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UN GATE / SDNY, April 4 – With the United Nations largely failing on Ukraine, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield is in Moldova then Romania. When a press call was held on April 1 about her trip, there were only four questions, two from US government funded media, see below on reversal

  On April 4 in Romania, Ambassador Thomas Greenfield was asked: "Carla Del Ponte stated recently that the International Criminal Court should issue as soon as possible the highest (inaudible) following the war in Ukraine. So, my question is: Does ICC need a special approval from the United Nations in order to do that?"

As transcribed by the US Mission to the UN: AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: "The ICJ has spoken already and indicated that what Russia is doing is unacceptable, and we will continue to work with the ICJ as well as others to hold Russia accountable."

 But the question was about the ICC, the International Criminal Court, of which the US is not (at least for now) a member. We'll have more on this - as well as on UNSC "work."

  On April 3, this: "US Representative to (of?) the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield met with representatives of the UN country team and humanitarian organizations today in Chisinau, Moldova. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield and the representatives discussed efforts by UN agencies, international partners, and non-governmental organizations [and] ongoing cooperation between UN agencies and the Moldovan Government."

 The above is "attributable to U.S. Mission to the United Nations Spokesperson Olivia Dalton," for whom, this question:

  Isn't it the job of the UN to try to convince people what a great job it is doing - and the job of the United States' representation to the UN to ensure that people, particularly Americans, are treated fairly by the UN? Or whose job is that? What has been done on the written requests to USUN and the State Department via Laurel Rapp to act to end the UN's ban of US-based Inner City Press? Video here.

And, we asked, why no mention of Transnistria?

This came in a transcript from later in the day, canned questions from Reuters: "what further help can you provide the Moldovan (inaudible)?     

PRIME MINISTER GAVRILIȚA: We see no specific plans so far for engaging Moldova in this conflict." We'll see. Then:
 
Q: 'we all know that there have been troops along – 1,500 troops along Transnistria, but have we seen an increase in troops?       PRIME MINISTER GAVRILIȚA: As I have said, we have seen no signs of increasing the military contingent or any signs to plan to increase the contingent or any signs that would make us conclude that there are plans to escalate the conflict in Moldova.       AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Thank you so much.'

  So what does the US have to say about Transnistria?

 Inner City Press which covers the conflict, and the continued presence in Russia of Citigroup, MUFG and others, was not informed of the press call, despite receiving such notices and opportunities from the IMF (see here March 31) 

 An unnamed Administration Official was asked, "There was a call this week by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the USUN to start the process of ejecting Russia out of the Human Rights Council and the Security Council. Any response?" 

 The response did not mention any USUN effort in this regard.  On April 4 in Romania, this: "Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield also raised the United States’ intention to pursue Russia’s suspension from the UN Human Rights Council, in light of the mounting evidence that members of Russian forces are committing war crimes in Ukraine and following horrific reports about violence against civilians in Bucha." And the Security Council? And the UN itself? Vlog here

This while the UN Secretariat fields questions from state media but not Inner City Press, which it has banned.

The issued has been raised to the US State Department via Laurel Rapp in late 2021, pro bono by the Quinn Emanuel law firm - and still no answer at all.

We'll have more on all this.

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