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

UN Refuses to Say If Libya Envoy Khatib Has UN “Staff” Pass While Paid by Jordan, Tries to Block Questions

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 5 -- The UN Office of the Spokesperson for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hit a new low on Tuesday, refusing to answer basic questions from Inner City Press about Ban's envoy to Libya Abdul Ilah Al Khatib: how he gets paid, if he has a UN Staff member pass, and why there is no written documentation for the payments. Video here.
 
  A minute later, Inner City Press was urged to stop asking the questions by the head of the UN Correspondents Association -- to which Nesirky said he would complain -- citing Nesirky that "when there's no answer, it's finito."

   For weeks Ban spokesman Martin Nesirky and his acting Deputy Farhan Haq have refused to answer if Al Khatib is still being paid by Jordan as a Senator, and how this complies with UN rules. Finally on April 4 Inner City Press asked Al Khatib himself, who acknowledging he is still a Senator said he is not a UN staff, it is being negotiated. Video here.
   
    On April 5 Inner City Press asked Nesirky if Al Khatib has an “S” Staff pass to the UN, and how his claimed lack of contract complies with UN Financial Rules & Regulations Rule 105.9, “Obligating documents,” which provides that

“An obligation must be based on a formal contract, agreement, purchase order or other form of undertaking, or on a liability recognized by the United Nations. All obligations must be supported by an appropriate obligating document.”

  Nesirky did not answer, instead saying “I have not seen his pass, perhaps you did” -- it was tucked into Khatib's jacket -- and concluding “I'm sure it's all being looked into” then leaving the briefing room.

Khatib, Ban & (Deputy) Spokesman: disclosure of pass & payments not shown

  Moments later the head of the UN Correspondents' Association approached Inner City Press and said Nesirky complained about the questions and how they were asked: “he's saying that when he doesn't answer, that's it, you cannot keep with the same question... If he doesn't answer you, it's finito.”

  Previously, when Nesirky refused in a briefing to explain why his Office had “amended” a statement they put out by Ban Ki-moon in which he estimated that 50% of the post earthquake rubble would be addressed this year and then chided Inner City Press for asking the question, Nesirky said “shut up” and then “I'm going to have to tell UNCA about this.”

  Inner City Press did not quote Nesirky regarding UNCA at that time, but does now. Inner City Press believed, and believes, that this is an inappropriate use of UNCA, on whose Executive Board this reporter serves. The repeated attempt is both a waste of time and may debase UNCA. But it seems this UN will try anything in order to not answer, or even get asked, questions about how it spends money in contravention of the UN's own rules. Watch this site.

Footnotes: Ban's spokesman Nesirky began the April 5 “noon” briefing at 12:20, without explanation or apology. (He began on April 4 at 12:16.) Facing questions about UN military action in Cote d'Ivoire, he told Inner City Press that the UN had not fired on Laurent Gbabgo's residence.

 When a French reporter followed up by saying the France's Force Licorne had fired on Gbabgo's palace and asking if Licorne's acts are attributable to the UN, Nesirky answered that it is legal for the UN to call in Licorne. OK, but did they fire at Gbagbo's residence?

 Likewise on Sudan, Nesirky did not answer Inner City Press' April 4 question about government air strikes in Darfur or April 5 question about the government's blockade of the ZamZam IDP camp. The series of unanswered questions continues.