Morocco's
Hilale Tells
ICP Banned
Parliamentarian
Has No UN
Accreditation,
Sees Why “So
Many Don't
Like” ICP in
UN
By Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 7 --
The UN of Ban
Ki-moon gave
in to
Morocco's
demand to pull
out 83 members
of its MINURSO
mission in
Western Sahara
and has yet to
get most of
the returned.
And Morocco's
Ambassador Omar
Hilale on
November 7
approached
Inner City
Press and said
he understands
and agrees
with those who
"have a
problem" with
Inner City
Press, and
that a
parliamentarin
banned from
attending COP
22 in Morocco
was not
accredited by
the UN. Audio
here.
On November
5-6, after
three rounds
of questions
from Inner
City Press
about its
COP22.ma
website having
a map which
portrayed
Western Sahara
as a part of
Morocco, the
redesigned
website
dropped the
map. But
former star Diego
Maradona was
transported to
Western
Sahara, see
below.
And the now
map-less site
still contains
dubious
"information"
about Morocco
such as a
border with
Mauritania, see here.
And on
November 6,
Moroccan
authorities
reported
forced the
Vice-President
of the African
Parliament,
Suelma
Beirouk, to be
detained in
htne to leave
the airport in
Marrakech,
aboard a plane
to Casa
Blanca, where
they are
expected to
seek further
return to
Algiers.
The
Pan-African
Parliament was
part of the
preparatory
committee for
COP 21 - now
this, from the
"host" of COP
22.
On November 7
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman Stephane
Dujarric
about the
banning of
Suelma
Beirouk; he
said he had no
information,
adding
generally that
people should
have a right
to attend COP
22. Video here.
But four hours
later on
November 7,
Morocco's
Ambassador to
the UN Omar
Hilale called
Inner City
Press over at
the UN
Security
Council
stakeout and
said among
other things
that Keirouk
was not
accreditted by
the UN.
Hillale also
said to Inner
City Press:
You are
focusing only
on Morocco
(despite
stories on Kenya,Yemen
etc);
Have you said
anything about
the police
killing people
here? (Well, yes);
"I understand
why many
people have
problems here
with you." Audio
here, just
as Inner City
Press has
previously run
audio and
photos of
Hilale at and
around the UN
Security
Council
stakeout.
We'll have
more on this -
and now it
relates to
ongoing
targeted
restrictions
on Inner City
Press in the
UN.
So what will
be said about
this Banning?
We'll have
more on this.
On September
22, when Inner
City Press
asked
Morocco's
foreign
minister
Salaheddine
Mezouar about
MINURSO it was
told it is
already “fully
functional."
But when Inner
City Press
asked Ban
Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesman
Farhan Haq how
many of the 83
expelled staff
are back, the
answer was
only 25. UN
transcript
below.
With Ban
headed to
Morocco for
COP22 -- when
Inner City
Press asked,
his lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric had
no substantive
comment on the
killing of the
fish seller
Fikri, Vine
video here
-- Inner City
Press asked
Ban's lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
Morocco's
COP22.ma
website, see
below
This website,
replete with
UN / UNFCCC
logos, until
it was changed
over the
weekend had a
map which
portrayed
Western Sahara
as part of
Morocco. See
map [was]
here.
Inner City
Press:
I’m going to
ask you again
about this
issue of the,
the UNFCCC…
the COP22
where the
Secretary-General
was going and
this
website.
You said it
was a very
legitimate
question.
What is the
answer by OLA
[Office of
Legal Affairs]
whether UNFCCC
logo can be
used for a map
that portrays
Western
Sahara…?
[inaudible]
Spokesman:
I haven’t…
first of all,
the website
is, the
cop22.ma
website is run
by the
Moroccan
presidency of
COP
[Conference of
Parties].
Right?
We, obviously,
the Moroccans
are a partner
in organising
the COP.
UNFCCC has its
own
website.
I haven’t seen
any maps on
the COP22
website but
I’m happy to
see them. The
UN’s position
on Western
Sahara remains
unchanged
regardless of
what is maybe
on any
website.
ICP
Question:
I guess I’m
asking because
there have
been recent
comments by
Hans Corell,
the former
head of OLA,
saying that
the whole
thing is… is…
that these...
both the
turbines in
Western Sahara
and their
portrayal are
legally
problematic,
so I’m just…
[inaudible]
Spokesman:
The UN’s
position has
not changed.
But the
projects are
in violation
of
international
law and UN
principles for
responsible
business
according to
the former UN
Legal Counsel
under Kofi
Annan, Hans
Corell of
Sweden, done
without
properly
consulting the
people of
Western Sahara
or ensuring
that they are
the ones
profiting from
the wind
energy. Corell
has added that
Morocco’s
invasion of
Western
Sahara, and
the transfer
of own
citizens to
the territory
could be in
violation of
Article 49 of
the Fourth
Geneva
Convention.
After Inner
City Press'
noon briefing
questions, the
redesigned
COP22.ma
website
dropped the
map. But here's
Maradona -
we'll have
more on this.
A report has
been issued
about the
exploitation
of Western
Sahara by the
King and
German firm
Siemens and
Italian firm
Enel, here.
Morocco uses
its COP22
website to
greenwash
projects that
are, in fact,
in Western
Sahara, see
here.
Inner
City Press:
What I wanted
to ask you is,
as the
Secretary-General
prepares to go
to COP
(Conference of
Parties) 22 in
Morocco, it
has emerged
that… that on
the website
cop22.ma,
there are a
number of
projects that
are, in fact,
in Western
Sahara.
These are
projects
carried out by
Siemen's and
NL
[Enel]...
they're in a
territory
that's listed
in the Fourth
Committee.
So I wanted to
know, what's
the
Secretary-General's
view of these
sustainable
energy,
quote-unquote,
projects done
by Morocco in…
throughout
Western
Sahara?
And should
they be on the
COP22
website?
And should
UNFCCC [United
Nations
Framework
Convention on
Climate
Change] be
giving a…
a… CDM
certificates
for them?
Spokesman:
Let me take a
look at the
website.
I don't know
if it's a
website run by
the UN or by
the Moroccan
Presidency.
So…
ICP
Question:
What about
UNFCCC?
Should they be
giving these
CDM
certificates
for projects
that are, in
fact, built in
contested
territory?
Spokesman:
I have to… Let
me take a look
at it before I
say anything.
On October 25,
Inner City
Press again
asked Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: on
Western
Sahara, I'd
asked you
yesterday to
respond to
reports that
there was
police
brutality in
Laayoune
before Mr…
right on the
eve of
Ladsous'
visit.
You said you
might have a
readout.
So I heard the
readout, and
thanks for the
readout.
But, is there
a MINURSO
response to
published
reports that
people were
swept inside?
Spokesman:
I don't have
anything.
But he
did say
Ladsous is in
Paris.
On October 24,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you on Western
Sahara and/or
Morocco, since
Mr. Ladsous
went
there.
First, there
are reports
of, quote,
police
brutality in
Laayoune on
the eve of Mr.
Ladsous'
arrival,
people
protesting
being… being
abused by the
police.
There was
also… I saw
that, I think,
at least one
of Mr.
Ladsous'
announced
meetings in
Morocco did
not, in fact,
take
place.
Do you have a
readout of the
meeting?
And what's the
response by
MINURSO, which
apparently is
at least still
in Laayoune to
these reports
of…?
Spokesman:
I don't have
an update on
his travels,
but I do
expect one
shortly.
Five
hour later and
counting,
nothing.
On October 18,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's outgoing
lead spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: I
wanted to ask
you first
about the
Security
Council
today.
It was said
that… that
there's no
plan… Uruguay
helpfully was…
spoke before
and after the
meeting.
No one else
spoke
including…
well, from the
Secretariat
side.
So, I wanted
to ask you,
one of the
things that
the Permanent
Representative
of Uruguay
said is that
there's no
time scheduled
for
[Christopher]
Ross to return
to the
region.
He described
the political
process as
entirely
stalemated,
but did say
that Ban
Ki-moon will
go to Rabat
before he goes
to Marrakesh,
which I'd
asked you
about
before.
So, I wanted
to know, from
the
Secretariat
side, given
that his
envoy, Ross,
is apparently
blocked from
going to the
region, what
does the
Secretary-General
seek to
accomplish in
Rabat during
that
stop?
And can you
provide us now
a number of
how… is it
still at
25? What
is the force
level?
And can you
explain why it
is that new
staff are
being
recruited for
MINURSO
[United
Nations
Mission for
the Referendum
in Western
Sahara]? I
understand
that there's
some who have
retired, that
left, but
there seem to
be a certain
number that
neither
retired nor
were
reassigned
that are
simply being
paid to not be
back
there.
And was
Morocco
allowed to
hand-pick
which people
can return?
Spokesman:
No, the choice
of who works
for the United
Nations is the
choice of the
United
Nations.
The special… a
trip for Mr.
Ross is still
under
discussion.
As soon as we
have something
to announce,
we will do
so. The
Secretary-General,
no surprise,
is very likely
to attend and
will be in
Marrakesh for
COP-22.
I think that's
fairly… pretty
much an open
secret.
We'll announce
it officially
a little
closer to the
date.
And we will be
in a position
closer to the
date to
announce any
bilateral
visit that
takes place
with Moroccan
authorities,
but I can't
confirm
anything at
this point.
ICP
Question:
But, again, I
guess I wanted
to know, I
mean, you're
saying that
the UN makes
its own
selection, but
how can you
explain people
that were
ousted among
the 83 still
being paid to
not return
when you're,
in fact,
recruiting new
people?
Spokesman:
The… listen,
none of us
here have the
exact details
of people's
hiring or all
the jobs that
are being
recruited and
so
forth.
The Mission,
as far as I
understand, is
still not up
to full
capacity, and
we continue to
work towards
that end.
Well,
Inner City
Press is
informed as
follows by
sources:
"17 staff
members still
remain removed
from the
Mission of
MINURSO
following the
SG’s comments
while on a
trip to the
Tindouf camps
in March 2016,
the UN chief
had described
Morocco's
presence in
Western Sahara
as an
"occupation".
Now we see
recruitment of
new staff
members taking
place with no
movement on
returning of
the effected
staff. There
is no
understanding
why
recruitment is
taking place
at all levels
while
committed
staff are
effectively
paid to sit at
home whilst
absolutely
wishing to
return to
work.
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT,
FS4, 68069,
Deadline:
25/10/2016,
Department of
Peacekeeping
Operations,
LAAYOUNE,
The staff
federations
and unions are
continuously
endeavoring to
get the UN to
return the
staff to
Mission so
that it
returns to
full
functionality
as per the
Security
Council
resolution. It
is unclear if
this is the
United Nations
blocking the
return of
staff or the
Moroccan
government, no
one will
answer this
question and
the staff have
no clear
picture of
their futures
as
peacekeepers.
Staff have
families and
children who
were in school
in Morocco,
staff
abandoned in
countries due
to not being
able to return
to go on and
belongings,
property etc
remain in
country."
Inner City
Press: this is
now the fourth
time. I
guess it will
be the last
time. I
wanted to
know, there
was a letter
that the
Frente
Polisario
says, and has
told all of
the 193
members of the
Fourth
Committee,
that it sent
to the
Secretary-General
on 26
September
about an
election
that's now
being held
today, 7
October, in
Morocco, and
it's also
being held in
Western
Sahara,
including this
disputed
territory in
their
parliamentary
election… or
legislative
election.
I wanted to
know just…
did… did… was
it ever
checked?
It was said
three times
that you'd
check if the
letter was
received.
Was it
received?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I've
asked. I
don't have any
information on
this at this
point.
ICP
Question:
So they're
mis…
Deputy
Spokesman:
No. I
don't have any
information.
I asked a
question.
I need an
answer.
ICP
Question:
Then I guess
my question
would
be:
Given that the
UN's historic
and mandated
role on the
question of
Western
Sahara, does
it believe it
legitimate for
Morocco to
conduct a poll
for its own
legislature in
an area that's
on the agenda
of the Fourth
Committee and
is viewed as
its status as
being
unresolved?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, as I've
mentioned, I'm
asking, and
I'm waiting
for a
response.
I'll have to
see what I
get.
ICP
Question:
The election
is almost
done.
Deputy
Spokesman:
I can't speak
out before I
get an answer.
ICP
Question:
Who are you
asking?
Are you asking
DPA
(Department of
Political
Affairs), the
office of
[Christopher)
Ross; who
should I ask?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I've asked a
number of
offices.
I've gotten
nothing so
far.
On September
28, Inner City
Press asked
the UN's lead
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric if
Christopher
Ross will
travel tot he
region, if Ban
will meeting
on the topic
in the region
before the
climate change
meeting in
Morocco, and
what's the
plan to get
the
peacekeepers
back. He
referred
vaguely to an
"upward"
direction.
The POLISARIO
Front has
written to Ban
to complain
that Morocco
intends to
include
Western Sahara
in its
legislative
elections on
October 7.
Inner City
Press tweeted
the letter,
from the 38th
floor, here.
Ban is asked
to "intervene
immediately."
But on
September 28
Ban gave a
speech
apparently not
listed on his
schedule, on
at October 7
he will be
traveling.
When Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric about
the letter on
September 29,
Dujarric said
he hadn't seen
it but "could"
follow up -
but didn't, by
the end of the
day. Vine
video.
So Inner City
Press had to
ask again, on
October 3 --
still nothing
on the letter,
but there are
still only 25
of the 83
returned. From the October
3 transcript:
Inner City
Press: I
asked last
week a couple
of times about
this letter
that was
distributed in
the Fourth
Committee from
the… from the
Polisario
Front to the
Secretary-General,
dated 26
September, and
I just wanted…
twice… I guess
Stéphane
[Dujarric]
said he hadn't
seen it, but I
just want to
make sure, if
it's being
given out in
the Committee,
did it, in
fact, reach
the
Secretariat
about this…
upcoming
legislative
elections on 7
October?
And also, I'd
asked him and
may have asked
you before,
just to be…
maybe you'd
said 25 is the
number.
Is it still
the number of
only 25 of the
83 have been
returned?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Yeah, that's
where we
stand.
We continue to
discuss, like
I said,
different ways
of making sure
that the
functions of
the mission
are restored,
but as I
pointed out
last week,
we're not at
full
functionality.
Question:
Sure, and what
about this
letter?
Is there some
problem with…
was it not
received?
Because I
asked him
twice.
It was handed
out. It
says… it asks
the
Secretary-General
to get
involved in
the inclusion
of Western
Sahara in the
Moroccan
legislative
elections on 7
October.
So since we're
now 3 October,
I'm just
wondering, not
if he'll do
it, but at
least, has he
gotten the
letter, or
will he do
something?
Deputy
Spokesman:
I'll check
whether we
have it and
what sort of
response there
is.
Inner City
Press: there's
a letter from…
from the
Polisario
Front to the
Secretary-General
dated 26
September, and
they're saying
that the… the
protesting
that… that
Morocco would
include
Western Sahara
in its
legislative
elections on 7
October.
And they've
asked him to
get
involved.
I wanted to
know… they
passed it out
at [inaudible]
to the Fourth
Committee.
It seems to
be…
Spokesman:
I haven't seen
the
letter.
But I can
follow up.
Then to the
end of the
day, nothing.
This is
typical of
Ban's
Secretariat,
including
"Communications"
chief Cristina
Gallach, Spanish
blog here.
Earlier
transcript:
Inner City
Press:
last week, I'd
asked Stéphane
[Dujarric]
just to
provide the
number, of the
83 MINURSO
(United
Nations
Mission for
the Referendum
in Western
Sahara) staff
who had been
ejected or
evicted or
ousted from
Western
Sahara, how
many have
returned.
Do you have
that number?
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, in terms
of that, I
don't have
numbers to add
to the initial
group of the
25
international
civilian
personnel, who
returned by 26
July.
However, the
UN Secretariat
and the
Mission
continue to
expedite the
recruitment
process of
existing
vacancies.
The mine
action
component of
the mission
has also
finalized its
relocation to
Tindouf, in
order to
resume its
operational
activities.
In terms of
routine, the
Mission
continues to
operate under
existing
arrangements
and
procedures.
Full
functionality
has not been
fully
restored.
ICP
Question:
Great.
Thanks.
I guess I just
wanted to
understand, is
there… so
you’re… the…
the… the
people that
were actually
working there
at the time
that were told
to leave, are
they going
back, or are
you just
recruiting new
people for
positions that
were already
vacated at the
time that they
were
ousted?
I just want to
understand.
Deputy
Spokesman:
Well, some of
the people…
the lists had
a number of
discrepancies.
Some of the
people who
they had asked
to leave had
been gone for
some time, had
gone on to
other jobs or
been… had gone
back to other
areas.
At this stage,
what we're
trying to do
is do the
recruitment to
make sure that
all of the
tasks that are
needed to be
performed are
fulfilled by
people.
Back on
September 22
Ban's lead
spokesman
Dujarric would
not comment on
this. From the
UN transcript:
Inner City
Press: On
Western
Sahara, just
now, earlier
this morning,
the Foreign
Minister of
Morocco said
flatly that
full
functionality
has been
restored.
And so, I
wanted to
know, from the
Secretariat
side, have all
83 been
returned?
What is the
number?
Just
factually.
Spokesman:
I have no… I
mean, I heard
what the
Foreign
Minister
said.
I'm not going
to comment on
what he
said. I
will get you
an update of
what the
staffing level
is on MINURSO
[United
Nations
Mission for
the Referendum
in Western
Sahara] as
soon as I can
get one.
, 
