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By Matthew Russell Lee, Periscope, song, II

UNITED NATIONS GATE, December 29 – On Western Sahara, when the UN Security Council's rare meeting began back on March 21, Secretary General Antonio Guterres' personal envoy Horst Kohler walked in with security. Asked if he would speak with the press afterward, he had one word: "No." He is based in Germany and has been allowed to spend public funds on his own holdover team, just as Guterres spends public funds to go to his home in Portugal. Now as Guterres' retaliatory ban on Inner City Press even entering the UN, now in its 178th day and based on a frivolous Morocco Mission complaint, in the New Yorker magazine (full disclosure here) there's this, by Nicolas Niarchos: Omar "Hilale, the Moroccan Ambassador to the U.N., invited me to his residence for lunch. The next day, I was ushered into a limestone town house on the Upper East Side of Manhattan by a butler in a tuxedo, who took me to a lushly decorated sitting room where he offered me a selection of juices. After my experience on the plane in Laayoune, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but, when Hilale arrived, with a short mustache and wearing a brown jacket, he was charming." Note - this is the Hilale whose Mission filed a false complaint to get the Press banned from the UN, walks by Press questions at the Delegates Entrance Gate with white headphones on.
 
  The New Yorker continues: "Over a lunch of chicken tagine and couscous, Hilale told me that the Western Sahara conflict was a “residue of the Cold War.” I asked him why I had been expelled from Laayoune, and he said that I didn’t have the correct permissions. He told me that Moroccan rule has brought prosperity to the former Spanish backwater. “Roads, airports, hospitals are under way,” he said. When I asked about Bolton, and the increased engagement with the issue from the U.S. in the past couple of months, he pointed to the closeness of the ties between the Moroccan government and Washington. He shrugged off the shortening of the U.N. peacekeeping mandate to six months, a process spurred by Bolton. “For us we work with it, if they want six months, O.K. They want one year, it’s O.K. for Morocco,” he told me. “Our bilateral relationships are so strong that they will never be jeopardized by any person.”

  We'll see. For now, here's a song.

  Before the December 19 UN noon briefing Inner City Press in writing asked Guterres, his Spokesman Stephane Dujarric and Global Communicator Alison Smale who promised answers, questions including this: "December 19-3: On Western Sahara, confirm SG receipt of and state his response to letter of Polisario urging him to clear “mines that threaten the lives of Saharwis” and that on Friday, December the 14th, two mines caused the “death of a Sahrawi man and serious injuries to others”? Dujarric didn't read out the question the way for example even the IMF does with Inner City Press' questions; he entertained questions from pro-Morocco scribes to which he and Guterres and Smale give UN office space even if they write no articles. Today's UN is corrupt. Chinese and Moroccan state media bragged about Guterres' meeting with Morocco's King about Western Sahara - a meeting of which Guterres' opaque and increasingly corrupt UN provided no read out. Xinhua reports that On the Western Sahara dispute, the Moroccan king reiterated to Guterres "the support of Morocco for efforts made by the secretary general and his personal envoy to reach a final political solution to this regional dispute." And from Guterres? Nothing. On December 6 from the Geneva talks the Frente POLISARIO said it "is deeply concerned by the EU Commission's sustained, illegal and uncompromising efforts to secure trade deals with Morocco which include the territory of Western Sahara in violation of the rulings of the European Court of Justice. Such an approach, which clearly preempts and undermines the outcome of negotiations, defies logic. We urge European leaders to use this window of opportunity to invest their efforts into the UN Peace Process, and use trade constructively as a positive incentive for peace." We'll have more on this - for now we note the silent of UNSG Antonio Guterres, who not only may be eating this fish but is making a deal with Morocco in light of its hosting the migration meeting, a bit akin to his troubling multiply sources deal with Cameroon to ignore Biya's slaughter with Cameroon chairing the UN Budget Committee. Back on November 28 Norway announced it will end its divestment in Cairn Energy and Kosmos Energy - because both say they have discontinued exploitation of the natural resources of Western Sahara. Thus, Norway Government Pension Fund Global will no longer exclude them. Meanwhile, as if in a parallel UNethical world, the UN of Antonio Guterres has refused to answer Inner City Press' weeks old question about the long luxury stay in Morocco by Guterres Under Secretary General Catherine Pollard, despite the "promise" by Guterres' USG for Global Communications Alison Smale to UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression David Kaye that Inner City Press' written questions would be answered so that the UN could claim, despite banning Inner City Press from entering the UN and asking questions are their now-lame noon briefing, that Guterres somehow respects freedom of the press. He does not. We will have more about the upcoming talks, even as we cover the UN bribery trial that began November 26. As Inner City Press puts its questions, until Guterres' ghoulish ban ends, at the UN Delegates Entrance and gets some answers, Morocco's delegation after their false complaint was used in part to ban Inner City Press answers nothing. Watch this site. On October 31 there were three abstentions to the adoption of Resolution 2440, extending MINURSO for six months. Guterres' UN, or his Alison Smale's DPI, refused to send the resolution to banned Inner City Press until long after it was given to Moroccan and French state media. On November 8 for the noon briefing it remains banned from by Guterres for the 127th day, Inner City Press sent this question in writing to Guterres, his Nigerian Deputy SG, Smale, and two spokesmen including Stephane Dujarric: "November 8-4:  On Western Sahara, what is the SG's comment and action, and separately that of his Personal Envoy Horst Kohler, at the “business” conference last week regarding which Polisario have in an open letter to the SG called an example of Morocco's "hostile expansionist policy”? Also, please explain why USG Pollard is in Morocco, how long she has been there and at what cost? This close to the Migration Meeting, what is the need for a USG rather than technical team to be there? Is taking Morocco's money for this a conflict of interest given the UN's purported role in holding a referendum on Western Sahara independence?" No answer, typically, while AFP and others blather on in the briefing. This is today's UN under Guterres. Back on October 31 at the stakeout, Morocco's PR Omar Hilale took handpicked questions from correspondents already handpicked by Guterres and Smale: Morocco state media, retirees, France 24. It was a fake-out at the stakeout. Hilale bragged that referendum is no longer on the table - that is, that the UN under Guterres has finally fully broken its promise. Why would anyone believe Guterres' UN in the future? Here were Inner City Press' questions to Hilale before it was ousted (with Smale using a false complaint from Morocco's Mission to the UN and her own bitter deputy), on YouTube, and here's a song. The UN, with censorship in New York including beyond the UN's gates and with broken promises in Western Sahara, Yemen and Cameroon, is in steep decline. On October 29 the scheduled adoption of the MINURSO resolution was taken off the UN Security Council schedule - nor was it on for October 30. So it will be done, or rolled over, right at the October 31 deadline. Even with Inner City Press banned by Guterres, a Council diplomat to whom we're giving and will always give anonymity told Inner City Press, "The experts met today to discuss the draft. The major issue is the time frame for mandate renewal. The US is saying six months but France is arguing for one year renewal. There are also other issues. Reference to the neighbors and the issue of self determination - the need for it to be clearly stated like in the past, so on and so forth. We’ll see how the US is going to accommodate all the comments expressed during the negotiation. Revised text to be circulated tomorrow." We are grateful for the assessment and pass it on in the public interest; watch this site. Back on October 11, Guterres' ban  excluded Inner City Press from the Council's consultations on Western Sahara (before which French Ambassador Francois Delattre said "On MINURSO, we believe the current trend, the current dynamic is positive") - as well as the testimony in the UN's Fourth (Decolonization) Committee, the public record reflects that Guterres and Catarina Vaz Pinto who has not moved to New York went on what was called a "business" honeymoon -- to Morocco. See here, referring to "honeymoon in Morocco, though it is believed the Prime Minister will be dealing with business which is not necessarily 'unofficial.'" Now in France charges have been filed with the State Prosecutor at the High Court of Paris for "colonization crimes" against BNP Paribas, Société Générale (both late linked with MBS' Davos in the Desert even post Khashoggi), Crédit Agricole, airlin Transavia, French Dutch airline  France-KLM, AXA and UCPA, which runs surf competitions in Dakhla. They are  was based on the two rulings pronounced by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in January 2016 and February 2017. This is Morocco and its trolls glory in the lawless move by Guterres to have Inner City Press roughed up and banned now for 110 days and counting. It only strengthens ours resolve to report. Guterres is ingratiating himself to Morocco in the run up to the migration compact conference, not unlike his silence on the slaughter in Cameroon to gain support of Paul Biya's ambassador Tommo Monthe as chair of the UN Budget Committee. In the Fourth Committee, a women who linked herself to the US Department of Justice gave a speech about crime in what she called the "Tindorf" camps.  This as the Vice Chairman of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, Anders Primdahl Vistisen of Denmark claims the EU-Morocco draft agreement "does not provide for the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara." The honeymoon is over. Watch this site.  The African Union reportedly wants to re-open its office in the UN's MINURSO mission, from which it might for example monitor human rights as the UN does not - this while Guterres awards free access and office space to numerous Morocco state media while restricting Inner City Press and coming up, through his spokesman Stephane Dujarric and ironically Al Jazeera, with pretexts to threaten more restrictions, here. The basis for Guterres' position? Morocco will host "his" migration meeting and he needs them, just as he needed the Cameroonian chair of the UN Budget committee and so went silent on slaughter of Anglophones there. On June 22, Guterres' UN guard, with automatic weapons with them, ousted Inner City Press from the UN during an event at which Guterres gave a speech. Video here, story here, new petition here.new petition here.new petition hThere was Morocco diplomat angle, here. Then on July 3, a more violent ouster from covering the UN Budget Committee, and a ban since, made permanent by Guterres' "Global Communicator" Alison Smale on August 17 without any due process. On September 17, a US read out with Morocco's foreign minister included Iran by name - but not Western Sahara: "Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met today with Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Nasser Bourita.  They discussed opportunities to expand our strong economic and security cooperation, including shared efforts to end Iran’s support for terrorism and counter its malign influence in the region. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Bourita agreed to hold the next session of the U.S.-Morocco Strategic Dialogue in Washington next year.  They also discussed other regional and international issues." Some wonder, on all of the above, where is John Bolton? Back on August 1 for UK Ambassador (and incoming UNSC President) Karen Pierce's "press" conference from which Inner City Press was banned, it submitted this question to the UK Mission: "on the agenda there's Western Sahara on the afternoon of Wednesday 8 August. Last month Sweden said at the beginning of the month that it would be seeking agreed Press Elements from every consultation. Will the UK be seeking Press Elements from this Western Sahara consultation? And if not, why not?  if it could be read out and Amb Pierce answer it on camera it would be appreciated." But the question was not read out at the Press-less press conference at which the UK called on many state media. Nor was it answered when submitted a second time. At the UN Delegates Entrance gate on August 8 the Morocco delegation refused to answer Inner City Press' questions; inside the UN Guterres and his Alison Smale give multiple offices to Morroco state media, some of whom double as UN staff. In this context, here is Polisario's August 8 statement: "Today, Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Mr. Horst Köhler briefed the UN Security Council on his recent visit to the region and the next steps he intends to take. Taking note of the briefing, the Frente POLISARIO reiterates its commitment to cooperate fully with the Personal Envoy in the framework of the UN political process, and stands ready to engage in the negotiation process, as called for by the Security Council. The Frente POLISARIO is encouraged by the Personal Envoy’s efforts since he assumed office and urges the UN and in particular the Security Council members to fulfill their responsibility in line with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and in full respect for the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence. “The Frente POLISARIO remains encouraged by, and supportive of, the efforts of Personal Envoy Köhler to relaunch the long-stalled UN peace process,” said Sidi Omar, the Frente POLISARIO’s representative at the United Nations. “The people of Western Sahara, who still endure the horrors of the Moroccan occupation of their land, have waited patiently for too long to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. The Frente POLISARIO stands ready and willing to come to the negotiating table to achieve a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict of Western Sahara, which ensures the inalienable rights of our people.”"  In May 19 Guterres  issued a runic statement on Western Sahara, citing Kohler: "The Secretary-General is closely following the developments in Western Sahara. In accordance with Security Council Resolution 2414 (2018) adopted on 27 April 2018, and in order to maintain an environment conducive to the resumption of dialogue under the auspices of his Personal Envoy Horst Köhler, the Secretary-General calls for maximum restraint. No action should be taken, which may constitute a change to the status quo." Is this a reference to Tifariti? Guterres also claims to be following many other situations closely, even amid targeted killings the UN does and says nothing about. We'll have more on this.  After the April 25 vote on extending MINURSO's mandate was postponed, it was re-set for April 27 at 3 pm. And Inner City Press published the draft in blue, with six month extension, here on Scribd. When the vote was taken, not only Ethiopia and Russia abstained, but China too. Afterward Inner City Press asked Morocco's Ambassador Omar Hilale about the abstentions - he said they will be forgotten - and about Paragraphs 69 and 52 of the UN report, on harassent of human rights defenders and restrictions on MINURSO. Hilale said to ask the UN for Morocco's response. He then held up flyers of a tank, a modified pick up truck and an automatic weapons, saying that Algeria buys these rather than feeding people. Inner City Press asked him about the Rif in Morocco - he acknowledged that more could be done, spoke of discipline on some ministers. Finally Inner City Press asked him about resources, fish and phosphate. He answered, this round, only about fish, saying that the EU is re-writing its agreement to explicitly including Western Sahara. Human rights indeed. At the stakeout there were, multiple Morocco state media given full access, unlike Inner City Press, and UN DPI's Hua Jiang who is responsible, along with Alison Smale, for this lawless disparity. Inner City Press pursued it, alone, to the UN Security Council stakeout on April 26 where staff said it'd be Monday, then to the UN basement where the Council's President Peru told it, Maybe before. Only a six month extension, to be revisited in October. All that pressure for this. Amid escalating spin in the run-up to the slated extension the MINURSO mission - with the R for Referendum still not carried out - on April 18, after Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric entertained questions from multiple of the Moroccan state media the UN gives office space and full access to, Inner City Press asked, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: Morocco seems to be claiming that both Bir Lehlou and Tifariti are… where the UN has team sites are located within the buffer zone.  Frente Polisario says that's entirely false.  Obviously, this is a dispute about where these meetings take place.  What I wanted to know, it should be pretty straightforward for the UN to say, given how long it's had a mission there, are these two sites, Bir Lehlou and Tifariti, are they within the buffer zone or, as stated otherwise, are they not in the buffer zone?

Spokesman:  I don't have any new language on Western Sahara, so I'll get back you to." And the next day, April 19, he came to the briefing and said "I can say that neither Bir Lahlou nor Tifariti fall within the buffer strip." Asked and answered.

Inner City Press has exclusively published the marked up new Security Council draft resolution, here on Scribd and attached here on Patreon. Now just before the Security Council vote comes a detailed report on the export of phosphorus from Morocco occupied Western Sahara. From the report: "A remarkable development of 2017 is the arrest in South Africa of a vessel carrying phosphate rock from Western Sahara to a New Zealand based importer, and the South African High Court placing rightful ownership of the cargo in the exiled government of Western Sahara. The effect on the trade has been noticeable. Three previously long-term importers seemingly stopped buying after this incident, and the transit
routes were shifted to abandon stop-overs in Panama and South Africa." The full WSRW report is here. As published by Inner City Press, the UN Security Council draft now proposed that the Council “Expresses concern regarding the Polisario Front’s announcement of the planned relocation of administrative functions to Bir Lahlou, and calls for the Polisario Front to refrain from any such destabilizing actions." Was this really announced? On April 24, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: on Western Sahara, there's a draft that Inner City Press published it, and the draft, which I know you're not going to respond to, but there's a reason I'm asking you this.  One of the paragraphs in the draft, 2 ter, quote, “expresses concern regarding Polisario Front's announcement of the planned relocation of administrative functions to Bir Lehlou”.  And I wanted to ask you whether… given that… that, you know, MINURSO [United Nations Mission in Western Sahara] is there, are you aware… has there been a… a… a… an announced planned relocation?  What's your position on that?

Spokesman:  I think the…

Inner City Press:  I'm not asking about the draft.  I'm asking about the facts.

Spokesman:  No, I think the… whoever… whatever parties decides to change… relocate whatever they would want to relocate is up to them to announce.

Inner City Press: Right, but they… don't they… so, you're not aware of them telling MINURSO…

Spokesman:  I'm saying it's up to them to announce.  What is your other question?" And that's how the UN avoids questions.  Today's UN gives office space and full access to multiple Moroccan state media, including moonlighters as UN staff, while evicting an restricting underdogs. On April 4 after Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met Guterres -- who gave no read out, as has become his norm -- Morocco arranged a press conference, not in the UN Press Briefing Room but elsewhere. In it, Bourita reportedly threatened military action, and said Guterres spoke to the King by phone (again, no read-out) and to the President of the Security Council. Arranging this was the Moroccan Mission to the UN, which in its last public UNTV stakeout in the UN, last April video here, used the platform to criticize the Press for asking too many questions. Expect more. On April 5 Inner City Press asked Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric, UN transcript here: Inner City Press: a readou of the meeting that the Secretary-General had with the Foreign Minister of Morocco. There are these quotes from the Foreign Minister of Morocco after the meeting saying that all options are on the table; Morocco is considering taking up its responsibility to act if the UN doesn't.  Is it true that the Moroccan Foreign Minister threatened military action in the meeting? And what was the Secretary-General's response?

Spokesman:  Listen I'm challenged enough to speak for the Secretary-General, so I will not speak for any other parties.  The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed issues of mutual concern.  Including, obviously, the situation in the Western Sahara.

Inner City Press:   No, but, I mean, I guess if he's a conflict-prevention guy and…  and…  and the person that he meets with comes out of the meeting saying, I threaten to take military action…

Spokesman:  The Secretary-General's focus continues to be on prevention of conflict, and that's why he meets regularly with representatives of Member States.

Inner City Press: But I'm saying, with the Polisario Front, their representative at the UN, now recently deceased, with whom on the other side as a conflict-prevention man is Mr. Guterres speaking?

Spokesman:  "As you know, the death of the Polisario representative was very sudden, coming in the last two or three days.  I don't know if they have appointed someone to replace him."

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