On
Syria, Egypt's
Draft Fails, 2
Vetoes,
Another No
& An
Abstention, US
Power Missing
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 5 --
After the
failure of two
resolutions on
Syria, New
Zealand on
October 13
circulated a
draft
resolution,
which Inner
City Press
published that
day, here.
On November 23
Inner City
Press was
informed of an
“Egyptian
draft put in
blue on
Aleppo,” which
would demand a
“ten day
humanitarian
pause around
Aleppo with 72
hours advance
notice.”
On December 4
the amended
draft was put
on the UN
Security
Council's
agenda for
Monday,
December 5 at
2 pm.
After 2
pm, everyone
filed into the
the Chamber.
Russia's
Permanent
Representative
Vitaly Churkin
said the vote
shouldn't be
taken, because
the draft had
only been put
“in blue” at
11:20 am. He
said waiting
the seemingly
required 24
hours would
allow for
meetings in
Geneva
discussed by
the US and
Russia.
But the US, by
its deputy
Michele Sison
and not its
Permanent
Representative
Samantha Power
- whose
permanence
expired on
January 21 is
not before -
said the vote
should go
forward.
Churkin said
the US Mission
was trying to
topple
something
discussed with
John Kerry,
also outgoing.
When
the voting
occurred, not
only Russia
but also China
and Venezuela
voted no, and
Angola
abstained. Photo
here. Then
the speeches
started.
Canada's
request for a
General
Assembly
meeting has
been filed; a
separate call
for an
emergency
General
Assembly
meeting
involving
Saudi Arabia
has been made,
citing Ban
Ki-moon (who
excused the
Saudi-led
Coalition's
killing of
over 1,000
children in
Yemen)
"attacks on
civilian
infrastructure,
most notably
hospitals and
schools, have
become
commonplace.
Such attacks
are violations
of
international
humanitarian
law and
according to
the UN
Secretary-General,
may amount to
war crimes.
Taking into
account these
horrific
circumstances,
we strongly
believe that
the call for
an Emergency
Special
Session of the
General
Assembly is
justified and
required. We
owe it to the
people of
Syria."
Here is
the Security
Council's
notice:
2.00 p.m.,
7825th
meeting,
Security
Council
Chamber
1.
Adoption of
the agenda
2.
The situation
in the Middle
East
It is ironic
in that Egypt
not only
cracks down on
media at home,
but has its
state media
Akhbar al Yom
operating for
Ban Ki-moon
and his
Gallach to
Occupy the
longtime work
space of Inner
City Press,
restriction it
to minders
while Akhbar
al Yom's Sanaa
Youssef rarely
comes to the
UN, never asks
questions.
On October 26
the Security
Council's
session with
UN Relief
Chief Stephen
O'Brien turned
into theater,
including when
Syria's
Ambassador
Bashar
Ja'afari took
the floor the
latest
walk-out by
the
Ambassadors of
the UK,
France, US and
Ukraine. Inner
City Press
rushed to the
photo booth to
film it, then
back to the
stakeout to
ask about it.
Spain's Román
Oyarzun
Marchesi spoke
briefly
off-camera,
then Russia's
Vitaly
Churkin, the
Council's
president for
October
(as
Oyarzun
Marchesi will
be in
December)
spoke at more
length on the
steps. Inner
City Press
asked him
about the
walk-out and
he said, it is
a tool in the
hands of
diplomats --
in the absence
of other
tools.
He said
the Yemen
session on
October 31
will be open,
and that
Stephen
O'Brien should
speak about
Yemen. YouTube
of Periscope
here, with
analysis at
end.
On October 27,
along with
asking UK
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft if the
UK supports
the October 31
session on
Yemen being
open - Yes, he
said, swan
song Vine here
- Inner City
Press also
asked French
Ambassador
Delattre about
the walk-out.
He said it was
spontaneous,
he didn't want
to hear what
Ja'afari had
to say. Inner
City Press
pointed out
that the UK,
US and Ukraine
also walked
out. “France
is an
independent
country,”
Delattre said.
Video here.
And Inner City
Press' photo
of the
walk-out shows
that Rycroft
and US Deputy
Michele Sison
were standing
up and
Delattre was
still sitting
down. We hope
to have more
on this.
On October 27
at noon former
UK prime
minister, now
UN Special
Envoy Gordon
Brown called
for the
referral to
the
International
Criminal Court
of the school
bombing in
Idlib. Inner
City Press
asked Brown
about the
bombing - by
UK supported
Saudi Arabia -
of schools in
Yemen; Churkin
was asked
about what was
said by Gordon
Brown. After
asking,
perhaps in
jest, Gordon
Who, Churkin
said the UK is
a member of
the ICC and
should have
its files
there. On
Yemen?
Reaffirming
its strong
commitment to
the
sovereignty,
independence,
unity and
territorial
integrity of
Syria, and to
the purposes
and principles
of the Charter
of the United
Nations,
Noting
discussions in
September
between the
Russian
Federation and
the United
States on
Syria and
deeply
concerned at
the breakdown
of the agreed
pause in
hostilities
and series of
steps to
reduce
violence,
enable
unimpeded
humanitarian
access and set
the conditions
for the
resumption of
a Syrian-led
political
process,
Distressed
that, as a
result of this
breakdown,
there has been
a sharp
increase in
the level of
conflict in
Syria,
accompanied by
an
intensification
of the
devastating
humanitarian
situation,
renewed
impediments to
the delivery
of
humanitarian
assistance and
intensified
attacks
against
civilians and
civilian
objects
contrary to
international
humanitarian
law,
Distressed
also that the
resumption of
conflict has
seen an
intensification
of attacks
against
medical
facilities
contrary to
international
humanitarian
law and to its
resolution
2286,
Convinced
that, in these
circumstances
it is
incumbent on
the Security
Council to
act;
Recognising
the importance
of the
continuation
of armed
action against
terrorist
entities in
Syria
designated as
such by virtue
of Security
Council
resolutions,
Determining
that the
situation in
Syria
continues to
constitute a
threat to
peace and
security in
the region,
Underscoring
that Member
States are
obligated
under Article
25 of the
Charter of the
United Nations
to accept and
carry out the
Council’s
decisions,
1. Demands an
immediate and
complete end
to all attacks
which may
result in the
death or
injury of
civilians or
damage to
civilian
objects in
Syria, in
particular
those carried
out by air in
Aleppo;
2. Demands
also the
immediate
commencement
of steps
towards the
implementation
of Security
Council
Resolution
2268 and the
Cessation of
Hostilities
outlined in
it;
3. Demands
that all
parties allow
and facilitate
immediate,
unimpeded and
sustained
access to
besieged and
hard to reach
areas
throughout
Syria for
humanitarian
relief on the
basis of needs
determined by
the United
Nations;
4. Calls upon
all parties to
adhere, within
24 hours of
the adoption
of this
resolution, to
a 48 hour
pause to the
fighting and
to regular 48
hour pauses
thereafter
until full
implementation
of the
Cessation of
Hostilities
required under
resolution
2268 is
achieved, so
as to allow
the UN to
provide
humanitarian
assistance to
all those in
need and
reinforces
that this
obligation is
in addition to
the
requirements
under Security
Council
Resolution
2268;
5. Calls also
on the United
Nations to
work with
relevant
parties to
agree
operational
modalities for
the pauses
described in
Paragraph 4 of
this
resolution and
to ensure the
necessary
security
guarantees for
humanitarian
assistance;
6. Calls upon
the parties to
the conflict
to conclude as
expeditiously
as possible
local
agreements for
the evacuation
of wounded and
sick, the
elderly,
children and
maternity
cases from
besieged and
hard to reach
areas based
solely on
urgency and
need and
requests the
United Nations
to facilitate
such
agreements as
appropriate;
7. Demands
that all
combatants not
designated as
terrorist
entities by
virtue of
Security
Council
resolutions
take steps to
separate
expeditiously
from
combatants
designated as
terrorist
entities by
virtue of
Security
Council
resolutions
while in this
regard
emphasising
that efforts
to counter
terrorism must
be carried out
in accordance
with
international
law, including
international
humanitarian
law, and in
particular
with regard to
the protection
of civilians;
8. Notes the
initiative of
the Special
Envoy of the
Secretary-General
on Syria of 6
October 2016
on addressing
the situation
in Aleppo and
requests the
Secretary-General
to present to
the Security
Council within
two weeks a
detailed plan
for its
implementation
for the
purpose of the
endorsement by
the Security
Council;
9. Reiterates
that the only
sustainable
solution to
the current
crisis in
Syria is
through an
inclusive and
Syrian-led
political
process that
meets the
legitimate
aspirations of
the Syrian
people and in
this regard
supports the
intention of
the
Secretary-General,
through his
good offices
and the
efforts of his
Special Envoy
for Syria, to
convene formal
negotiations
as soon as
possible;
10. Decides to
remain
actively
seized of the
matter.
Back on
October 8,
French foreign
minister
Jean-Marc
Ayrault came
to the UN for
a Saturday
vote on the
French-Spanish
draft
resolution on
Aleppo, which
Russia had
already said
it would veto.
That is what
happened.
Venezuela also
voted no;
China and
Angola
abstained.
Afterward
Ayrault came
to the
stakeout.
Inner City
Press asked
him, loudly,
if he thinks
the Saudi
bombardment of
Yemen should
also be taken
up by the
Security
Council, after
an airstrike
on a funeral
most recently.
He did not
answer,
despite the
question being
repeated. He
left.
While
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft of the
UK, which
holds the
Council's
“pen” on
Yemen, also
did not
answer, Vine
here, New
Zealand's
ambassador
when Inner
City Press
asked if his
country also
thinks the
Saudi-led
coalition
should stop
bombing Yemen
said, “I do.” Vine here.
Speeches went
on. Then
Russia's draft
failed: four
in favor, nine
against, two
abstentions.
Egypt said the
Security
Council is
becoming only
a media
platform. And
not only that
- the UN is
trying to
hinder Press
coverage. More
on that to
follow.
Just before
the UN
Security
Council met
about Aleppo,
with a
briefing from
envoy Staffan
de Mistura on
October 7,
French
Permanent
Representative
Francois
Delattre told
the press that
the moment of
truth, to vote
on the
Franco-Spanish
draft
resolution,
was near --
Saturday at
2:30 pm, just
for the drama,
it seemed. The
Franco-Spanish
draft is
below.
Delattre was
asked of the
analogy of
Aleppo to
Rwanda and did
not respond on
that, Periscope
video here
-
understandable
to some given,
for example,
then French
diplomat (now
taciturn UN
official) Herve
Ladsous' 1994
memo
obtained by
Inner City
Press, here.
PP2
Reaffirming
its strong
commitment to
the
sovereignty,
independence,
unity and
territorial
integrity of
Syria, and to
the purposes
and principles
of the Charter
of the United
Nations, (pp.2
of R.2268)
PP3 Gravely
distressed by
the continued
deterioration
of the
devastating
humanitarian
situation in
Syria, and the
fact that now
more than 13.5
million people
are in need of
humanitarian
assistance in
Syria, and
that about 6.1
million people
are internally
displaced (in
addition to
the half a
million
Palestinian
refugees who
had settled in
Syria),
861.200 people
are trapped in
besieged
areas, (new)
PP4 Expressing
outrage at the
unacceptable
and escalating
level of
violence and
at the
intensified
campaigns, in
recent days,
of aerial
bombings in
Aleppo and
recalling in
this regard
the statement
made on 29th
September by
the
Under-Secretary-General
for
Humanitarian
Affairs and
Emergency
Relief
Coordinator,
Stephen
O’Brien,
reporting a
situation of
“now besieged
eastern
Aleppo”, (new)
PP5 Strongly
condemning the
increased
terrorist
attacks
resulting in
numerous
casualties and
destruction
carried out by
ISIL, Al-Nusra
Front (ANF)
and all other
individuals,
groups,
undertakings
and entities
associated
with Al Qaeda
or ISIL, and
other
terrorist
groups, as
designated by
the Security
Council, and
reiterating
its call on
all parties to
commit to
putting an end
to terrorist
acts
perpetrated by
such
organizations
and
individuals,
while
reaffirming
that terrorism
in all its
forms
constitutes
one of the
most serious
threats to
international
peace and
security, and
that any acts
of terrorism
are criminal
and
unjustifiable,
regardless of
their
motivation,
wherever,
whenever, and
by whomsoever
committed,
(based on OP 8
of R.2254 and
PP9 of R.
2139)
PP6 Being
appalled at
the fact that
the
implementation
of its
resolutions
2139 (2014),
2165 (2014),
2191(2014)
2209 (2015),
2254 (2015),
2258 (2015)
and 2268
(2016) remains
largely
unfulfilled,
recalling in
this regard
the legal
obligations of
all parties to
comply with
international
humanitarian
law and
international
human rights
law,
reaffirming
the need for
the full and
immediate
implementation
of all
provisions of
resolutions
2139 (2014)
2165 (2014),
2199 (2015),
2209 (2015),
2254 (2015),
2258 (2015)
and 2268
(2016)
including by
immediately
ceasing all
attacks
against
civilians and
civilian
objects,
including
those
involving
attacks on
schools,
medical
facilities and
the deliberate
disruptions of
water supply,
the
indiscriminate
use of
weapons,
including
artillery,
barrel bombs,
incendiary
bombs and air
strikes,
indiscriminate
shelling by
mortars, car
bombs, suicide
attacks and
tunnel bombs,
as well as the
use of
starvation of
civilians as a
method of
combat,
including by
the
besiegement of
populated
areas, and the
widespread use
of torture,
ill-treatment,
arbitrary
executions and
extrajudicial
killings,
enforced
disappearances,
sexual and
gender-based
violence, as
well as grave
violations and
abuses
committed
against
children
(based on PP.
5 and OP.1 of
R. 2258)
PP7 Noting
with concern
the report of
August 24,
2016 by the
UN/OPCW Joint
Investigative
Mechanism to
Investigate
Allegations of
the Use of
Chemical
Weapons in the
Syrian Arab
Republic that
confirms the
use of
chemical
weapons in
Syria, looking
forward to the
supplementary
UN/OPWC JIM
report and
affirming that
those
individuals
responsible
for the use of
chemical
weapons in
Syria shall be
held
accountable,
(new, based on
PP4 of R.
2235)
PP8 Strongly
condemning the
widespread
violations and
abuses of
human rights
and violations
of
international
humanitarian
law, stressing
the need to
end impunity
for these
violations and
abuses, and
re-emphasizing
in this regard
the need that
those who have
committed or
are otherwise
responsible
for such
violations and
crimes in
Syria must be
brought to
justice,
(based on PP.
24 of R. 2258)
PP9
Emphasizing
that the
humanitarian
and human
rights
situation in
Syria
continues to
constitute a
threat to
peace and
security in
the region,
and will
continue to
deteriorate
further in the
absence of a
political
solution to
the crisis,
(based on PP
25 and 26 of
R. 2258)
PP10 Recalling
its intent,
expressed in
its resolution
2258 (2015) to
take further
measures in
the event of
non-compliance
with this
resolution or
resolutions
2139 (2014),
2165 (2014)
and
2191(2014),
(based on OP 6
of R. 2258)
PP11 Taking
note of the
joint
arrangement of
9th September
2016 between
the
co-presidents
of the ISSG on
a cessation of
hostilities in
Syria, and
welcoming
their
intention to
undertake
joint efforts
to stabilize
the situation
in Syria, with
special
measures for
the Aleppo
region,
PP12
Underscoring
that Member
States are
obligated
under Article
25 of the
Charter of the
United Nations
to accept and
carry out the
Council’s
decisions,
(based on PP
27 of R. 2258)
OP1 Demands
that all
parties to the
Syrian
conflict, in
particular the
Syrian
authorities,
immediately
comply with
their
obligations
under
international
humanitarian
law and
international
human rights
law, in
particular in
all besieged
and
hard-to-reach
areas, and
fully and
immediately
implement all
the provisions
of Security
Council
resolutions
2139 (2014),
2165 (2014)
2191 (2014),
2199 (2015),
2254 (2015),
2258 (2015)
and 2268
(2016), and
recalls that
those
violations and
abuses
committed in
Syria that may
amount to war
crimes and
crimes against
humanity shall
not go
unpunished;
(based on OP 1
of R. 2258)
OP2 Calls upon
all parties to
implement and
ensure full
implementation
of the
cessation of
hostilities as
described in
2268 (2016)
and its annex,
including an
end to all
aerial
bombardments
as well as the
provision of
immediate,
safe and
unhindered
humanitarian
access, and
urges the
co-chairs of
the
International
Syria Support
Group to
ensure the
immediate
implementation
of the
cessation of
hostilities,
starting with
Aleppo, and,
to that
effect, to put
an end to all
military
flights over
the city;
(new)
OP3 Underlines
the need for
an enhanced
monitoring of
the respect of
the cessation
of hostilities
under the
supervision of
the United
Nations,
requests the
Secretary
General,
within five
days of the
adoption of
this
resolution, to
propose
options to
this effect,
with a view to
a swift
implementation,
and encourages
all member
States,
especially the
members of the
ISSG, to
contribute to
the
information of
the monitoring
mechanism;
(new, based on
French
non-paper of
Sept. 22,
2016)
OP3 bis
Demands all
parties to
comply with
United Nations
requests for
humanitarian
access by
observing the
cessation of
hostilities as
described in
resolution
2268 (2016),
and that the
Syrian
government end
all aerial
bombardments,
in order to
facilitate
safe and
unhindered
humanitarian
access to all
of Aleppo by
the UN and its
humanitarian
partners,
recognizing
this requires
a sustained
absence of
violence as
determined
sufficient by
the UN and its
humanitarian
partners to
allow
humanitarian
assistance;
OP3 ter
Underlines
that
humanitarian
access should
be to the full
number of
people in need
as identified
by the UN and
its
humanitarian
partners, with
the full
spectrum of
humanitarian
assistance as
determined by
the UN and its
humanitarian
partners, and
evacuation of
urgent medical
cases should
be facilitated
by all sides
based solely
on urgency and
need;
OP4 Requests
further the
Secretary-General
to report to
the Council on
the
implementation
of this
resolution, by
all parties to
the Syrian
domestic
conflict,
every two
weeks; (new)
OP5 Reiterates
that the only
sustainable
solution to
the current
crisis in
Syria is
through an
inclusive and
Syrian-led
political
process that
meets the
legitimate
aspirations of
the Syrian
people, with a
view to full
implementation
of the Geneva
Communiqué of
30 June 2012
as endorsed by
resolution
2118 (2013),
including
through the
establishment
of an
inclusive
transitional
governing body
with full
executive
powers, which
shall be
formed on the
basis of
mutual consent
while ensuring
continuity of
governmental
institutions;
(PP 5 of R.
2254)
OP6 Expresses
in this regard
its fullest
support for
the Special
Envoy’s
efforts
towards a full
implementation
of resolution
2254 and urges
all parties to
the Syrian
domestic
conflict to
cooperate
constructively
and in good
faith with the
Special Envoy
to this end;
(based on §8
of the PRST of
August 17th,
2015)
OP7 Decides
that it will
take further
measures under
the Charter of
the United
Nations in the
event of
non-compliance
with this
resolution by
any party to
the Syrian
domestic
conflict;
(based on OP6
of R.2258)
OP8 Decides to
remain
actively
seized of the
matter.
Back on
September 25
as Inner City
Press in a
nearly empty
UN covered the
General
Assembly
debate on
September 24,
it heard of an
emergency
Security
Council
meeting about
Aleppo called
for the next
day, Sunday,
at 11 am.
When Syria's
Ambassador
Bashar
Ja'afari
spoke,
Samantha
Power, UK
Matthew
Rycroft and
French
Francois
Delattre all
left the
Chamber.
While French
Duputy Alexis
Lamek stayed,
the UK and US
were at a
lower level.
For the US,
Deputy
Michelle Sison
returned when
Staffan de
Mistura
replied to
Ja'afari.
Inner City
Press asked
Churkin about
the walkout
and he said,
Ask the
Ambassador of
Syria. So
Inner City
Press did, and
Ja'afari said
it “proves
they are not
Permanent
Representatives.”
Minutes later
on UNTV Inner
City Press
asked de
Mistura about
the walkout,
and for the
status of the
UN
investigation
of the strike
on the aid
convoy and if
it was an AIR
strike. He
said, No
comment on
either. Video
here. It's
come to this.
On September
26, Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq
about the UN
investigation
of the strike
on the convoy,
UN
transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: the
strike against
the aid convoy
in Syria, it
was a big
topic
yesterday in
the… in the
speeches back
and
forth. I
tried to ask
Mr. de
Mistura,
what's the
status of any
UN
investigation?
And when he
did his
stakeout,
what's the
status of any
UN
investigation
into the
strike on the
aid
convoy?
And he said he
had no
comment.
But I just
wanted to ask
you, as a
factual
matter: Is the
UN looking at
it? Is
it the UN's
position it
was an
airstrike as
opposed to any
other kind of
strike?
What is the UN
doing to get
to the bottom
of it?
Deputy
Spokesman:
At this stage,
as you're
aware, we have
no
on-the-ground
presence that
could conduct
an
investigation.
We would like
to receive any
relevant
information.
This deserves
to be fully
investigated.
As we've
pointed out,
any deliberate
targeting of
humanitarian
convoy would
constitute a
war
crime.
So it's the
responsibility
of the parties
on the ground
to be able to
provide any
relevant
information on
this.
ICP
Question:
But it… does
the UN believe
it's an
airstrike or
not?
Does it not
even… can you
not even make
that
distinction
between air
and…
Deputy
Spokesman:
At this stage,
as you're
aware, there
are many
contradictory
accounts of
what's
happened, so
we want a
definitive
account.
Earlier
at 10:40 am
arriving
despite Ban
Ki-moon's
Press eviction
order, the
Ambassadors of
Russia, France
and the UK
spoke on their
way in.
Russian's
Vitaly Churkin
was asked if
he thought the
calling of the
meeting was a
stunt (which
US Samantha
Power called
Russia's
meeting the
week before.”
We don't
accuse
anybody,
Churkin said,
we are too
self-confident
for that. Vine video here.
Inside the
Chamber, as
Samantha Power
spoke of the
airstrikes in
Syria, it was
hard not to
think of those
in Yemen, too.
France's
Francois
Delattre cited
Guernica, a
replica of
Picasso's
painting of
which still
hangs at the
UNSC stakeout
where
journalists
waited for Ban
Ki-moon's
delayed Cyprus
press
statement.
Russian's
Churkin
recounted that
John Kerry has
assured he
wouldn't go
public with
two Russian
planes over
the struck aid
convoy but
"other
agencies" in
DC leaked it.
Two days after
the UN
Security
Council
meeting on the
US-led
coalition's
bombing of
Syrian
soldiers in
Deir Ez-Zor,
the US
denounced an
airstrike on
an aid convoy,
below. Also on
September 19,
Saudi Arabia
hosted a
Syrian
opposition
event at the
Westin Hotel
near the UN,
Inner City
Press Periscope
here.
On September
17 an
emergency UN
Security
Council
meeting was
called by
Russia at 7:30
pm after
reported US
airstrikes
killed more
then 60 Syria
soldiers in
Deir Ez-Zor.
This came a
day after a
planned
briefing of
the Council by
Russia and the
US was
canceled. It
was also just
as UN General
Assembly week
began, with a
meeting of the
International
Syria Support
Group planned
for Tuesday
morning. Now
this.
Russia's
Vitaly Churkin
as he went
into the
Council told
the press he'd
explain “at
some length,
afterward.”
Then US
Samantha Power
arrived and
went straight
to the UNTV
microphone,
reading from
notes about
the loss of
life (Vine
here) (Beyond the Vine here) called
the meeting a
stunt, Vine
here, and
saying that
Russia's
spokesperson
Maria
Zakharova
should be
ashamed of
herself.
Russia's
Churkin
re-emerged and
criticized
Power for
speaking
before even
entering the
meeting. He
asked, Who is
in charge in
Washington -
the White
House or the
Pentagon?
Inner City
Press asked
Churkin about
quotes that
the Pentagon
would consider
"condolence"
payments to
the families
of Syrian
soldiers. He
said, It's for
the Syrian
government to
respond. Beyond
the Vine here;Vine
here
Afterward,
Inner City
Press was
locked out of
the UN
Security
Council
stakeout due
to the
eviction
orders of UNSG
Ban Ki-moon
and his head
of
communications
Cristina
Gallach, Beyond
the Vine video
here; NYT
here;petition
here.
Back on
September 9
when the UN's
Staffan de
Mistura and
Stephen
O'Brien held a
joint stakeout
in Geneva, the
letter from
NGOs breaking
off
cooperation
with the UN
was the
elephant in
the room.
But the room,
off-camera,
was either not
full or
ill-prepared.
The UN
moderator
called on
Voice of
America, which
had nothing;
she called on
France 24
twice, and
without
further
identification
“Egyptian TV.”
At the UN in
New York, Ban
Ki-moon's UN
has gone out
of its way to
break its own
rules for
Egyptian state
media, giving
never-present
Akhbar al Yom
the office
space from
which Ban and
his Under
Secretary
General
Cristina
Gallach have evicted
Inner City
Press, which
reported on de
Mistura's
hiring of
Ban's son in
law Siddharth
Chatterjee.
Chatterjee,
after using
threats and
more to get an
Indian pick-up
of that story
scrubbed from
the Internet,
has blocked
Inner City
Press on
Twitter. Ban
has given the
top UN job in
Kenya to his
son in law
Sid; now his
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric
refuses to
answer basic
Press
questions,
calling them “ridiculous
accusations”
and running
from the
podium.
The
podia or
rostrums in
Geneva were
both branded
“United
Nations;” as
de Mistura and
O'Brien began
speak, UN
Security
struggled to
raise a blue
UN flag behind
them. Branding
before all
else.
John Kerry and
Sergey Lavrov
were meeting,
even showed up
in one of
France 24's
two questions
- but at least
according to
their opening
remarks, they
had North
Korea's
nuclear test
on their
minds. And the
Next UNSG?
We'll have
more on this.
As Turkey's
August 24
military
operations
inside Syria
began, in New
York the
Turkish
mission filed
a letter with
the UN
Security
Council, which
Inner City
Press put
online here.
In the letter,
Turkey's
outgoing
Permanent
Representative
to the UN
Halit Cevik
cited not only
Article 51 of
the UN Charter
but also UNSC
resolutions
1373, 2170 and
2178. It does
not mention
the Kurds but
only DEASH
(sic).
Turkey's
letter states
among other
things that
“Turkey
initiated a
military
operation in
the early
hours of
August 24,
2016, against
DEASH which
has been
directly and
deliberately
targeting
Turkey.” It
states that
Turkey
respects
Syria's
territorial
integrity and
political
unity. The
word
sovereignty is
not used, but
“political
transition”
is.
Meanwhile a
journalist
from Turkey's
state media
TRT, also
apparently
outgoing, to
his credit
disclosed that
his interview
with Cevik's
Syrian
counterpart
Bashar
Ja'afari was
unceremoniously
pulled from
broadcast and
won't be
online.
As
noted, Ban
Ki-moon's UN
gives this
same Turkish
state media
TRT a solo
office, (for)
now next to
Egypt state
media Akhbar
al Yom, while
throwing the
independent
Press into the
street and
confining it
to minders.
We'll have
more on all
this.
On August 11
when the the
UN's third
Syria envoy
Staffan de
Mistura
invited the
media to a
question and
answer
stakeout on
August 11, the
turn-out was
decidedly
light. While
the UN used to
provide
interpretation
of stakeouts,
this time it
didn't.
Present
for a
predictable
question was
Voice of
America, with
which
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
spokesman has
worked to
evict the
critical Press
(one FOIA
document here,
more
forthcoming).
Ban finally
did the
eviction
earlier this
year, film
here. This
is Ban's UN.
In his
prepared
statement, de
Mistura added
a word to the
UN's old saw,
saying there
is no
“sustainable”
military
solution. He
quoted a
response the
day prior in
New York by
OCHA's Stephen
O'Brien - an
answer which
the UN
Department of
Public
Information
under Cristina
Gallach didn't
even include
when it put up
the video of
the OCHA
briefing
(which was
about South
Sudan, another
failure of
Ban's UN.)
More than
anything,
Ban's UN seems
to want to be
perceived as
relevant: it
wants to be
spoken with,
and to brag
about its
discussions.
De Mistura
told the
near-empty
stakeout about
his work in
previous
mediation. Ban
himself was
out in Los
Angeles,
bragging about
talks with...
Norman Lear.
This is
today's UN.
, 
