From UNDP, Dry Talk of Moldova Drought, Cover Up of Moscow Fraud, Development Questioned

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, February 27 -- The UN Development Program briefed the press on Wednesday about its work in Moldova, in the wake of a drought last summer, while dodging questions of media freedom, corruption and engagement with regimes. Kaarina Immonen in her opening remarks said that Moldovan wine has been blocked from sale in Russia, causing economic hardship. Inner City Press asked if the cause was the drought, or rather some fall-out from Russia's position of support for the push for independence of the Transdniestria region, support which if anything will grow after other countries recognized Kosovo.

  Ms. Immonen attributed the blockage to "the quality of the wine," as challenged by Russia. But Georgia wines ran into the same problems, largely attributed to the disputes there about Abkhazia and South Ossentia. Ms. Immonen said that UNDP is only focused on "how it effects the population... the vulnerability of the people." Video here, from Minute 35:22. Is UNDP then trying to get Moldovan wine re-certified in Russia? Apparently not. From what Ms. Immonen said, UNDP appears to be a charity, a humanitarian and not development agency.

            But in other contexts, such as that of North Korea, UNDP has defended its engagement with dictators by saying that only with governments can development be done. So does UNDP work with the de facto authorities in Transdniestra? Inner City Press asked Ms. Immonen this question after the briefing, and she dodged it. Later, a UNDP spokesperson replied by e-mail that "on Moldova / Transniestria, UNDP works with the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the NGOs, local communities, and the private sector" -- that is to say, not with the de facto authorities of Transniestria. Ms. Immonen, when asked, said that UNDP has no staff there, only moves in and out with aid. In the drought they served 5000 there, to their credit. But where then is the development?

            Inner City Press asked for UNDP's position and work on media freedom, using as example the prison sentence threat directed at Constantin Tanase, managing editor of the daily newspaper Timpu, for "endangering public safety." Ms. Immonen said, we are here to talk about the drought. Video here, from Minute 40:06. But it was said at the beginning that other questions would be entertained at the end. Ms. Immonen never did answer the press freedom question. In the hallway afterwards, she said "that is one we will not comment on." A UNDP spokeswoman later sent by e-mail that "on Moldova media development, between 2002-2006 the United Nations provided trainings for Moldovan journalists in the following areas: Human Rights, MDG's, Child labor, Journalism ethics, Journalism during crises and emergencies, and Climate change." But what about saying something to keep journalists from being jailed?

Ms. Immonen with Moldova president signing, threatened journalists and wine not shown

            Ms. Immonen was the deputy resident representative of UNDP in Russia, in 2005 when fraud in that office was found. Inner City Press asked for an update, which Ms. Immonen at the end of the briefing provided. There has been "closure," she said. How? The matter has been "referred to the Russian authorities." But what did UNDP do? Inner City Press asked about two of the individuals involved, Stefan Vassilev and Tatyana Gorlach. "This is getting too specific," Ms. Immonen said. But the proof is in the pudding. Hours later, after again being asked about these names, UNDP's spokesperson said, "On Russia, I don't have anything new."  Why are we not surprised? This is, after all, UNDP...

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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

Because a number of Inner City Press' UN sources go out of their way to express commitment to serving the poor, and while it should be unnecessary, Inner City Press is compelled to conclude this installment in a necessarily-ongoing series by saluting the stated goals of the UN agencies and many of their staff. Keep those cards, letters and emails coming, and phone calls too, we apologize for any phone tag, but please continue trying, and keep the information flowing.

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