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By Matthew Russell Lee, CJR Letter PFTracker

UNITED NATIONS GATE, January 20 – On the proposed name change of Macedonia - FYROM, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on 1 October 2018 emphasized the importance of the referendum despites its low turn out. On October 3 at noon Inner City Press asked Guterres Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, "the SG said “The fact that an overwhelming majority of those voting supported the Prespa Agreement is important. The Secretary-General urges all political forces in the country to proceed with implementation through the country’s institutions.” What is the SG's comment on the turn-out being so low? Is this a mandate? Does the SG consider the level of turn out legitimate, given his comment?" Still no answer - despite Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric having said on September 28 that his Office is answering questions, here. Guterres has his own conflicts of interest, here. Now on 20 January 2019 this from the Personal Envoy  of the Secretary-General, Matthew Nimetz: "On 16 January 2019 the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia formally delivered to the Government of the Hellenic Republic a Note Verbale with reference to the Prespa Agreement of 17 June 2018, and related amendments to its Constitution, which states that it “has completed the necessary internal legal procedures for the entry into force of the Agreement, in accordance with its Constitution”. A copy of the Note Verbale was also delivered to me as the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General and signatory-witness to the Prespa Agreement.     Upon the notification by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia of the completion of the related constitutional amendments and its internal legal procedures for the entry into force of the Agreement, consideration and subsequently proceeding with the ratification of the Agreement by the Hellenic Republic, through its national processes, would be in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Prespa Agreement.     I look forward to completion of the process as outlined in the Agreement. As in the past, the United Nations remains committed to working with the two parties in finally resolving the difference between them.     New York, 20 January 2019." The UN has had this envoy on this so-called "name issue" between Greece and Macedonia or FYROM for years.  On June 12 he spoke of the agreement between the parties on "Republic of Northern Macedonia," see below. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who has typically left Nimitz' conflict of interest uninvestigated like China Energy Fund Committee, also offered congratulations on the deal. On June 26 FYROM / Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov has refused  to sign on, calling the deal a “criminal act” that violated the constitution. So Guterres' Global Censor Alison Smale's UN News Centre during the UNGA Week she and Guterres banned Inner City Press from reported that he "railed" against the deal. (Smale's story come with a UN Photo by a person to whom she also gives UN Resident Correspondent status and an office and the right to ask questions in the UN briefing room she's banned Inner City Press from: UN staff asking questions, Press banned. So much for rules). Now this, from the UN spokemen who've left 80 questions unanswered: "The Secretary-General takes note of the outcome of the consultative referendum in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia which was held on 30 September. The fact that an overwhelming majority of those voting supported the Prespa Agreement is important. The Secretary-General urges all political forces in the country to proceed with implementation through the country’s institutions.

The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to provide all necessary support, if required, both through his Personal Envoy and through the relevant UN agencies, funds and programmes. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General" Guterres is in India after his guards ousted Inner City Press from the UN during an event at which he gave a bragging speech.  Video here, story here, new petition here. On July 3, Inner City Press was roughed up against and "suspending;" on August 17 it was banned for life, with no appeal. Amid this outrage, on August 22 US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said, "Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met on August 21 with Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov.  The Secretary congratulated his counterpart on the historic Prespa Agreement between Macedonia and Greece.  The Secretary expressed his support for the Prespa Agreement, the implementation of which will allow the country to join NATO as North Macedonia and facilitate the opening of accession negotiations with the European Union.  The Secretary and the Foreign Minister discussed the next steps in the implementation of the agreement, including the upcoming September 30 referendum.  The Secretary noted the referendum presented an opportunity for citizens to voice their opinions on an issue of vital importance to the future of Macedonia." Back at the June 26 noon briefing, Inner City Press asked Guterres' holdover spokesman Stephane Dujarric about it, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: I wanted to ask you on FYROM [the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia], on FYROM, the Secretary-General had issued a statement congratulating what he said was a deal, and now the President of FYROM has refused to sign the deal, saying that it violates the Constitution there.  Does the Secretary-General have any updated comment?

Spokesman:  No, this is a… there is a process… there are a number of steps that have to be taken.  Obviously, there's a constitutional process underway in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as there is a Greek process.  We need to let that process play out fully.

Inner City Press: Does it require the President's signature?

Spokesman:  I think you… that's an issue for constitutional scholars in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and not for me." Nothing is a matter for him, including his own eviction of Inner City Press. Guterres had an undisclosed P5 dinner exclusively covered by Inner City Press, a meeting with Jared Kushner and now heads, by June 20, to watch Portugal - Morocco at the World Cup. We'll have more on this: no-confidence. Inner City Press has previously reported on Nimitz' conflict of interest, but got the chance on January 17 to ask him about it. Nimitz admitted his long time employer General Atlantic's stake in Saxo Bank but said he was unaware of its Greek subsidiary. Assuming arguendo that's the case, Inner City Press then asked the UN's lead spokesman Stephane Dujarric why the UN's "Ethics" office didn't even Google Saxo Bank and the parties Nimetz had been mediating between. UN transcript here and below. On June 12 Nimitz put out a statement: "I warmly welcome the announcement by Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev on finding a mutually acceptable solution to the 'name' issue. I would like to congratulate the parties for reaching a successful conclusion to the talks and for resolving the difference between them... It has been an honour having the role of facilitator between the two parties and I want to pay tribute to the Secretary-General for his unwavering support." Saxo. On May 25 the UN spent an hour setting up a UNTV stakeout for Nimitz to speak at 11:30 am. When he did he said nearly nothing - he used the word "workmanlike," which some in the Greek press wanted interpreted like St. Eliah / Ilinden - then refused to take questions. Next to him were the foreign ministers of Greece and FYROM, who as Inner City Press reported on May 23 had an encounter while both were delayed in the UN by the Trump visit's lock down of First Avenue. Afterward they milled around in the hallway, Inner City Press Periscope here. This is today's UN. On May 19, US Vice President Mike Pence has put this out: "Vice President Mike Pence spoke today with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to express appreciation for his leadership, along with that of Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, on efforts towards resolving the longstanding name dispute.  They agreed that the parties have an historic opportunity to resolve this issue and that time is of the essence.  The Vice President encouraged Prime Minister Tsipras to continue working with Prime Minister Zaev on a mutually-acceptable agreement.  Resolution of this issue would promote stability and peace in the region." On May 8, the UN hit a new low, issuing its shortest read-out, of a meeting it had not even announced in advance: "Note to Correspondents on meeting of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Matthew Nimetz, with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia The meeting is part of ongoing United Nations efforts to assist the sides in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the 'name' issue. New York, 8 May 2018." Nimetz should resign - and it seems his boss too. Later, this was released: "[RESENDING FOR TECHNICAL REASONS] Note to Correspondents on meeting of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Matthew Nimetz, with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia   Mr. Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, will meet jointly with H.E. Mr. Nikos Kotzias, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, and H.E. Mr. Nikola Dimitrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in Greece, on 12 May 2018. The meeting is part of ongoing United Nations efforts to assist the sides in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the “name” issue." Hardly better. On April 23, the UN announced that "Mr. Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, will meet jointly with H.E. Mr. Nikos Kotzias, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, and H.E. Mr. Nikola Dimitrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, at the United Nations Office at Vienna on 25 April 2018." And on April 25 there, Nimitz said, "As you know these meetings have continued for several months now, intensifying the talks between the two parties under the auspices of the Secretary-General.
We met today with H.E. Mr. Nikos Kotzias, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, and H.E. Mr. Nikola Dimitrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. We have had quite a few meetings, so we know the issues very well. The two Ministers speak with authority. We discussed the open issues between the parties, dealing with the “name” issue. It was an intense discussion, very cordial in personal terms. Both sides are very dedicated to reaching a solution. The process will continue in the next weeks. Thank you very much."  On and on, like so many UN files. Back on March 20, the UN announced that "Mr. Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, will meet jointly with H.E. Mr. Nikos Kotzias, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, and H.E. Mr. Nikola Dimitrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in Vienna on 30 March 2018. The meeting is part of United Nations’ ongoing efforts to assist the sides in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the 'name' issue."Round and round. On February 12, the UN announced that "Mr. Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, will meet jointly with H.E. Mr. Nikos Kotzias, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, and H.E. Mr. Nikola Dimitrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, at the United Nations Office at Vienna on 13 February 2018. The meeting is part of United Nations efforts to assist the sides in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the 'name' issue." On and on with Nimetz. On January 24, the UN without addressing the issue announced that "At the invitation of the Governments of the Hellenic Republic and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, will travel to Athens and Skopje from 29 January to 1 February 2018. The visit is part of United Nations efforts to assist the sides in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the “name” issue. " From the January 17 UN transcript: Inner City Press: at this Nimetz stakeout just now, I'd asked him about whether during his time with General Atlantic investment firm, he ever had a con… recused himself or had a conflict of interest.  And he said… he acknowledged that… that they had invested in something called Saxo Bank but said he didn't know they had a Greek subsidiary.  They do.  You can just go online and find it. So, what I wanted… what it made me won… think, it was good that he answered it, but who's in charge of looking at the potential financial conflict of interest of UN envoys like him? And I'm thinking of… there are a number of other ones. [Yemen, Burundi, Cameroon / UNOCA, UNOWA, etc.]  Is it self-regulation… Spokesman:  Obviously, all the envoys… all the envoys deal with the Ethics Office.  They are given advice.  They ask questions.  And, obviously, we expect… we expect them to ensure that there is no conflict of interest.  And I think Mr.  Nimetz was very open and transparent in answering this question, he also made the point that he no longer works for the company. Inner City Press: Right.  I agree, but it leaves me with the question, if he tells the Ethics Office, my firm at the time invests in Saxo Bank, who's the one that's supposed to just do a Google search to find the subsidiaries of Saxo Bank and find that one is in Greece? Spokesman:  Well, I think the… you know, I don't know about this particular case, but, obviously, our colleagues also look into each individual case." But that didn't, here.  When Greek Foreign Minister Kotzias spoke this week of resolving the issue this year, the reporting included no mention of the UN. So on January 4 Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Farhan Haq, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: the Foreign Minister of Greece, Mr. Kotzias, had sat down with reporters and said that the name issue he expects to be solved in 2018, saying this would remove a roadblock for former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Anyway, at least as written up, the interview doesn't even mention Mr. Nimetz.  And I'm wondering, can you give some description of what… I know he's been on this file for a long time.  What's he been doing recently?  And why would it be that the Greek Foreign Minister, in addressing the issue, the UN didn't even seem to be part of the picture? Deputy Spokesman:  I don't have to clarify what the Greek Foreign Minister would say.  That's really up to him.  For our part, Mr. Nimetz has been going about his work.  We've always announced whenever there are meetings conducted on the name issue, and we'll announce the next one whenever we have the time to give." How much is this costing? What with the conflict of interest? Now a week later on January 11, this: "Mr. Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, is scheduled to meet with Representatives of the Governments of the Hellenic Republic and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, at the United Nations in New York, on 17 January 2018. The meeting is part of the United Nations’ efforts to assist the sides in finding a mutually acceptable solution to the 'name' issue." Back in July 2017 amid the UN bribery case against Macau-based businessman Ng Lap Seng began, and following a UN Security Council visit to Haiti in which victims of the UN's cholera criticized the failure to follow though on individual reparations, Secretary General Antonio Guterres on June 28 announced that his Personal Envoy for the talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Matthew Nimetz would travel to Skopje from July 1-4 and then to Greece. UNsaid was that Nimetz is an advisory director of General Atlantic, which has a stake in a Danish bank, Saxo Bank, with a Greek subsidiary. Isn't this a conflict of interest? How does it relate to Nimetz' July 3 announcement, typical of today UN, that  after meeting FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov he "does not expect any dramatic breakthrough on the issue during the coming months"? Inner City Press inquired about conflict of interest with Secretary General Antonio Guterres' holdover spokesman Stephane Dujarric, who said it has all been disclosed. And? Now on July 14, this: "At the invitation of the Government of the Hellenic Republic, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Matthew Nimetz, is scheduled to meet with His Excellency Mr. Nikos Kotzias, Minister for Foreign Affairs, in Brussels, Belgium, on 17 July 2017. The purpose of the meeting, which follows the visit of Mr. Nimetz to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia earlier in July, is to discuss the way forward in the UN-brokered talks aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solution to the "name" issue." From the UN's June 28  transcript: Inner City Press: you said Mr. Nimetz, and I know he's been in the post a long time, but I've just sort of re-reviewed it, that he's going to Skopje and then may go to Greece.  He's still an advisory director to General Atlantic, where he's worked in the past, so it's a financial commitment that he has.  They actually have a stake in a bank that's in Greece, and I wanted to know -- from the outside, it seems like this might be problematic, I mean, or is it something that he disclosed to the Ethics Office?

Spokesman:  I think everything has been disclosed. 

    Well, no.

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