People’s
Republic of
Korea) and Kim
Jong-un in
particular as
an individual
that were
announced
yesterday?
Spokesman:
Obviously,
we’re aware of
the recent
round of
sanctions
imposed by the
United States
on the
DPRK.
Unilateral
sanctions are
a matter for
the States
concerned.
As far as the
Secretary-General
is concerned,
the Security
Council has
discussed the
human rights
situation in
the DPRK
several times,
based, I
think, on
what… the very
powerful
report by the
independent
Commission of
Inquiry two
years
ago. The
UN system has
also been
working to
follow up on
these findings
and
recommendations
of the
report.
The
Secretary-General
believes that
discussion of
human rights
concerns allow
for a more
comprehensive
assessment and
action when
addressing
security and
stability
concerns on
the Korean
Peninsula, and
he hopes that
Member States
including
China uses its
influence to
encourage the
DPRK
authorities to
cooperate with
international
human rights
mechanisms.
Inner City
Press:
Okay.
Thanks.
And I wanted
to know, can
you confirm,
at least two
papers in
South Korea
have reported
that the
Secretary-General
has announ…
has invited
Kim Jong-un to
attend this
world
conference on
sustainable
transport in
Ashkebad,
Turkmenistan,
in
November.
Is that the
case?
Spokesman:
I’m not aware
of the
particular
invitation.
I know of the
conference.
And as the
Secretary-General
for these
international
conferences
invites all
the Heads of
State and
leaders to
attend, but I
don’t have the
particular
invitation.
Inner City
Press:
At least both
the stories
that I’ve seen
report this as
some attempt
by him to
bring the two
countries
together.
Spokesman:
I’ve said what
I can safely
say and what I
know.
This is
strange, since
the Korea
Times story
was in the
UN's UN clips,
which Ban has
said his
spokesman
always reads..
Reuters
wrote this up
as if they'd
asked the
question,
emphasizing
the Ban is
pressuring
China to do
more on DPRK
humna rights.
But in what
Dujarric read
out before
Inner City
Press'
questions,
about Ban in
China, there
was mention of
DPRK but
NOTHING about
human rights.
This is how
the UN works,
or doesn't.
Inner
City Press
asked Dujarric
about Ban
inviting Kim
Jong Un to a
conference in
Turkmenistan,
then asked
this month's
Security
Council
President Koro
Bassho of
Japan about
the new US
sanctions.
They have not
yet come up in
the Security
Council. Will
Ban's invites?
When Ban
Ki-moon
wrapped up his
five day
campaign trip
in South Korea
with a
three-question
"press
conference" at
the UN's
DPI-NGO
conference, he
criticized
"coverage of
what was
supposed to be
off-the-record
meeting with
the Kwanhoon
Club" of
political
correspondents.
Even during
Ban's long
visit to South
Korea, Inner
City Press in
New York where
it has been
evicted from
its long time
shared UN
office and
confined to
minders, told
not to
question
diplomats
asked the UN
why no
transcript was
provided of
Ban's session
with the
Kwanhoon Club.
It asked again
on June 10,
the day after
Ban himself
called such
questions
"undue."
On June 16, as
Inner City
Press
continued to
ask Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric about
Ban's role in
retaliation -
and Dujarric
refused to
answer - it
was told by
other sources
that the South
Korean mission
has come out
defending its
role in
promoting
meetings for
Ban with South
Korea
political
figures,
defending its
travel with
Ban and
specifically
denying the
Mission wrote
speeches for
Ban.
On June 18 the
South Korean
Mission's
spokesperson
told Inner
City Press the
"note" was
provided to
the Office of
Ban Ki-moon's
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric upon
request. See
below. On June
20, Inner City
Press asked
Dujarric's
deputy Farhan
Haq about it,
and about
North Korea's
"invitation"
to Ban. Video
here. UN Transcript
here:
Inner
City
Press:
I'd asked
Stéphane on…
on Friday
about a note
that was put
out by the
South Korean
mission, and
he'd ended the
exchange by
saying:
"Ask
them."
So, I
did. And
one of the
things I asked
them is… is
how this note
was prepared
or… or how it
was that what
Stéphane read
here was
almost
identical to
the note from
the
mission.
And they've
responded.
Their Deputy
Spokesman had
said that the
note was
provided to
the SG's
office and the
UN's Deputy
Spokesman's
office at
their
request.
I guess I'm
just
wondering,
since the
attempt was
made to sort
of say, this
is totally
separate; we
don't
coordinate
speeches,
remarks…
Deputy
Spokesman:
And we don't.
Inner City
Press:
So what was
the purp-… in
what context
did your
office request
this note from
the South
Korean mission
and…?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We… it's
because you
asked at these
briefings, so
you asked
Stéphane.
And as a
result of you
asking
Stéphane, he
asked the
mission what
they were
saying.
We wanted to
know because…
Inner City
Press:
The reason I
ask, what he
read out,
before I'd
asked, before
I had any
chance to ask
the question
was identical
to the note so
it seems like…
Deputy
Spokesman:
No, I would
doubt that,
because,
ultimately,
what Stéphane
wanted to do
is know what
they were
telling
you. You
know,
obviously,
once they gave
us what they
told you, we
took note of
that, and so
we have that
now.
But, it was in
response to
the fact that
you were
asking about
it.
Inner City
Press:
So, it was
after Friday's
Noon Briefing.
Deputy
Spokesman:
It was after
whenever you
asked. I
mean, you've
asked a couple
times about
this.
Inner City
Presst:
No, I asked
about the note
on Friday.
...Last week
the DPRK
[Democratic
People’s
Republic of
Korea] said
that they'd
sent a letter
to Ban
Ki-moon, which
is interpreted
by people as
an invitation
to visit, and
I think as of
that time you
said you
hadn't seen
it. Has
it now… has
this letter
been
received?
And what do
you say to
various
commentators
who say Ban
Ki-moon would
benefit… this
is a direct
quote…
“enhance his
political
position as a
future
Presidential
candidate by
making such a
visit”?
Deputy
Spokesman:
We don't have
any visit to
announce.
Inner City
Press:
Do you have
the letter?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I believe the
letter has
been received.
As Inner City
Press has
published, it
has sourcing
inside the
South Korean
Mission which
contradicts
that,
describing
requests
through MOFAT
/ MOFA to
write
“remarks” for
Ban. And, just
as one
example, when
Inner City
Press started
delving into
Ban, the
invitation and
persuasion to
stop came from
South Korea's
then-deputy
ambassador to
the UN, Kim
Bong-hyun.
And so on June
17, Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
UN Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
it,
video here,
video
here --
and then the
South Korean
Mission
reached out,
wanted to know
the identity
not only of
the Deputy
Ambassador (no
problem, Kim
Bong-hyun) but
also of the
source on the
speechwriting,
email below ,
Vines
hereand
hereand
here,
UN Transcript:
The email:
From: byung-ha
chung
Date: Fri, Jun
17, 2016 at
7:12 PM
Subject:
Inquiry about
your questions
at the today's
noon briefing
To:
Matthew.Lee
[at]
innercitypress.com
Cc:
Dear Mr.
Matthew Lee,
I hope this
email finds
you well.
On behalf of
the Permanent
Mission of the
Republic of
Korea to the
United
Nations, I am
writing to
you, as a
press officer
of the
Mission, to
make an
inquiry about
the two
questions you
raised during
the noon
briefing
today.
First, you
said that the
Korean Mission
has played a
role in
writing
speeches for
the
Secretary-General.
I hope you can
share with us
specific
grounds that
lead you to
such an
understanding.
Secondly, you
also said that
you were once
asked to speak
to a Deputy Peramanent
Representative
of the Korean
Mission and
the purpose of
the
meeting was
essentially to
tell you how
to write about
the
Secretary-General...
I would like
to ask you to clarify
who you
actually met.
Could you
identify the
DPR you met in
that context?
I hope you
kindly
understand
that this
inquiry is for
clarification
about the
questions you
raised, which
are related to
the Korean
Mission, not
for
complaints...
I am looking
forward to
hearing from
you soon.
Sincerely,
Byungha Chung,
Minister
Counsellor
Premament
[sic] Mission
of the
Republic of
Korea to the
United Nations
Inner City
Press replied
with a name,
and some
questions:
"The Deputy
Permanent
Representative
was Kim
Bong-hyun. As
a journalist I
cannot and
will not
divulge the
identity of
the person who
has provided a
detailed
account of
requests for
the Mission to
write Ban
Ki-moon
speeches /
remarks - but
the source is
impeccable.
Now a question
for you, as
Mission press
officer:
please confirm
or deny that
the statement
issued by the
Mission,
below, was
coordinated in
any way with
or provided to
(and when) the
Office of the
Secretary
General and/or
Office of the
Spokesperson
of the
Secretary
General and
describe all
such contacts
in the past 12
months.
Also,
please
describe the
Mission's role
in the
Secretary
General's
recent visit
to South
Korea, from
the meeting
with the
Kwanhoon Club
to the other
events
including DPI
/ NGO
conference."
While these
question
weren't
answered in
twelve then 18
hours, Inner
City Press
waited to
publish them
until this
reply was
received and
is published
in full:
Dear, Mr. Lee,
Thank you for
your quick and
candid
response. I
appreciate
that.
Regarding your
first
question, let
me tell you
that the note,
not statement,
was prepared
for and
distributed to
Korean Media
Correspondents
in order to
help them
understand
Mission's
basic position
on some issues
they
questioned.
The note was
also provided
to SG office
and UN
spokesman's
office later
at their
request.
Secondly, as
the other
Missions to
the UN
normally do
when the
Secretary-general
visits their
home
countries, the
Korean Mission
provided
administrative
and protocol
supports for
the
preparation of
all his
official
schedules in
Korea, which
my Permanent
Representative
also attended.
I hope this
can be some
answers to
your
questions.
Sincerely,
Byung-ha Chung
From the June
17 transcript:
Inner City
Press:
yesterday, the
South Korean
mission here
put out a
statement in
Korea to the
Korean press
denying a
number of
things, saying
that it was
nothing
inappropriate
about the
mission
setting up
meetings for
the
Secretary-General
with South
Korean top
political
figures we've
discussed
here.
Here's the one
I wanted to
ask you
about.
They directly
denied that
the mission
has played any
role in
writing
speeches or
remarks for
the
Secretary-General.
And I'm asking
you this
because I know
someone who
did just that
at the
mission.
So, I want to
ask you
directly, to
your
knowledge,
does the… has
the
Secretary-General
had speeches
or remarks
written by
staff members
or advisers to
the South
Korean
mission?
Spokesman:
To my
knowledge,
no. The
Secretary-General
has a full and
excellent
staff of
speechwriters
who work for
the United
Nations and
who work for
him and who
write his
speeches,
whether he's
delivering
them in Korea
or whether
he's
delivering
them in New
York.
Inner City
Press:
we'll see,
because
there's
somebody that
says that they
did it.
But what is
the role of
the mission in
setting up
meetings with…
for the
Secretary-General?
I think you'd
said that the
mission
suggested a
meeting…
Spokesman:
Right.
And I think
it's not
unlike any
other mission,
when political
leaders from
other
countries come
and they want
to meet the
Secretary-General,
it is the
mission that
they represent
who suggests
meetings.
And then it's
up to the
Office of the
Secretary-General
to accept or
deny those
meetings.
I think it's
completely
natural.
Inner City
Press: I
was once… I…
asked to speak
to a Deputy
Permanent
Representative
of the South
Korean mission
and the
purpose of the
meeting was
essentially to
tell me how to
write about
Ban Ki-moon
and how…
Spokesman:
That's a
question
between you
and the
permanent
mission of…
Inner City
Press:
Seems like… it
seems to
implicate Ban
Ki-moon.
He's not aware
of that?
Spokesman:
That's what… I
will stop
there because
we're getting
into…
Inner City
Press:
What?
Spokesman:
Into an issue
that's between
you and that
permanent
mission.
Thank you
all.
Have a
wonderful
weekend, and I
hear the
ambassador of
Spain behind
me.
On June 6,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
Ban reportedly
bringing his
campaign to
New York City,
Video
here;UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: Has the
Secretary-General
requested to
meet with a
leader of the
Minjoo party
as is reported
in The Korea
Times.
It said it's
at his
request.
And it is
being read
it's the first
time he's
meeting with a
leader of such
a party, that
its nine years
here and its
being put in
the context of
a possible run
for
presidency.
Spokesman:
On the second
part of your
question, the
Secretary-General
has said over
and over again
that he's
focused on
being SG, and
he'll make
decisions
about his
post-SG life
once he's
reached the
post-SG
life. He
has met with a
number of
Korean
officials over
the nine
years. I
think it's not
surprising.
He is
scheduled to
meet with Dr.
Lee Hae-chan,
former Prime
Minister of
the Republic
of Korea, and
a member of
the General
Assembly… of
the National
Assembly, and
that's… on 8
June, I
believe.
It's my
understanding
that the
meeting was
done at the
request of the
mission of… of
Korea, knowing
that both the…
Mr. Hae-chan
and the
Secretary-General
had served in
different
capacities
under the
administration
of President
Roh Moo-Hyun.
Inner City
Press:
Because the
article says,
“Secretary-General
Ban asked to
have tea with
Lee”, and it
quotes an
official…
Spokesman:
I think I just
answered…
Inner City
Press:
You're denying
it…?
Spokesman:
I… yes, I just
answered so…
thank you.
Question:
Can we get a
readout of the
meeting?
Spokesman:
We'll see what
we can
get.
Dujarric never
returned with
any
information,
but Inner City
Press was
contacted and
learned
things. On
June 10 Inner
City Press
asked
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: you
said the
Secretary-General
was meeting
with Lee
Han-Chan.
I wanted to
know, I didn't
see a readout
and I’d seen a
report in the
Korean media
that the
meeting was
cancelled.
Spokesman:
It was
canceled at
the request of
the former
prime
minister.
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to
know, the
Hwanlun [sic]
club
transcript, I
guess it's not
going to be
provided.
But, I've been
contacted by
somebody who
was there who
has provided a
direct quote,
which I guess
is on the
record,
basically in
which he said,
contrasting
himself with
candidates for
Presidency in
the United
States, he
said,
"Candidates
running for
president in
the US are 70
and 76 years
old and said
I've been
running
marathons for,
like, 100
metres.
No
Secretary-General
has done it
like I
did."
So, how would
you… Given
what he said
at the
stakeout that
he's not
running, it
seems like to
be talking
about
presidential
candidates in
other
countries and
their age, it
seems a bit
weird.
Spokesman:
I think you're
reading too
much in very
dry tea
leaves.
The
Secretary-General
has said
clearly that
his focus
until 31
December,
11:59 p.m.
will be on
being
Secretary-General
of the
UN. He
will then
decide how
best to be a
citizen, a
global
citizen.
He was asked
about his age,
and he gave
the answer he
gave.
And I can tell
you from the
exhausted look
on my face
that the man
is in much
better shape
than I am,
despite being
a few decades
older.
Inner City
Press:
Is there a
readout on
Sudan, the
foreign
minister?
Spokesman:
No.
Inner City
Press:
Why not?
Spokesman:
I don't have
one. If
I have one,
I'll share it
with
you.
None has been
provided. Ah,
transparency.
Dujarric
refused to
comment on his
role in Ban's
Press eviction
and the "Aide
Memoire" document, here.
During Ban's
trip, Ban's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq -
his lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
accompanied
him for the
whole Korea
trip --
replied that
sometimes Ban
gives
“exclusives”
even to small
groups of
journalists.
But the photo
with the
Kwanhun Club
shows more
than a dozen
journalists.
Inner City
Press: the
Secretary-General,
I saw that
when he left
South Korea,
he said that
he’d been
misunderstood;
there had been
too much
coverage of
his… what was
widely, widely
reported as
his seeming
intention to
run for
President.
And so he
said, “I would
add that the
coverage of
what was
supposed to be
an
off-the-record
meeting with
the Kwanhun
Club has led
to
over-reaction,
over-interpretation.”
I
forget…
Apparently,
you were
there.
Was it off the
record?
Because I’d
asked about it
here whether a
transcript
would be
released.
It was said
that it would
be exclusive
sometimes with
groups of
journalists.
I saw a
photo.
It’s like a
lot of
journalists,
like more than
a dozen.
If, in fact,
it was
misunderstood…
many people
reported
it. They
were
there.
Was it off the
record?
Was it an
exclusive?
What did he
say?
Spokesman:
There was a
meeting that
he organized
with a group
of senior
Korean
journalists.
Part of it was
on the
record.
Part of it was
off the
record.
Whether it’s a
one-on-one
interview or a
group
interview, we
would not
release a
transcript.
I mean, we
release
transcripts of
his press
conferences.
The basic
message from
the
Secretary-General
is that, up
until the very
last day of
the mandate
that’s been
given to him
by Member
States, he
will focus on
being
Secretary-General
and fulfilling
that
mandate.
Once that
mandate is
over, he will
then decide
how best to be
a productive
global
citizen, but
his… that
decision will
come after he
leaves office.
Inner City
Press:
But since he’s
the
Secretary-General
now, I wanted
to ask you
about that
1946 General
Assembly
resolution.
There seems to
be a
resolution
that’s still
on the books
that says
that, even…
particularly
right after
retirement, a
Secretary-General
should not
have a
position in a
Government,
given
confidences
he’s received
from
Governments.
So that’s on
the books
now.
Does it apply?
Spokesman:
Obviously,
he’s aware of
the
resolution,
and the rest
is just
speculation,
because he
will make up
his mind as to
what he will
do after his
term as
Secretary-General
ends. Photo
here.
To read a
canned
statement
purporting to
defend press
freedom while
not only
evicting the
Press but
trying to
manipulate the
media with
different
private and
public
messages is
noteworthy. To
talk about
“authoritarian
impulses”
while having
the
investigative
Press ousted
and its files
dumped onto
First Avenue
is doubly so.
Background
here.
This while at
the UN in New
York, the
investigative
Press has been
oust and then
evicted, with
its long time
office being
given to
Egyptian state
media Akhbar
Elyom, which
never comes
in, much less
asks any
questions. Click
here for
background.
Ban spoke
about freedom
of movement,
while Inner
City Press is
now required
to have
minders in
order to cover
meetings on
the second
floor of the
UN Conference
building, in
the ECOSOC and
Trusteeship
Council
Chambers, and
has been told
not to ask
questions of
diplomats.
Ban
went out of
his way to
praise the
current
African trip
of South
Korean
President Park
- he did not
mention her
Iran trip -
and directly
addressed
South Korean
youth, some of
whom may be
old enough to
vote in 2017.
Opening
speeches,
particularly
by the
national
organizer(s),
were largely
about Ban
Ki-moon.
Those
present
marveled at
how actual
NGOs were
pushed to the
back of the
room, with the
front rows
devoted to
South Korean
official
(including
some from the
UN). Tweeted
photo here,reply
here. Will
Ban Ki-moon
endeavor to
live up in New
York, in his
remaining time
at the UN, to
what he said
at the DPI-NGO
conference?
Watch this
site.
Soon
to be ex-UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon is in his
native South
Korea, where
there is a Presidential
election in
2017. On May
19, only to
South Korean
correspondents,
Ban Ki-moon's
senior
adviser Kim
Won-soo said
and was quoted
that Ban's is
NOT a
political
trip. Clearly
it is. Ban's
"exclusive"
comments to
more than a
dozen
journalists in
South Korea,
photo here,
were not
transcribed
despite the
request of
the Free UN
Coalition for
Access.
But
there's a
problem: not
only Inner
City Press --
see article
in the
Kyunghyang
Daily News,
robo-translated
-- but
now The
Economist
calls Ban
Ki-moon the
worst and
weakest
Secretary
General ever.
What has now
been
transcribed,
in their way,
are Ban's
remarks to the
South Korean
organizing
committee for
the DPI NGO
conference,
including
"make sure
that we have
education,
global
education and
put all [the]
millions[of]
children who
are out of
school [in].
Korea's
success in
this world is
largely owing
to quality
education.
Korean
parents, [the]
Korean
government;
they have
sacrificed
everything in
their
possessions
for quality
education for
their
children."
Ban
made no
reference to
the scandal in
his UN of
South South
News, Ng Lap
Seng and the new
constellations
about which
there is also
no due
diligence.
This does not
help
development,
or the NGO
world. We'll
have more on
this.
And
as Inner City
Press has
asked basic
questions
about Ban's
use of UN
resources and
had them
dodged, now
the media in
South Korea is
taking notice.
The Hankyoreh
of May 28,
here,
reports on
Inner City
Press asking
"whether Ban
was aware of
UN Resolution
II (I), which
was adopted at
the first
General
Assembly in
1946 and
restricts
secretaries-general
from taking
government
positions soon
after their
term ends...
But Haq’s
response
appeared to be
to a
completely
different
question -
neither
communicating
Ban’s response
nor mentioning
the
resolution."
Slippery or
greasy eel.
(Hankyoreh
also says "The
unusual
spectacle of
the
Secretary-General’s
actions
becoming the
major issue in
a UN briefing
- which is
typically
reserved for
major
worldwide
issues - hints
that the
controversy
over Ban’s
political
plans could be
shaping into
an
international
diplomatic
issue." A
simple review
of recent UN
noon briefing
transcripts or
videos would
call this into
question - but
it has become
the party
line, as in
the New York
Times of May
14.)
Meanwhile
on May 28 Ban
continued his
politics,
meeting with
retired
politicians,
such as former
Prime Minister
Kim Jong-pil.
On May 29
he'll speak at
" Rotary
International
Convention in
Goyang, just
outside of
Seoul, and
visit the
ruling party
stronghold of
Gyeongsang to
tour a
UNESCO-listed
folk village
on Sunday."
Since these
are NOT on his
public UN
schedule, does
it mean they
are personal /
political?
Inner city
Press asked -
and now the
speech, such
as it is, has
been released:
a portion:
"I have
attended many
events with
Rotarians. We
have forged
warm personal
ties. I will
never forget
taking part in
the centennial
in Birmingham
in the United
Kingdom. We
arrived to see
the flags of
more than 150
countries –
and the
friendly
Rotarians in
their yellow
vests."
The
Rotary event
has, as at
least $25,000
sponsors, KEB
Hana Bank and
Shinhan Bank.
We'll have
more on this.
And
then the UN
DPI NGO
conference, on
which we'll
have more as
well. Watch
this site.
Ban can
and has
evicted Inner
City Press
from its long
time office at
the UN -- but
he can't
change the
track record,
from his
victory lap in
Sri Lanka in
2009, which
Inner City
Press reported
on, to further
damaging the
UN's
reputation in
Haiti by
insisting on
impunity for
cholera, to
his negligent
overseeing of
rapes in the
Central
African
Republic. For
the record,
what Inner
City Press
told the
Kyunghyang
Shinmun, when
asked about
the eviction
and ouster,
was not
entirely
negative. But
more on that
to
follow.
Inner
City
Press: I
want to ask
you about this
trip this
South
Korea.
First, I mean,
if you look in
today’s DPI
[Department of
Public
Information]
clips,
virtually all
the stories
are about Ban
Ki-moon
running.
There’s one in
particular
that says the
people
assisting him
with his
run. It
names a former
South Korean
ambassador
here, the
current
ambassador
here, which is
totally in
their freedom
to do
it. But
it also names
Mr. Kim
Won-soo.
This is not
something the
UN is not
aware
of. It’s
included by
DPI in the
news
clips.
So the
question
arises — has
Mr. Kim sought
some kind of
guidance from
the ethics
office what
the balance of
his time would
be, or is it
his position
that despite
public
reporting that
this is what
he’s working
on that
because you
say he’s not,
he’s not?
Deputy
Spokesman:
He’s working
as the head of
the Office of
Disarmament
Affairs.
That’s the
work that he
does. If
he needs to
change that at
some point, he
would need to
let us
know.
But right now,
this is the
work he is
doing.
Question:
Again, in the
clips that you
have, it says
that the
Under-Secretary-General
Kim, one of
Ban’s closest
confidants,
has made
frequent
reports about
domestic
situations to
Ban. Is
this
false?
And is he only
doing this
about
disarmament
issues or
about what
other?
Deputy
Spokesman:
He has a range
of
responsibilities
on disarmament
work, and that
is what he
does for the
Secretary-General.
That’s his
job.
Inner
City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you more about
the
Secretary-General's
trip.
The… the… the
press coverage
is pretty…
pretty… in
terms of
interpreting
what he said
and how he's
going about
things is
pretty… almost
unanimous in
saying that
he's trying to
send signals
that he's
going to run
for
President.
So this is a
direct quote I
want to ask
you
about.
The deputy
floor leader
of the Minjoo
party said the
latest remarks
amount to a de
facto
declaration of
a presidential
bid. And
my question in
this light is,
I know that
Mr. Kim
[Wonsoo] met
with South
Korean
journalists
before the
trip
occurred.
And,
apparently,
according to
them, he said
this is not a
political
trip.
And what I
wanted to know
is, first, in
what capacity
did he met
with
him? Did
he meet with
him as
Under-Secretary-General
for
Disarmament?
Did he meet
with him… in a
sense, some
people see it
as sort of
political
work.
And so I'm
wondering, in
the same way
that Helen
Clark has said
that she takes
leave to do
work to run
for SG, was he
on the clock
and what… in
what possible
capacity was
he
speaking?
Deputy
Spokesman:
No, he's
speaking as a
UN official
who is talking
about a visit…
an official
visit by the
Secretary-General.
The
Secretary-General
is here in his
capacity as
Secretary-General.
He is doing
things, such
as the Jeju
Forum and the
DPI
(Department of
Public
Information)
NGO
conference, in
his capacity
as
Secretary-General.
This is not a
trip in a
private
capacity, and
he's made very
clear,
including to
reporters in
the Republic
of Korea, that
he will not be
acting in a
private
capacity until
he is done
with his
duties as
Secretary-General.
Question:
He said… he
says that he's
been
approached by
other world
leaders about
running, that
they've
offered their
support.
I mean, I'm
sure you've
read… this is
in Korea
Joongang
Daily.
They quote a
number of
reporters at
this meeting
and he says
things well
beyond what
you're saying
from
here.
And so… I
mean, he can
do whatever he
wants,
whatever the
resolution
says.
But my
question…
again, I want
to go back… Is
there any
consideration…
Mr. Kim's
work, was this
done in his
capacity as
Under-Secretary-General
of disarmament
or as sort of…
he used to be
Deputy Chief
of
Staff.
Is he still
performing
that role?
Deputy
Spokesman:
No, he's
not. The
Deputy's Chief
of Staff is
Patrick
Carey.
When there are
delegations
who go on
trips,
sometimes they
speak to
reporters
about the
trip.
That's the
case with
that.
The
spokespeople
do that, as
well. In
this case, he
was talking
about the
trip, and he
was trying to
make it very
clear that
this is not a
political
trip.
And that is
something that
we echo from
here.
Good
afternoon,
everyone. Oh,
okay, one
more.
Question:
Can I ask one
more question,
just a
factual… this
is
unrelated.
It's unrelated
but just… the
other day, I
was coming in
through the
metal
detectors.
And there was
a long student
group coming
through.
It's not what
you think I'm
going.
I'm going
somewhere
else.
There was a
student that
had on a
Bernie Sanders
button and the
guard said,
"Take it
off.
There's no
political
statements
allowed in the
UN." I
wanted to
know, is that
really the
case?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Security are
told that
there're not
supposed to be
political
slogans or
political
banners
brought into
the United
Nations.
I don't,
frankly, know
how they
enforce it on
a case-by-case
basis, but the
standing rule
is that you're
not supposed
to bring in
any sort of
political
slogans or
banners in.
Question:
Right. I
guess… do you…
maybe you
don't have it
offhand.
Tell me what
the rule is so
I can look
into whether
it applies to
a button.
Deputy
Spokesman:
I do think
that depends
on the
individual
judgment of
the security
guard, whether
a button
counts or
not. I
am, of course,
wearing a
button right
now for
Peacekeepers
Day, although,
presumably,
that's a
nonpartisan
button, and
hopefully,
that passes
the
standard.
We shall see
when I exit.
Ban is
responsible
for his Under
Secretaries
General, from
Herve Ladsous
to Cristina
Gallach. In
Jeju Ban
said:
"Sri
Lanka is
overcoming
political
conflict.
[Torture
continues]]
"Myanmar is
undergoing a
peaceful
democratic
transition
[Ban's Renata
Lok-Dessalien
hides from
human rights]
One
saying I
frequently
practice
writing is上善若水which means, “The highest
virtue is to
act like
water.”
Water Now
Water
like the drip
of corrption
at the UN
under Ban
Ki-mon,
and like
his attempt to
drown the
critial Press.
We'll have
more on this.
A
senior Ban
administration
official more
loyal (as they
should be) to
the UN than
Ban tells
Inner City
Press it seems
clear Ban is
considering a
run in South
Korea and that
what is is
doing and not
doing at and
through the UN
these days is
"all about
that."
Ban
wants to be
sure not to be
connected to
the major and
expanding UN
bribery
scandal that
as occurred on
his watch.
Indictments,
guilty pleas,
inconvenient
pictures of
Ban with
Francis
Lorenzo, John
Ashe and even
Ng Lap
Seng. It
now appears
that for Ban
to run would
violate the
General
Assembly's
Resolution of
January 24,
1946, on the
Terms of
Appointment of
the
Secretary-General
of the United
Nations, 4(b).
Inner
City Press:
this has come
up during the
Secretary-General's
trip in South
Korea.
People are
citing a GA
(General
Assembly)
resolution
that was
passed in
January 1946,
which says,
quote,
“because the
Secretary-General
is a
confidante of
many
governments,
it is
desirable that
no member
should offer
him at any
rate
immediately
upon
retirement any
governmental
position”.
And so they're
saying that
this is…
essentially,
it's a GA
resolution and
that comments
now made in
Jeju, but the
idea of Ban
Ki-moon
running for
President of
Korea in 2017
would be
contrary to a
GA
resolution.
I'm sure he's
aware of this,
the mayor of
Seoul, a
former human
rights lawyer,
has raised
it.
Others have
raised
it. What
is his
response to
how this GA
resolution
applies to his
situation?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, the
Secretary-General's
response to
this entire
topic is one
that he made
clear even
today, where
he said that
right now he's
not
considering
the idea of
what he does
next after he
ceases to be
Secretary-General.
Right now he
is going to
focus on his
work as
Secretary-General.
It's at the
start of next
year that
he'll actually
have the time
and the
ability to
think about
other things.
Inner City
Press:
I'm sure
you've seen
all the
headlines.
All the
headlines say
that his
statement
that… that
beginning 1
January, he
will be back
as a South
Korean… is
taken… I mean,
and I
understand you
can say he's
taken, but it
doesn't seem
unfair to say
this is a GA
resolution.
Does he
acknowledge
that this is
the
resolution?
And, two, it
seems to say
immediately…
especially
immediately
upon
retirement,
this should
not be
done. So
is he saying…
what's his
response?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I don't really
think that
there's any
point in
trying to read
into his words
more than what
he's
said.
Right now the
idea is he's
not
considering
any sort of
post-UN
activity.
You know, he
won't take up
that issue
until the
following
year. .
"Because
a
Secretary-General
is a confidant
of many
governments,
it is
desirable that
no Member
should offer
him, at any
rate
immediately on
retirement,
any
governmental
position in
which his
confidential
information
might be a
source of
embarrassment
to other
Members, and
on his part a
Secretary-General
should refrain
from accepting
any such
position."
Inner
City Press on
May 24 asked
about a / the
new sponsor of
the DPI NGO
conference
without Ban's
Deputy
Spokesman
proffering an
answer. Also
on May 24,
Inner City
Press asked
the Deputy
Spokesperson,
Farhan Haq,
about the trip
and
transparency,
video
here, UN transcript
here:
Inner
City Press:
There's a
report today
in the Korea
Herald, again,
speculating…
you know, and
that's
speculation,
whether he may
run for
President.
But I wanted
to ask you
this.
They said
that… that…
that, upon his
arrival on
Wednesday, Mr.
Ban will meet
with members
of an
association of
senior
journalists
and was likely
to field
questions on
his political
ambitions.
I wanted to
know, does
your office
intend to put
out a
transcript of
that type of
meeting?
And I'm asking
because the
same article
says that,
quote, “Ban
had told
Korean
correspondents
in New York
that he would
appreciate if
they, quote,
‘help him
bring to a
successful
conclusion his
service as UN
Secretary-General’”.
And I never
saw that
quote.
Was that… did
he actually
say that, or
was that Mr.
Kim? Was
there some…
how does it
work…?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, first of
all, sometimes
the
Secretary-General
conducts
interviews.
As you know,
sometimes,
they might
even be with
small group
interviews.
Those aren't
the same as
press
conferences.
We will
provide
transcripts of
all press
conferences
and press
encounters,
but
interviews, of
course, are
exclusives for
the
journalists
involved, and
so we don't
have a
transcript put
out for those.
Inner City
Press:
So this thing
coming up
Wednesday upon
his arrival in
Jeju, is that
a press
conference, or
what is it?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I believe
that's a group
interview, but
like I said,
if there's
press
encounters,
we'll put
those
transcripts
out.
A
number of
people in the
UN directly
connect Ban's
ouster and
eviction of
Inner City
Press, which
has asked
about nepotism
(see, the son
in law running
UNFPA Kenya,
and the nephew
who worked for
the company
managing
UNDP's
building, and
promising
more) to a
desire to
prevent or
discourage
coverage of
and inquiry
into Ban's
role in the Ng
Lap Seng
scandal.
Ban and
his team try
to deflect
this by
saying, as Kim
Won-soo has,
that it is all
Cristina
Gallach, you
have to talk
to Cristina -
how? On May
23, Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric,
who's said to
be preparing
to accompany
and spin Ban's
six (or four)
day trip to
South Korea
Inner
City Press: I
know that Mr.
Kim [Won-soo]
did a briefing
for South
Korean media,
I guess, last
week trying to
say that the
upcoming trip
has... you
know, is in no
way indicative
of a desire to
run for
President by
the
Secretary-General,
but there have
been other
stories
including
one... I don't
know if it's
today or
yesterday...
in the Korea
Times saying
that several
of the
Secretary-General's
former
associates
still in the
Ministry of
Foreign
Affairs intend
to create a
foundation in
his name
saying that
Mr. Yoon
Yeocheol is
now the
protocol
officer of the
President and
very much
saying it's a
six-day trip
that it's hard
to conclude
that it isn't
in some way
related to the
upcoming
campaign.
Is... what's
your... first
of all, is Mr.
Hyun now the
protocol
officer of
President Park
[Geun-Hye]?
Spokesman:
This may come
as a shock to
you, but I
speak for the
Secretary-General
and for the
United
Nations.
I have no... I
have a tough
enough time
keeping tabs
on what people
do in this
organization
that I don't
know what
people do for
the Foreign
Ministry.
Inner City
Press:
Okay [Yoon].
Spokesman: I
think your
question
assumes a lot
of
things.
The
Secretary-General
has made it
clear that his
focus remains
and will
remain on his
job as
Secretary-General.
Inner City
Press:
It seems fair
to ask, is
there... is he
aware or are
you on his
behalf aware
of attempts to
set up a
foundation in
his name?
Spokesman:
I'm not aware.
Inner City
Press:
Then why is it
six days?
Spokesman:
Why is it six
days?
Inner City
Press:
Yeah.
Spokesman:
He's not going
there... he's
going there
for one day in
Jeju Island,
and then he's
going to the
G7. He
has one
personal day
as he's
allowed to
take to see
his family,
because he
does have
family
there.
And then the
next days are
spent speaking
at the DPI/NGO
conference.
Question:
[Inaudible:
Rotary]
Spokesman:
And the Rotary
International
as well.
Others
have noted
that while Ban
quickly moved
to apologize
when a
(Korean)
reporter
was jostled at
the South
Korean
mission, he
has had
nothing to say
about
Gallach's oust
and eviction
orders, the
physical
ouster of
Inner City
Press from the
UN, audio
here, and
dumping of
five boxes of
its files on
First Avenue.
Others note
that Ban has
had the South
Korean mission
write speeches
he has
delivered as
"UN" Secretary
General. More
on this to
follow.
For
ten years as
Inner City
Press covered
the UN in ever
greater
detail,
showing
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
Herve Ladsous'
inept
overseeing and
cover up of sexual abuse and
exploitation
by peacekeepers,
disparate
treatment in
Mali,
dalliance with
genocide
in Sri Lanka
and
prospectively
Burundi, impunity
for cholera
deaths in
Haiti
and
until now for UN
lead poisoning
in Kosovo
and
cravenly
pro-Saudi position
on Yemen amid
the
airstrikes,
it was never
thrown out of
the UN.
Now it
has been, and
even as groups
like the
Government
Accountability
Project tell
Ban to reverse
the eviction
and give Inner
City Press
back its long
time office
and Resident
Correspondent
pass, Ban's UN
tellingly move
to award Inner
City Press'
office to
Egypt state
media
Al-Akhbar /
Akhbar
Elyoum.
Tweeted
photograph
here.
On May
19, a sign for
"Al Akhbar
Yom" went up
on Inner City
Press' office
- Inner City
Press has
STILL never
seen the
correspondent
being given
the stolen
office. The UN
says Resident
Correspondents
must be at the
UN three days
a week, but
Inner City
Press has
never seen
this person,
former UN
Correspondents
Association
president
Sanaa Youssef,
much less
asking a
question in
the UN noon
briefing.
Scribes
speaking off
the record
according to
the New York
Times of May
14 "accused
[ICP] of
printing
gossip,
rumors." That
UNCA's
president
rented an
apartment to
Palitha Kohona
then granted
his request to
screenin the
UN his
government's
war crimes
denial film is
no rumor or
gossip.
But
Akhbar Elyom,
to which
Gallach's and
Ban's MALU and
UNCA have
given Inner
City Press'
office, not
only gets
journalists in
Egypt attested
- it targets,
with a "Muslim
Brotherhood"
smear, a
journalist who
works right in
the UN. Arabic
article here.
This is
the journalism
that Ban
Ki-moon and
his Cristina
Gallach want
and reward. By
taking away
Inner City
Press' office,
it is now
required to
have a minder
and is told to
not ask
diplomats
questions.
This is
censorship.
Akhbar
Elyom has been
used to finger
for
imprisonment
non-state
journalists in
Egypt. For
example, in
July 2015
Aboubakr
Khallaf, the
founder and
head of the
independent
Electronic
Media
Syndicate
(EMS), “was
arrested after
a news article
was published
by the
government-owned
daily Akhbar
Elyoum.” (Article
in Arabic
here.)
According
to CPJ,
Khallaf's EMS
“trains and
supports
journalists
who work
online in
Egypt. The
syndicate
operates
independently
from the
state-recognized
Egyptian
Journalists
Syndicate... The
local press
freedom groupJournalists
Against
Tortureand the
localAssociation
for Freedom of
Thought and
Expression(AFTE)
said Khallaf
was also
accused of 'taking
pictures and
displaying
artistic works
without a
license,'
among other
allegations. A
1998executive
orderstates
that
individuals
conducting
audio and
audiovisual
work must have
a license from
the Ministry
of Culture.
According to
AFTE, the
accusation is
in connection
with Khallaf
photographing
the funeral of
Hisham
Barakat,
Egypt's
prosecutor
general who
was
assassinated
late last
month."
There
are many
echoes of this
in Ban's UN: as
simply one
example Ban's
Under
Secretary
General for
Public
Information
Cristina
Gallach
telling Inner
City Press it
takes
photographs of
things
that "are not
newsworthy."
There are
more, and more
examples of
Akbar Elyom.
Only
when it
questioned
Ban's and its
PR official
Cristina Gallach's
roles in
the John Ashe,
Ng Lap Seng
and Francis
Lorenzo UN
bribery
scandal did
Gallach order
Inner City
Press ousted
then evicted,
and now try to
give its
office to an
Egyptian media
which rarely
or never asked
questions. Ban
Ki-moon claimed
“That is not
my decision,”
but that is
not true.
The New York
Times on May
14 covered
the story. But
they did
not in their
long process
report, because it
happened at
the end, that
Ban Ki-moon
and Gallach are
moving to give
Inner City
Press' long
time office to
Egyptian state
media, Al
Akhbar /
Akhbar El-Yom
/ Akher Saa,
to a
correspondent
Sanaa Youssef
who most even
on the UN
press floor
have never
seen.
Her
"in" seems to
be that she
was a previous
president of
the UN
Correspondents
Association,
now become the
UN's
Censorship
Alliance. As
one respected
usual UN
interlocutor
put it, "it
would be a
hugely
negative
symbolic step
for Egyptian
state media to
replace Inner
City Press in
the UN."
A
longtime UN
correspondent
who spotted
her moving in
on Inner City
Press' office
noted she had
not been seen
before; the
name was
confirmed by
UN Media
Accreditation
and Liaison
Unit, which
refused to
provide the
waiting list
or describe
the rationale.
But
this is Ban's
and Gallach's
UN (click
here for a
Spanish take
on Gallach's
tenure.)
We are
beginning to
report this
now because it
has proven
nearly
impossible to
reach Al
Akhbar /
Akhbar Al Yom
- the
telephone
numbers listed
online are
disconnected,
or private
homes; the
correspondent
at UNCA
address has
been
unresponsive.
The
absurdity of
this has been
directly
raised to Ban
Ki-moon, his
Deputy and
Chief of Staff
with enough
time to stop
it. We'll see.
For now
from
the NYT we
note this
quote: “It’s
not exactly
the same
access,’’ Mr.
Dujarric said,
“but if he has
an issue,
there is a
staff of media
liaisons to
help him
resolve the
problem and
get where he
needs to go.”
This is false.
As Inner City
Press has
raised to Ban
Ki-moon, "even
when
begrudgingly
accompanied by
a staff member
of your
Spokesperson's
office, UN
Security
refused to
allow me
through the
turnstile onto
the second
floor of
Conference
Building. I
have been told
not to ask
questions of
diplomats,
just after you
came out of
ECOSOC and
even with a
MALU minder /
escort with
me, a UN
Security
official stood
directly in
front of me,
apparently so
I couldn't
even try to
ask you a
question. This
is
censorship."
We await
response.
Audio
hereBan,
when asked,
said “that is
not my
decision.” But
he heard about
the ouster and
eviction in
advance and
ok-ed it.
On
April 16, the
acting chief
of Gallach's
“Media
Accreditation
and Liaison
Unit Tal Mekel
oversaw the
eviction of
Inner City
Press' office,
leaving five
boxes of its
files out on
First Avenue.
Video
here.
Some in
Ban's team
indicated to
Inner City
Press its
office would
be left empty
until its four
month
“purgatory” or
punishment-for-reporting
period was
over.
That
was a lie: on
May 13, after
Inner City
Press asked
more questions
about Ban's
engagements
with John Ashe
and Francis
Lorenzo -
president of
South South
News which
paid UNCA and
still has a UN
office - Inner
City Press was
informed that
its long time
office is
being given
out.
When Inner
City Press
asked to see
the supposed
waiting list,
this was
refused by
Mekel. It is
apparently
entirely up to
Gallach - or
UNCA - who is
given UN
office space,
without which
one cannot
access the UN
Conference
Building's
second floor,
see below.
On
May 13 as the
UN Security
Council began
a meeting
about Lebanon,
the glass
doors to enter
the Council
were locked.
Apparenlty the
UN can't
afford one
guard for a
Security
Council
meeting, but
won't provide
information
requested by
the Press
about Ban
Ki-moon's
endless and
largely
fruitless
travel.
Inner City
Press, which
covers the UN
corruption
scandal and
was ousted
then evicted
by an official
implicated in
the scandal,
Cristina
Gallach -- see
OIOS
audit
Paragraphs 37
to 40 and
20(b) --
with Ban
Ki-moon's full
knowledge, was
unable to get
to the
Security
Council
stakeout. Its
pass, cut by
Gallach, won't
open the
turnstile at
the other end
of the
stakeout. This
week a guard
there even
refused to
allow Inner
City Press
through to a
stakeout with
a staffer of
the
Spokesperson's
office.
Gallach, at
least
according to
some paid to
tweet for the
UN, is in
Washington. So
Inner City
Press
undertook to
document the
restrictions
and
censorship.
Another UN
system
spokesperson
tried to
undermine it,
as did UN
Security. They
claimed
everything is
fine, even as
Security
Council
Ambassadors
asked them how
can it be that
the door is
locked (and
Press
excluded).
Some Security
write-up
began, sure to
omit all of
this. Watch
this site.
, 
