As
Malcorra
Becomes
Argentina FM,
ICP Asks When
She Spoke with
Macri,
Recused?
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 25 --
As UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
chief of staff
Susana
Malcorra
leaves the UN
quickly after
her native
Argentina's
election, to
become foreign
minister, one
question that
arises and
that Inner
City Press on
November 25
asked the UN
is when was it
that Malcorra
began
discussing
this job with
the Macri
campaign?
During
that time,
should she
have recused
herself, for
example from
working for
the UN on the
Venezuela -
Guayana issue,
given that one
of Macri's
first
announcements
was that'll
he'll seek to
exclude
Venezuela from
MERCOSUR? Did
Malcorra seek
a UN Ethics
office
opinion?
This happens
soon after the
scandal of the
UN's envoy to
Libya
Bernardino
Leon having
negotiated a
job with the
UAE while
still working
on Libya. In
response to
that, Ban
Ki-moon said
he would
remind his
envoy of
ethical
considerations;
when Inner
City Press
asked if this
happened, it
was said to
take place at
the Chief
Executives
Board meeting
in which
Malcorra took
part. Did she
seek an ethics
ruling? UN
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq did
not answer
this question.
Video
here,UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: On
Susana
Malcorra, I
saw the
statement
yesterday
congratulating
her, and it's
definitely an
interesting
move.
But I am
compelled to
ask you
this: it
seems like…
did… can you
say whether…
whether… while
serving as the
Chief of
Staff, she
discussed this
position with
the Argentine
then-candidate/now-President,
and if so, how
does this
impact, for
example,
working on
things like
Venezuela/Guyana
or other
things that
she worked on
in which the
incoming
President has
a… has a
pronounced
view?
Was there… did
she get an
opinion from
the Ethics
Office?
Do you think
that… is that
the way this
is supposed to
work after
Bernardino
León's job
search?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well,
regarding
that, you'll
have seen the
Secretary-General's
statement,
which reflects
his views and
his tremendous
respect for
the work done
by Susana
Malcorra and
the integrity
with which she
has carried
out her
work.
Ms. Malcorra,
as you're well
aware is…
carries out
her work in
line with the
UN Charter,
including
Article 100,
and would not
take any
action to
violate the
spirit of the
Charter.
Having said
that, at this
stage now, the
clear thing is
that she will
shortly end
her functions
as the Chef de
Cabinet.
Having ended
that, then she
will take up
her post as
foreign
minister of
Argentina.
Inner City Press:
I guess what
I'm saying is
after the
Bernardino
León thing, it
was said it
was going to
be discussed
at the CEB
[Chief
Executives
Board], that
even the
appearance of
impropriety
should be
avoided.
So I’m not
saying… I'm
just asking,
did she seek
an ethics
ruling whether
she would
still work on
the
Venezuela/Guyana
file if the
government she
was going to
work for has
said Venezuela
should be
thrown out of
Mercosur or
stuff like
that?
Deputy
Spokesman:
First of all,
this is
someone…
President-elect
[Mauricio]
Macri was only
elected on
Sunday as
you're well
aware.
We made this
announcement
yesterday.
In other
words, two
days later,
which is
Tuesday.
And having
made this
announcement,
she will now
set aside her
duties as Chef
de Cabinet,
and then she
will take up
her job.
Working at the
United Nations
does not
preclude the
possibility
that you can
take jobs, and
as you're
aware, the
Secretary-General,
in his own
statement,
thanked
President-elect
Macri for
recognizing
the value of
UN experience
and of the
United Nations
in general.
Inner City
Press:
When was she
contacted?
That was my…
That's the
factual
question I'm
asking.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Like I said,
this is an
election that
only happened
three days
ago.
Another
question that
arises is who
will help up
the UN reform
or scandal
task force Ban
told Inner
City Press
about on
October 23.
That day when
Inner City
Press asked,
Ban said:
"I was really
shocked and
very concerned
to learn of
this serious
allegation
against John
Ashe, which
goes to the
heart of the
work of the
United Nations
and its Member
States...I
have asked
OIOS (Office
of Internal
Oversight
Services) to
have a
thorough
investigation
and I have
established a
small task
force led by
my Chief of
Staff, Susana
Malcorra, to
draw out some
means and
measures --
how we can
make more
transparent
and
accountable
measures,
particularly
on the case of
President of
General
Assembly,
Office of the
President of
General
Assembly."
But a
month later
when Malcorra
left, Ban's
statement
(below) had no
mention of the
task force,
much less
about the
UNresolved
scandals:
"I warmly
congratulate
my good
colleague and
friend, Ms.
Susana
Malcorra, on
being named by
President-elect
Mauricio Macri
of Argentina
to serve as
the country’s
new Minister
of Foreign
Relations.
As my Chef de
Cabinet since
2012, Ms.
Malcorra has
been by my
side during
one of the
busiest and
most turbulent
periods in the
history of the
United
Nations.
Throughout, I
have treasured
her advice,
admired her
dedication,
and benefited
from her
leadership.
Ms. Malcorra
has served the
United Nations
with great
distinction.
As
Under-Secretary-General
for Field
Support, she
helped to
strengthen the
way we plan,
deploy and
back our peace
operations.
As Chief
Operating
Officer and
Deputy
Executive
Director of
the World Food
Programme, she
was integral
to WFP’s
ability to
reach millions
of people
caught up in
armed
conflict, food
insecurity and
natural
disasters.
Ms. Malcorra
has also been
a strong voice
for gender
equality --
and she has
proven with
her own life
the value of
empowering
women leaders.
I thank
President-elect
Macri for
recognizing
the value of
UN experience,
and of the
United Nations
in
general.
I know from my
conversations
with world
leaders and
civil society
that Ms.
Malcorra is
well-respected
across the
world. I
am confident
that, as
Minister of
Foreign
Relations, she
will capably
guide
Argentina’s
response to
global
challenges and
deepen the
already
productive
ties between
Argentina and
the United
Nations.
I wish her
every success
as she takes
on this
important new
role."
So where is
the follow
though on the
scandal(s)?
Two advisers
to the Global
Sustainability
Foundation
cavorted with
Ban's Deputy,
and new PGA
Lykketoft,
only last
week. We'll
have more on
this, and on
Malcorra, who
was also
working on
Western
Sahara, among
other "files."
For now, one
note: on the
38th floor,
Permanent
Representatives
would often
tell Inner
City Press
they went to
see Malcorra,
to "take care"
of things.
While the UN
has been
extensively
corrupted by
Ng Lap Seng
and his Sun
Kian Ip
Foundation and
South South
News and South
South Awards,
his proposed
Macau
convention
center and the
South South
event held in
Macau in late
August 2015
provide a
snapshot which
the UN has yet
to explain,
despite Inner
City Press
asking again
on October 26,
below.
On October 23,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon about
it and he said
he has set up
a "small task
force" under
his chief of
staff Susana
Malcorra. Video here; transcript
below.
But the
most cursory
research finds
that Malcorra
accepted one
of Ng's South
South Awards
in 2014 for
Ban Ki-moon. Video here.
With all due
respect, how
can she be in
charge of
reviewing how
Ng penetrated
the UN?
Inner City
Press put this
question to
Ban's
spokesman
Stephen
Dujarric on
October 26. Transcript here:
Inner City
Press: on
Friday at the
stakeout, the
Secretary-General
said he set up
small task
force on the
means and
measures about
the John Ashe
case under
Susana
Malcorra.
I wanted to
ask two
questions
about that and
then something
related.
One, is PGA
[President of
the General
Assembly
Mogens]
Lykketoft's
office
involved in
the task
force?
Two, given
that Susana
Malcorra
received, in
2014, a
South-South
Award for Ban
Ki-moon from
David Ng's
South-South
Awards, isn't…
what can you
say? To
some it seems
like it's a
problem.
If you're
looking into
the way in
which Mr. Ng
Lap Seng sort
of penetrated
the UN with
this money, if
you received
an award from
him, with all
due respect,
are you the
right person
to…
Spokesman:
Well, first of
all, I hope
you're not
implying
there's any
monetary…
Inner City
Press:
No, I'm saying
that's his
award.
That's his
award...
Spokesman:
It was
received on
behalf of the
Secretary-General.
I think there
is no one
better than
Ms. Malcorra
to lead this
kind of task
force.
It is not one
looking into
anything
untoward.
What it is
looking into
is to
strengthening
the way the
PGA's office
is run,
probably
making some
recommendations
to Member
States on how
to proceed and
how to avoid
situations
that we've
seen in the
past
weeks.
And, of
course, Mr.
Lykketoft's
office will be
kept on top of
what is
recommended.
But,
ultimately,
these will be
recommendations
that the
Member States
will have to
take, in terms
of allocating
budgets or in
terms of
different
oversight.
What we're
looking at is
to make
recommendations
to the Member
States in that
regard.
Inner City
Press:
that's why I
said with all
due
respect.
This has
nothing to do
with the
competence of
Ms.
Malcorra.
I'm just
saying it
seems like
that's kind of
a narrow focus
to only look
at the PGA's
office.
If the idea is
that this
Macau-based
businessman
did things
that you want
to look at
that he did
with the UN…
Spokesman:
There is an
audit,
right?
There is an
audit that is
being tasked
that the
Secretary-General
has requested
of OIOS
[Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services],
which will
look at where
the monies…
the
relationship,
whether it's
monies or
otherwise,
between the
Secretariat
and the two
foundations as
an initial
step, and that
is being run
independently
by OIOS.
Inner City
Press:
And this was
the related
question.
Last week I
asked, I guess
it was Farhan
[Haq], about
this August
2015
conference in
Macau on
South-South,
which was, as
it turns out,
entirely
funded by
David
Ng. And
on the list of
participants
are a number
Secretariat
staff, DFS
[Department of
Field
Support],
Global
Compact.
So he said to
me that
somehow UNDP
[United
Nations
Development
Programme]
would be
answering.
My question to
him and now to
you is, what
are the
Secretariat's
rules for
travelling to
such a
conference,
receiving… you
know, free
iPads,
etc.?
And it's a
Secretariat
question.
Somehow he
said UNDP
would answer
it. I
wanted to ask…
Spokesman:
Like I said,
the OIOS will
look into the
different
interactions
between the
Secretariat
and the two
foundations
you
mentioned.
There are
well-established
ethical
guidelines of
people having
to report
gifts and
travel done
by… you know,
offered by
outside
parties.
Inner City
Press:
So did the UN
pay to fly
people to…
Spokesman:
I don't
know.
What I'm
telling you is
that there are
rules that are
well
established,
if people
accept travel
that they have
to declare
it.
Thank
you.
Hasta mańana.
But did
they declare
it? Where are
Ng's iPads?
We'll have
more on this.
From the UN's
October 23
transcript:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
about what has
been called
the John Ashe
case -- what
do you
conclude from
what has come
out so far on
how it
penetrated the
UN and what
type of
reforms do you
think are
needed?
Thank you.
SG Ban
Ki-moon:
"About this
former PGA
(President of
the General
Assembly) John
Ashe's case, I
was really
shocked and
very concerned
to learn of
this serious
allegation
against John
Ashe, which
goes to the
heart of the
work of the
United Nations
and its Member
States.
I have made it
quite clear
all the times
that the
United
Nation's staff
or leadership
should work
with the
highest level
of integrity
and ethical
standard.
That is why I
have made this
one of the top
priorities,
and I have
asked OIOS
(Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services) to
have a
thorough
investigation
and I have
established a
small task
force led by
my Chief of
Staff, Susana
Malcorra, to
draw out some
means and
measures --
how we can
make more
transparent
and
accountable
measures,
particularly
on the case of
President of
General
Assembly,
Office of the
President of
General
Assembly.
We have all of
the discussion
of this matter
with President
[Mogens]
Lykketoft, the
current
PGA. He
fully supports
what I'm going
to do, with
all this
investigation
by OIOS and
with our own
internal
discussions to
draw up some
measures to
improve the
conduct of the
Office of the
PGA. And
if necessary,
I'm going to
recommend to
the General
Assembly to
take some
legislation,
so that the
United
Nations,
whether it is
the Member
States’ side
or the staff,
Secretariat
side, we all
have a
responsibility
and duty to
conduct our
duties [in] a
transparent
and
accountable
[way], with
the highest
integrity and
ethics."
Alongside
this, Ban
Ki-moon's UN
Secretariat is
again
referring
questions
about itself
to UNDP.
On
October 22
Inner City
Press published the invitation letter to the Macau conference,
here,
which notably
said that “all
local expenses
will be
covered by the
host.”
Attendees tell
Inner City
Press that
those present
were given
iPads with the
name of Ng's
company
emblazoned on
them: where
have these
gone?
While there
were many
attendees,
over 170,
those from Ban
Ki-moon's
Secretariat,
some of them
mis-described,
standout. So
too does the
UN
Correspondents
Association's
Vice
President, the
same
correspondent
who took the
first set-aside
question to
Hillary
Clinton
during her
“email-gate”
stakeout in
front of the
UN Security
Council, and
asks if
questions
about the
private server
were only
being pursued
because she's
a woman. (Ng's
previous
interaction
with the
Clintons is
well-documented.)
Given
that UNCA's
Presideng
Giampaolo
Pioli accepted
funds from
Ng's South
South News,
which was then
given an UNCA
award while Ng
got a photo op
with Ban
Ki-moon at
UNCA's Award
Dinner at
Cipiani on
42nd Street,
the question
arises: what
was UNCA's
Vice President
doing on the
attendee list
at Ng's Macau
confab in
August 2015?
We'll have
more on this.
On
October 22,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq
about the UN
Secretariat
staff who
traveled to
Macau - and
was told,
paradoxically,
that (only)
UNDP could or
would answer.
From
the UN
transcript:
Inner City
Press: there
was this big
South-South
event that
took place in
Macau in late
August.
Here is what I
want to ask
you about it:
I see now the
invitation
letter that
went out and
it said that
it was
sponsored by a
UN agency and
other
strategic
partners, and
it also says
that, quote,
all local
expenses will
be covered by
the
host.
And the
participant
list includes
a number
people from
the
Secretariat,
DFS, Global
Compact, some
Secretariat
staff, at
least one
Secretariat
staff member
listed as a
member of his
country’s, his
native
country's
delegation,
which is a
little
strange.
So I wanted to
know what are
the rules,
what rules
apply to
travel by UN
staff, taking,
accepting
expenses from
hosts and
traveling as a
part of the
delegation of
their native
country?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well,
regarding that
particular
visit, I
believe the
Office on
South-South
Cooperation
has
information on
that, so I'll
have them get
back to you
with that.
Inner City
Press:
Can they do a
press
conference?
Because I put
in the
question 10
days ago.
Deputy
Spokesman:
They have been
answering
questions from
reporters
fairly
rigorously and
so that will
continue.
Inner City
Pres:
What are the
UN Secretariat
rules?
That is my
question to
you. I'm
not asking
about
UNDP. I
can name the
individuals,
but there was
an individual
from DFS,
there was an
individual
from the
Global Compact
who attended
and host
covered all
costs?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Like I said,
there is
relevant
information on
this by the
Office for
South-South
Cooperation,
so I'll have
them share
that with you.
Background: As
the scandal
unveiled in
the corruption
charges
against former
UN General
Assembly
President John
Ashe, Ng Lap
Seng, Francis
Lorenzo of
South South
News and
others
continues to
expand, the
compromised
position of
the UN
Correspondents
Association
has come to
the fore.
In 2011
until now,
Inner City
Press has
exposed UNCA
for taking
funds from Ng
Lap Seng
vehicles, to
which it gave
awards, and
arranging Ng
Lap Seng photo
op(s) with UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon. UNCA
has not
provided any
explanation;
the UN through
Ban's
spokesman has
said for
example that
many people
get
photographs
with Ban. But
people like Ng
previously
found in US
Senate reports
to have made
irregular
campaign
contributions,
and co-owning
hotels links
to
prostitution?
On
October 20,
Inner City
Press asked UN
deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq
about Ng, and
about how much
money the
Global
Sustainability
Foundation
gave for the
UN's “Ark of
Return” (anti)
slavery
memorial. Haq
wouldn't give
the dollar
figure - it's
at least
$60,000 -- and
seemed to says
it doesn't
matter where
the UN takes
money from,
only how the
UN uses it. Video here.
Inner City
Press:
Okay. I
want to ask
you another
question.
Mr. Ng Lap
Seng, who's
now out on $50
million bail,
it seemed he
sort of
penetrated the
UN system,
including
several photo
ops with Ban
Ki-moon
against a blue
background in
Cipriani's, I
wanted to ask
you, a major
financial
newspaper,
just on
cursory
research, said
he's a
co-owner of
the Fortuna
Hotel, which
has… quote,
this is all
from their
promotional
material,
table dancing
by strippers,
boasted
attractive and
attentive
hostesses from
China,
Singapore and
Korea, and
erotic girls
from Europe
and
Russia.
And I wanted
to know,
given, given
everything
that's said
from this
podium about
UN Women and
the need to
take these
issues
seriously, how
is it
possible… how
is it possible
that this, an
individual
engaged in
these
activities,
came… came to
such a
position of
prominence
and, and, and
closeness to
the
Secretary-General?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Matthew, we do
not speak for
David Ng Lap
Seng or his
group or his
business
holdings.
Any questions
on that have
to go to his
organizations.
The United
Nations does
not deal with
any of the, of
the entities,
with entities
like the ones
that you've
described.
Inner City
Press:
The money from
it was donated
to various UN
causes.
That’s why I'm
asking you to
respond to
this pending,
this unending
audit, what do
you think of
this?
Deputy
Spokesman:
The nature of
corporations
is that any
corporation
can have many,
many different
holdings.
I'm not going
to comment on
all of the
holdings of
different
groups,
depending upon
what they do
with the
UN. What
we're trying
to monitor is
how the funds
from these
groups
affected the
UN and the
dealings with
the two
entities that
we've been
talking
about.
That's being
audited, and
we'll follow
up on
that.
But the
group's
activities as
a whole,
that's an
issue for
other
authorities.
It's not…
It's not an
issue for the
United
Nations…
Inner City
Press: I
understand
what the audit
is…
Deputy
Spokesman:
It has
nothing, it
actually has
no actual
relevance to
the work we've
done.
Question:
It's just how
the money is
spent by the
UN, not where
the money came
from?
Deputy
Spokesman:
The audit is
designed to
follow up on
what effect,
what impact,
the activities
the groups and
of the monies
that they
spent have and
that's what
we're
following up
on...
Inner City
Press: Is it,
are you, is
the
Secretariat
yet viewing
the…
Secretariat
viewing the
charges of the
Southern
District of
New York as
mostly or
entirely
related to the
PGA [President
of the General
Assembly]?
I guess I'm
asking this
because things
like
South-South
News...
Yesterday, I'd
asked Stéphane
at the
founding of
the Global
Sustainability
Foundation,
there was Mr.
Nambiar.
There was the
spouse of the
Secretary-General.
There was not
Mr. Ashe
anywhere to be
seen. So
I just want to
be
clear.
Is this an
audit about
two… merely
two entities,
but as relates
to the UN
Secretariat or
just to the
PGA's office?
Deputy
Spokesman:
No, no, it's
as we have,
it's as we
described in
the statement
before.
It's about the
UN as a whole.
Background: Ng
Lap Seng was
found to have
brought the
same bags of
cash later
deployed at
the UN into
the US
earlier, in
the late 90s,
when his
Fortuna hotel
was linked to
organized
crime and even
human
trafficking.
From the WSJ:
“Who is Ng Lap
Seng, and what
did he want?
According to
several
well-informed
sources in
Hong Kong and
Macau, Mr. Ng
is a
mysterious
figure with
extensive
business in
China, where
he also held a
minor post as
a member of
the Chinese
People's
Political
Consultative
Conference in
his hometown
of Nan Hai in
Guangdong
province. In
Macau, his
most visible
interest is
his ownership
of the Fortuna
Hotel, a
garish
high-rise in
the gambling
district,
featuring a
20,000-square-foot
nightclub with
'table
dancing' by
strippers, as
well as a
massage parlor
and, according
to its
brochure,
'over 30
independent
karaoke rooms,
all
luxuriously
decorated with
the most
advanced sound
system for any
one interested
in performing
his favorite
songs.' The
brochure also
boasts
'attractive
and attentive
hostesses from
China, Korea,
Singapore,
Malaysia,
Vietnam,
Indonesia and
Burma together
with erotic
girls from
Europe and
Russia,
certainly
offer you an
exciting and
unforgettable
evening with
friends or
business
associates.'”
So what does
UN Women,
which has
still to
comment on UN
Peacekeeping
chief Herve
Ladsous
linking rapes
to “R&R,”
same about
Ban's UN
(through UNCA)
accepting
“pimp and
trafficker” Ng
Lap Seng into
the UN, and
into UNCA's
Cipriani ball
for photos
with Ban and
his spouse?
We'll have
more on this.
Just as
UNCA "leaders"
from Voice
of America
and Reuters
(censorship
bid here)
tried to use
the UN to get
the
investigative
Press out, now
the UN
responds to
questions
about UNCA
selling
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon photo
ops to Ng Lap
Seng by
suggesting
that the
questioner,
because
present,
"condoned" the
sale.
Now,
with UNCA
still silent
on its links
with South
South News and
other Ng Lap
Seng vehicles,
here
is video
Inner City
Press
published in
December 2011
of UNCA's
murky photo
ops for Ban at
Cipriani,
which UNCA
seeks to
reproduce this
coming
December.
Even
then in
December 2011,
Inner City
Press'
accompanying
story reported
that it
"filmed what
it could of
the photo op
-- those
arranging it
kept telling
the Press it
had to leave
-- and
afterward
several in
Ban's circle
said they had
no idea who
the
businessmen
had been.
There was dark
talk about one
David Ng, a
businessman
who has
bankrolled
'vanity' media
projects given
awards that
night --
people funded
by Ng used the
word "vanity,"
so we use it
here."
Inner
City Press
published that
in December
2011 about Ng
and South
South News; it
quit UNCA and
with another
Executive
Committee
member who
quit in
disgust
co-founded
FUNCA, the
Free UN
Coalition for
Access. UNCA
continued
taking funds
from South
South News.
We'll have
more on this.
While UNCA
does not
represent all
journalists
accredited to
cover the UN
-- Inner City
Press for
example quit
the group in
2012 with
another
Executive
Committee
member and
co-founded the
new Free
UN Coalition
for Access
-- the UN
gives it a
privileged
position, a
large
clubhouse on
the third
floor of the
UN and,
automatically,
the first
question at
press
conferences.
But is
that
appropriate,
given that
UNCA received
money from
South South
News, “NGO 1”
in the
filing
against Ashe?
Not only did
UNCA receive
money from
South South
News: it gave
the group an
“UNCA award”
at a ceremony
at the
high-ceilinged
Cipriani's
restaurant on
December 15,
2011.
Inner
City Press,
which did not
quit UNCA in
fully ripened
disgust in
2012, was
present in
December 2011
and witnessed,
when Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon came
into
Cipriani's,
him being
shepherded
into a side
room for
photographs
with Asian men
in business
suits who
Inner City
Press did not
then recognize
-- but now
does.
UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, when
Inner City
Press asked on
October 13
about what it
had seen, said
perhaps Inner
City Press had
"condoned" it.
Video
here. But
Inner City
Press quit
UNCA after finding
conflicts of
interest in it,
and being
"ordered" to
not report on
this.
From the October
13 transcript:
Inner City
Press: I want
to ask
inevitably
about the
revelations
about Mr.
[John] Ashe
and Frank
Lorenzo and
others.
And just as
you… as the
lead
Spokesman, a
person that
travels around
with the
Secretary-General,
how… what
would you say
to the photos
that exist of
the
Secretary-General
with David Ng,
who was since
indicted, and
Frank Lorenzo
and,
particularly,
in instances
where it
appears that
groups that
receive
contributions
from the two
and then put
them in a room
to have
photographs
with the
Secretary-General?
Is this
something
that… how does
the
Secretary-General
view this in
retrospect,
and what's
going to be
done in the
future?
Spokesman:
First of all,
a photo of the
Secretary-General
with any
individual
should in no
way be
interpreted as
a sponsorship
or
agreement.
It's just a
photo.
The
Secretary-General
is very much a
public figure,
attends a lot
of public
events where
there are a
lot of
people.
Sometimes
people come up
to him and ask
to have their
photo
taken.
And it's done
within the…
within,
obviously, the
security
constraints
that need to
be had.
I think
whether it's
the
Secretary-General
of the United
Nations or
anyone in
leadership
position, you
will find when
you travel
with them that
a lot of
people want to
have their
photo taken
with
them.
Inasmuch as
that is… we
try to control
that,
sometimes it's
difficult to
do so. I
think the
Secretary-General
is as shocked
as anyone in
this building
at the charges
that were
levelled at
these two
individuals.
And he's very
disappointed
at the
accusations
towards the
United
Nations.
Inner City
Press:
obviously, to
business
interests
having an
actual kind of
formal
handshaking
one, I guess
I'll just say
that that is
worth
something to
them.
That's why
they…
Spokesman:
I'm not… I'm
not debating
that point…
[cross
talk]
I'm just
saying that
having a
picture of the
Secretary-General
with any
individual
should in no
way be seen as
a sponsorship,
approval,
making them
BFF's or
anything.
Inner City
Press: I
guess I just
want to be
more
specific.
If an event…
and there's
one that
actually, as
it turns out,
I witnessed in
Cipriani.
If the
Secretary-General
enters a large
space and is
then taken to
a smaller
space for such
photographs,
what's the
basis for
that, as
opposed to
people with
selfies?
I mean, I
understand
what you're
saying…
Spokesman:
I think, you
know, if you
were there,
then maybe you
condoned the
event as
well.
The issue is
the
Secretary-General
attends a lot
of
events.
Sometimes
there is a VIP
reception.
None of it
should be
construed as
anything as
the
Secretary-General
having his
picture taken
with anyone.
Inner City
Press: it's
been a number
of days now;
I'm assuming
that, if not
you, OLA
[Office of
Legal
Affairs],
someone has
read through
this long FBI
[Federal
Bureau of
Investigation]
affidavit.
And I want to
just ask you
again, because
in it, it says
that, after
the… the… the
official UN
document about
the Macau
centre was
procured,
there was a
separate
payment to Mr.
Ashe, separate
communications
with a UN
official
number one,
who reissued
the document
as a… amended…
revised for
technical
reasons, with
the name of
the company in
it. And
it seems to
me, even
before you
waiting for an
OIOS [Office
of Internal
Oversight
Services]
investigation,
the scope of
which wouldn't
touch that,
who in the UN
is actually…
how does it
work, first of
all?
Who… which
part of the UN
amends
documents
after they're
released?
Is it DGACM
[Department
for General
Assembly and
Conference
Management]…?
Spokesman:
Listen, I'm
not going to
talk about the
specifics of
the
case.
But it is
clear that if
the President
of one of the
legislative
bodies in this
Organization
which controls
the agenda, or
a sponsoring
country for
resolution,
asks the
Secretary-General
to amend a
text, we serve
as the
Secretariat.
It's not…
it's… it
doesn't entail
sponsoring of
what's inside
that
text.
While
Inner City
Press' answer
to the
spokesman's
"if you were
there, then
maybe you
condoned the
event as
well," is that
Inner City
Press quit
UNCA
after finding
conflicts of
interest in
it, and
being
"ordered" to
not report on
this, we'll
have more on
this.
On October 13,
Inner City
Press asked
this follow
up:
Inner City
Press: I just
want to
directly ask
you about the
idea that it's
sort of people
struggling to
get photos
with the UN
officials.
There was a…
there was a
peacekeeping
day concert
that was… for
which
solicitation
of… you know,
sponsorship
was sought by
a group called
World Harmony
Alliance, and
it had
nothing… the
group has
nothing to do
with
peacekeeping,
but they paid
for day.
They… they… in
fact, the
funder
complained
that he didn't
get the
promised
photograph
with Ban
Ki-moon, but I
wonder, what
was… what's
the UN's
understanding
when they take
outside
financial
sponsorship
for such a
day? I
mean, former
UN official
[Ibrahim]
Gambari was
seen with the
same group
taking
photographs on
the fourth
floor in the
Millennium
Hotel.
What's it all
about?
What’s
happening?
Spokesman:
What former
officials do
in hotels is
really not of
my purview.
Inner City
Press:
Sure.
What about UN
peacekeeping?
Spokesman:
I would take a
look at that
actual
programme, but
I would expect
every part of
the UN to do
due diligence
when it
partners with
an outside
organization.
And
just…
I'll leave it
at that.
Photo:
here's
now-charged
Lorenzo with #UNCA prez Pioli,
by Luiz
Rampelotto /
Europa
Newswire 1/3 pic.twitter.com/9faId8FIGb
On October 12,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq, video here, transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: in
light of these
charges
against John
Ashe, Frank
Lorenzo, and
others, it's
emerging that
the
Secretary-General,
if not met,
had staged
photo
opportunities
with a number
of the
individuals
charged.
And I wanted
to know, in
looking at
this, do you
have some kind
of a comment
on how these
occurred,
particularly
in instances
where they may
have been
arranged by a
third party,
been arranged
by an
organization
that invited
Ban Ki-moon
and then
received funds
from
South-South
News or others
and then put
the two
together on
photograph?
Was that
appropriate?
And what would
be your
response to…
to OIOS
[Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services]
looking at
that or
otherwise?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well,
regarding
that, as
you're aware,
the Office of
Internal
Oversight
Services will
do an
audit.
They've been
requested to
do that, and
so we'll be
able to see
whether there
was any effect
from either
the
relationship
with these
various
groups, these
two groups,
the Sun Kian
Ip Group and
the Global
Sustainability
Foundation,
and any of the
monies
received.
So, we'll
await what
they have to
say about any
of this.
Inner City
Press:
But, given
that Mr. Frank
Lorenzo has
been charged
and he's now
out on $2
million bail,
he was head of
South-South
News, which
spread $12
million,
according to
the documents,
throughout the
UN
system.
So, what was,
how, what was
the criteria
used to choose
these two NGOs
and not either
South-South
News or
International
Organization
for
South-South
Cooperation or
South South
Steering
Committee on
Sustainable
Development?
It seems like
it's a very
limited
inquiry and…
Deputy
Spokesman:
It's not
really an
inquiry.
It's an audit,
and this is
initial
step. If
OIOS feels
like there is
something…
there's a
direction
which they
need to go as
a result of
these initial
results,
they're
certainly free
to do that,
but we needed
to get the
ball rolling
and have an
initial step
forward so
that we can
look into what
exactly is the
impact of the
monies and the
relationship
with these
groups.
John Ashe at
UNCA with
former
president,
after and
before Pioli
click photo
for source /
credit
Back in
December 2011,
shepherding
Ban for this
(compensated)
photo op with
dubious
businessmen
was Giampaolo
Pioli, then as
now the
president of
UNCA. South
South News
interviewed
Pioli that
night,
bragging of
the UNCA award
it got / paid
for,
screenshot
from video
here.
Photo:
President of
UNCA, on SSN
before giving
them award.
How much has
UNCA gotten
from South
South? pic.twitter.com/9LnoW19IPM
(For context
it must be
noted too that
Pioli rented
one of his
Manhattan
apartments to
Palitha Kohona
then granted
Kohona's
request as Sri
Lanka's
Ambassador to
screen his
government's
war crimes
denial film
“Lies Agreed
To” in the
UN's Dag
Hammarskjold
Library
Auditorium:
this
precipitated
Inner City
Press quitting
UNCA, in full
disclosure.)
How can UNCA
be given first
questions to
ask about a
scandal
involving
South South
News, from
which UNCA
took more then
to which it
gave an award?
And what are
the other
implications?
(In
terms of Mr.
Ng's desire
for photo ops,
Inner City
Press is
informed that
he separately
wanted a photo
with US
President
Obama, and
paid six
figures to a
middleman -
who
disappeared
with the
money. UNCA on
the other
hand, one wag
noted,
delivered Ban
Ki-moon for
photos at
Cipriani's.)
UNCA,
it should be
noted, has
been and is
open to
business
interested
beyond Mr. Ng
and South
South News.
Another UNCA
awards
ceremony was
sponsored by a
company called
“Acoona;” the
Italian oil
company ENI
pays the group
money.
But UNCA's
South South
News
connection,
given what has
been disclosed
and charged
this week,
should at a
minimum and as
a first step
disqualify
UNCA from
first
questions from
the UN, and
from the
continuation
of its role.
Consider:
if it gave
rise to
criminal
charges that
South South
News paid Ashe
to get a GA
document for
Ng to show off
in Macau, who
about South
South News
paying UNCA,
and UNCA
delivering Ban
for a photo op
with Ng, that
Ng could use
for related
purposes?
We'll have
more on this.
Wider, and
going forward
in this
series,
limiting UN
investigation
to OIOS -
whose director
of
investigations
Stefanovic has
resigned,
Inner City
Press hereby
exclusively
reported on
October 9 -
looking at
only two NGOs
is laughable.
The scandal is
expanding:
there is a
pattern here,
pattern and
practice.
Watch this
site. Follow @innercitypressFollow @FUNCA_info
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