|
UN's Concern About Investors Kept
Algeria Threat Level Low Before the Bombing, Some
Counter-Terrorism Reforms
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of
Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS,
June 30 -- Belated describing to
the Press his report on the bombing of the UN in Algiers back in
December,
Lakhdar Brahimi on Monday acknowledged that the UN takes into
consideration
governments' desire to downplay security threats. "It's a sensitive
issue," he said, because when the UN raises threat levels, "investors
stop going there... The UN takes that into consideration." Video here,
from Minute 9:39.
Since the
UN, particularly through its UN Development Program, operates on the
premise
that the only road to development is by building the capacity and
strengths of
governments, this runs counter to prioritizing the safety of staff. In
this
case, there were other conflicts of interest. UK Ambassador to the UN
John
Sawers told the Press on Monday morning that he is "not sure if the
choice
of an Algerian" like Brahimi "to investigate a bombing in Algeria was
the right way to go. Inner City Press asked Brahimi about the comment. Brahimi replied that he didn't think he was
assigned the investigation because he is Algerian, and that Algeria
didn't feel
it controlled the investigation. Judge me on my work, Brahimi said.
But his
report dodged the obvious question, of holding anyone accountable. That
task
has been assigned to yet another panel, this one headed by Ralph
Zacklin, who
the UN Staff Union on Monday called "an insider who has served as legal
counsel... with repsonsible for some sensitive political issues
including the
Oil for Food program, where he assisted in some procurement decision
criticized
by [Paul] Volcker." They question if this is a person who will
objectively
mete out responsibility.
Lakhdar Brahimi at UN on June 30, concern about
investors and accountability not shown
So far,
only David Veness has resigned. Ambassador Sawers sung Veness' praises
on
Monday, saying he will be hard to replace. Inner City Press is told
that Jack
Straw sold Veness on the job by saying it could take him to retirement. Who now will wants this hot potato? While
word on the street is Russian, it may be Poland's time, we'll see.
Counter-Terrorism
Changes Still Fall Short: Following a string of court
decisions criticizing
the UN's Al Qaeda and Taliban sanctions as violating the due
process rights of
those put on the lists, the UN Security Council on Monday extended the
sanctions with some changes, including committing to review all names
on the
lists within the next two years. Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador
to the UN
John Sawers if the reforms in Resolution 1822 are retroactive, and thus
might be used to try for
better outcomes in the court decisions questioning the sanction. They
are not
retroactive, Sawers answered, but they will help going forward. Video here,
from Minute 2:10. Costa Rica later said that it is not strong
enough in providing due process in the listing and delisting of those
subject
to sanctions. But Costa Rica voted for
the resolution, and as Sawers has noted, few reporters cover the
sanctions
anyway. UN Counter-Terrorism czar Michael Smith has yet to brief the
press. Ah,
accountability....
* * *
These reports are
usually also available through Google
News and on Lexis-Nexis.
Click
here for a Reuters
AlertNet piece by this correspondent
about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click
here
for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National
Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an
undefined trust fund. Video
Analysis here
Feedback: Editorial
[at] innercitypress.com
UN Office: S-453A, UN, NY 10017 USA
Tel: 212-963-1439
Reporter's mobile (and weekends):
718-716-3540
Other,
earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available
in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.
Copyright
2006-08 Inner City Press, Inc. To request
reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at]
innercitypress.com -
|
