On
Yemen Amid UN
Envoy Slip Ups
in Bern,
Muscheidt
Mulled for
Post, Jan 14
By
Matthew
Russell Lee,
Exclusive
series
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 20 --
The UN
Secretariat's
bungling of
Yemen
mediation has
become ever
more clear,
according to
multiple
sources and
documents
exclusively
seen by Inner
City Press,
see below.
Things
have gotten so
bad that in
the talks in
Bern, despite
the happy-talk
Note
to
Correspondents
issued today,
UN envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
was repeatedly
accused of
merely
operating “for
the Saudis,”
while the
Saudi-led
coalition took
more military
action.
Now Inner City
Press can
report that
the
UN-facilitated
talks have
been such a
failure that
there is
already a
clamor to
replace Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed. Sources
exclusively
tell Inner
City Press
that among the
names being
mulled is
Germany's
Bettina
Muscheidt, the
European
Union's
Ambassador to
Yemen.
UN
insiders point
to Germany
having lost a
UN post when
Kim Won-soo
replaced
Angela Kane as
Under
Secretary
General for
Disarmament
Affairs. Achim
Steiner was
passed over
for the UN
High
Commissioner
for Refugees
post, in favor
of Italy's
Grandi.
Germany
already "got"
Libya with
Martin Kobler
- why not
Yemen too? And
what, they
ask, has
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
accomplished,
with all his
business trips
to Dubai? Why
will or would
January 14 be
any different?
We'll have
more on this.
Previously:
Inner City
Press obtained
UN envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed's
documents for
the delayed
talks in
Switzerland,
and
exclusively put
them online
here.
Envoy
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed proposed
that each side
have six
delegates and
six advisers;
on December 7
the UN
announced
eight
"negotiators"
and four
advisers on
each side.
Hadi announced
a seven day
ceasefire,
December 15 to
December 21,
or at least
that he'd
"informed the
leadership of
the Coalition
of our
intention to
cease-fire."
That would be
Saudi Arabia,
where now
Syria armed
rebel groups
are meeting.
Hadi as
teacher's pet.
The
UN on December
7 said, "The
UN Secretary
General's
Special Envoy
for Yemen
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
will convene
Yemeni
stakeholders
in Switzerland
on December 15
for a series
of face to
face
consultations."
According
to IOCA's
ground rules
published by
Inner City
Press, there
will be no
press access,
other than
photographs
with the
Special Envoy
at the start.
Delegates
shall not use
social media.
Only the
Special
Adviser can
speak
publicly, and
he is supposed
to be seen has
neutral. There
are “Ground
Rules,” also
put online by
Inner City
Press here.
The
ground rules
include that
the
delegations
should not
speak with the
media, or use
social media.
On December 4,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq
about these
proposals: are
they normal
for the UN?
Haq said he
would not
comment on
leaks. Video
here.
Back
on November
10, while
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon was on
the next to
last day of
his trip to
Saudi Arabia
to discussed
among other
things Yemen,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric to
confirm that
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed is not
even IN Saudi
Arabia with
Ban.
Dujarric
confirmed that
he is not
there, but
would not
confirm that
he is in his
native
Mauritania, to
which Inner
City Press is
informed he
flew on the
UN's dime, for
a vacation,
signed off on
by the top of
the Department
of Political
Affairs.
Inner
City Press has
reported from
sources dates
on which the
UN's envoy
went to Dubai,
purpose
UNknown. Given
his follow UN
enovy
Bernardino
Leon's deal
with the UAE,
this must now
be explained
and acted on
by the UN.
Inner
City Press previously
reported
on and
published the
Houthis'
letter denouncing
UN envoy Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
as little more
than a Saudi
tool. Now it's
gotten worse:
even Kenny
Gluck who
works for the
envoy and went
to Muscat
trying to meet
the Houthis
was unable. He
waited then
returned to
Riyadh.
The envoy,
meanwhile, is
said by those
who know him
to not only be
“laughably”
cheap --
putting in for
reimbursement
for an eight
dollar taxi
ride from the
UN to a
Mission on
67th Street,
for example --
but also still
involved in
the same
business for
which Inner
City Press
previously
dubbed him
“the
Fisherman” or
the “Fishy
Envoy.”
He has
traveled on
the UN's funds
to Dubai,
claiming he
would meet the
Houthis there.
Not only will
the Houthis
not meet with
him -- even if
they would,
they would not
be found in
Dubai, given
that the UAE
is part of the
coalition. In
any event, Abu
Dhabi is the
capital, not
Dubai. There
is
something...
fishy.
Now we can
report what UN
sources say
are dates of
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed's
travel to
Dubai: May 11;
June 3 and
June 5; August
1 and August
4; September
12-15; October
9-11; October
26; November
4; and
prospectively
November 10
and November
12.
What
are Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed's trips
to Dubai for?
Given the
UAE's offer to
UN Envoy
Bernarndino
Leon, while he
was UN Envoy
to Libya, this
question must
be answered.
Inner
City Press: I
wanted to ask
you something
on
Yemen.
It seems like…
I'd heard
this, that,
that the
Houthis won't
meet with
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
anymore.
They've
written a
letter to
him.
They've
published in
their own
newspaper
something
saying that
he's Saudi
aligned.
This Kenny
Gluck, who I
guess works
with this
office, left
without a
meeting in
Muscat.
Can you say
when was the
last time that
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed spoke
with the
Houthis?
Spokesman:
No. I
think the
discussions,
as the Special
Envoy said,
are ongoing to
try to get the
parties back
on
track. I
think in a
period before
these talks,
there will be
lots of
back-and-forth
about who is
willing to
speak to whom
and who is not
willing to
speak to
whom.
There's a lot
of, I
think,
gelling of the
situation.
Obviously, the
discussions
are ongoing,
and we're not
going to do a
play-by-play
of the results
of these
discussions
until we are
ready to
announce
something
firmer.
Inner City
Press:
I'd also heard
that he's
traveled a
number of
times on UN
dime to Dubai,
stating that
he's meeting
the Houthis
there.
And since
there are no
Houthis there,
I guess
because… is
that something
that you could
check?
What's his
travel…?
Spokesman:
I don't know
there are no
Houthis there.
Inner City
Press:
Well, UAE
[United Arab
Emirates] is
part of the
policy… is
part of the
coalition…
Spokesman:
The Special
Envoy is doing
the travelling
that he needs
to do, and I
have no reason
to question
it.
The Saudis,
asserting
control, have
told Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
to try to cut
Oman out,
sources tell
Inner City
Press, hence
the idea the
talks will be
in Geneva. But
what talks, if
the Houthis
won't talk to
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed or his
Kenny Gluck.
Some in UN
headquarters,
looking past
this failed
envoy, are
floating names
for a
replacement,
including none
other than
Kevin Rudd,
looking for a
long-shot
project to
raise his
profile. We'll
have more on
this.
On October
26 Inner
City Press reported
that its
sources
exclusively
told it of
a new low,
that the UN
brought into
Sana'a what
the Houthis
call two
members of US
intelligence,
with the cover
identification
that they work
for the
company
running the
former hotel
now occupied
by the UN.
But, the
sources say,
security in
Sana'a
recognized the
two and they
are now
detained.
On October 30,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
it, video
here, transcript here
and below.
Dujarric
acknowledged
he knew about
two
"contractors."
Inner
City Press: I
understand
you're making
this
distinction
that the
people flown,
you know,
worked for a
contractor
that maintains
the
building.
Obviously,
you're… I
mean, the
allegation by
those
detaining them
is they were
previously
with US
intelligence.
So, I'm
wondering, is
it… given that
the building
used to be
occupied by
the US
Embassy, what
is the
company?
What is the
name of the
company that
maintains the
building?
Spokesman:
It's called
DTF… no.
You know
what? I
don't have the
name of the… I
don't have the
name of the
company.
Inner City
Press:
Seems like you
probably… can
you…?
Spokesman:
No, I don't
know about it.
Inner City
Press:
You're flying
them.
Spokesman:
I'm not flying
them.
I'll see what
I can do.
Inner City
Press: I
read somewhere
that… that the
UN is trying
to get…
seeking the
release
through the
DSG [Deputy
Secretary-General].
Is that the
case?
Spokesman:
You know, the…
whichever
channels we
use are UN
channels.
I'm not going
to go into any
of the
details.
Inner City
Press:
Right, but
there have
been…
okay.
Here's a more
sort of
generic one on
this day of
protection of
journalists.
There was this
Manama
conference in…
to which the
envoy
apparently
attended,
because he did
some speaking
there.
And it turns
out that the
acting Foreign
Minister of
Yemen, Mr.
Yassin, had
two,
“respected
Yemeni
analysts”
asked to
leave, calling
them Houthis,
which they, in
fact,
aren't.
It seems, to
many people
who follow
Yemen, this is
kind of an
embarrassment
that people
were ejected
from a
conference,
and it showed
a lack… and I
wanted to
know, did the
envoy… maybe
he didn't say
anything that
I'm aware
of. But,
can you check
with the envoy
whether he had
any view of
whether it is
positive for
the process to
have people
ejected from
this
conference?
Spokesman:
"I don't have
any facts
about this
conference.
If I have
facts, I will
share them
with you."
Meanwhile
on November 2
the US
Statement
Department was
referring
questions to
this
UNresponsive
UN: "We’re
aware of those
reports. Due
to privacy
considerations,
I’m not going
to comment on
them...
I would direct
your questions
to the UN."
After Inner
City Press'
October 26
report and
October 30
noon briefing
questions, on
October 31
Reuters "reported"
a piece citing
an unnamed UN
spokesperson
about two
"contractors,"
with no
mention of the
Houthis claim
they work with
US
intelligence,
which by now
had also been
reported,
along with
Inner City
Press' October
30 Q&A
with Dujarric,
by Al-Akhbar.
But it's
worse. Reuters
initially
(mis) reported
that "'Two
contractors
have been
detained and
the Deputy
Secretary-General
(Jan Eliasson)
is looking
into it,' a
U.N. spokesman
said without
elaborating or
confirming if
the two were
American
citizens."
Then a day
after that,
Reuters blamed
the UN for its
correction to
"'Two
contractors
have been
detained and
DSS
(Department of
Safety and
Security) is
looking into
it,' said a
U.N.
spokesman."
Inner
City Press:
maybe you can
confirm or
deny that two
individuals
flew in to
Sana’a on a UN
plane have
been detained
by the Houthis
who accuse
them of being
US
intelligence
individuals.
What was the
protocol for
getting on a
UN plane to
Sana’a?
Does the UN
have a
position of
not flying in
intelligent
members of a
UN member
state?
Spokesman:
I'm aware of
two people who
I believe are
UN contractors
and their
situation.
I don't have
an update on
it. The
protocol for
flying on UN
planes and on
UN
humanitarian
flights is
pretty
clear. I
can give you
the
details.
We do not, we
do not
knowingly fly
in or out
combatants.
Inner City
Press: I
just wondered,
could you
maybe say what
kind of
contractors
they
are? I
heard and
reported they
were making a
building that
the UN works
in. Is
that true?
Spokesman:
That's my
understanding.
We'll
have more on
this.
Meanwhile the
Houthis are
denouncing UN
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmad and his
(mis)
representation
to the
Security
Council
regarding what
they agreed
to. This has
happened
before and the
goal seems to
be delay to
allow for more
air strikes.
There's work
of
mercenaries,
in essence,
including from
Colombia in
Aden, joining
the troops
from
ICC-indicted
Sudan.
A
new level of
dysfunction
was hit with
the deployment
in Aden of
hundreds of
troops from
Sudan, putting
ICC-indicted
Omar al-Bashir
on the same
side as the US
and UK. (Inner
City Press is
exclusively
informed that
"UN" envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
is working on
a similar
Saudi deal
with his
native
Mauritania,
see below.)
Now
Inner City
Press is
reliably and
exclusively
informed of a
letter,
drafted by
Saudi Arabia
and conveyed
to UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon by
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed, which
has Ban
thanking Hadi
and stating
that the
Houthis have
agreed without
reservation to
implementing
UN Security
Council
Resolution
2216.
They have not
- this is just
another
misleading
move by the
envoy, not a
third strike
but a fourth.
But more
fundamentally,
why would Ban
Ki-moon even
consider
signing a
letter that
was drafted by
Saudi Arabia?
Ban's Deputy
Secretary
General Jan
Eliasson,
arguably
undermining
the envoy,
recently
traveled to
Saudi Arabia
and then Iran.
Inner City
Press is
reliably and
exclusively
informed that
the Saudis
snubbed
Eliasson,
denying
several of his
meeting
requests and
finally
providing him
only with the
Foreign
Minister, just
before he
left. In Iran,
complaints
against envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
were lodged,
that he does
not have the
trust of the
Houthis. What
kind of envoy
is this? What
kind of UN?
After the UN
Security
Council's
praise of
talks
ostensibly
committed to
UN envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
was not
updated after
Hadi canceled
participation
in the talks,
then the Saudi
led coalition
bombed Oman's
Ambassador's
house in
Sana'a.
The Saudi
Mission to the
UN, doling
out
information
selectively as
always,
tweeted a photo of a
meeting
between its
Ambassador and
the deputy
ambassadors of
Security
Council
members the UK
and US, of the
EU - and UN
humanitarian
deputy
Kyung-hwa
Kang. What did
Kyung-hwa
Kang, if not
the
Ambassadors,
say about the
airstrikes?
The UN's envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed,
after
complaining
about his
leaked email
showing his
marginalization
from Yemen
talks, that
Hadi had
committed to
come to talks.
The Security
Council
praised him in
a Press
statement.
Then Hadi
canceled. It
is similar to
the UN's
ceasefire-that-wasn't,
and the failed
"talks" in
Geneva in
which the UN
never gave the
Houthis passes
to get into
the UN
building,
after allowing
them to be
delayed along
the way so
that Ban never
met them
(while meeting
with an
individual on
the US Al
Qaeda
sanctions
list.)
In many
contexts it's
"three strikes
and you're
out," in this
case faux
ceasefire and
two talks that
never
happened. But
the Security
Council has
not updated
its Press
Statement of
praise; some
members
apparently
simply work
around the UN
envoy. We'll
have more on
this.
On September 5
as airstrikes
on Sana'a
picked up
force, there
was no comment
from the UN or
its envoy
Ismail Ould
Cheihk Ahmed.
Nor on
September 6.
On September
7, the UN
finally spoke
-- not about
the airstrikes
but about a
leak.
On September
8, Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujrarric if
he was denying
the veracity
of the UN
email Inner
City Press
published,
below.
Dujarric did
not deny it. Video here. Inner City Press on
September 9
asked
Dujarric's
deputy, below,
on September 9
about Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed.
Inner City
Press
exclusively
reported the
following: on
August 27-28
in Muscat, the
US and UK, the
EU Ambassador
to the UN and
Saudi
intelligence,
met with the
Houthis --
without the UN
and its envoy
present, or
even sources
say aware of
the meeting.
These sources
say that the
UN's Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed was on
vacation in
his native
Mauritania,
and was
entirely out
of the loop.
On September
10, Inner City
Press asked UK
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft if the
UK had met
with the
Houthis and
GPC in Muscat,
without the UN
Envoy present.
Video
here.
Meanwhile
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
says the same
parties will
now meet with
him. Replay?
On September
9, Inner City
Press asked UN
Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq, video here, transcript
here.
The September
10 briefing by
this envoy to
the UNSC was
requested by
the UK -
which, it
seems, met
with the
Houthis
without Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed.
Sources also
note to Inner
City Press
that the Saudi
have "dissed"
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed,
relegating him
only to
meeting with
Saudi
intelligence,
not diplomats
as was
previously the
case with the
UN. This too
is
embarrassing
to the UN.
Perhaps
the discomfort
is with the
reference to
the US
National
Security
Council's
"Eric
Polovski"
(that is, Eric
Pelofsky)
being "on
board."
Another source
exclusively
told Inner
City Press
that in the
Security
Council's last
meeting on
Yemen, those
raising the
mounting
humanitarian
toll were
Venezuela,
Chile and New
Zealand.
Consider again
this, to USg
Jeff Feltman:
"Dear
Jeff,
Before
traveling to
Jeddah I held
two days of
meetings with
Ansar Allah
and GPC in
Muscat in
which I tried
to convince
them to
improve upon
the 10 points
which they had
submitted to
me earlier.
This was
necessary to
respond to
concerns in
Riyadh that
the
commitments to
the
implementation
of 2216 were
still
inadequate and
failed to
include
recognition of
the legitimacy
of the
government.
AA/GPC
agreed to a
new wording on
UNSC
resolution
2216 that
states
unequivocally
that they are
committed to
the full
implementation
of 2216, (see
document
attached) with
the exception
of article
which infringe
on Yemeni
sovereignty
and those
related to
sanctions.
In
addition, the
new text
includes
acceptance of
the return of
the current
government for
a period of
sixty days
during which a
new government
of national
unity shall be
formed. They
also accepted
to remove
references to
counter-terrorism
and the Saudi
border to
which the GoY
had objected,
as well as the
mandatory
support by the
international
community for
reconstruction
that was in
the earlier
version. The
latter was
particularly
opposed by KSA
and GCC who
did not want
it to be
interpreted as
a form of
mandatory
compensation.
Both Ansar
Allah and GPC
seemed
positive and
showed
considerable
flexibility.
My
meetings
followed two
days of
meetings
between the
Ansar Allah
and KSA
intelligence
officers which
were also
attended by
the US, UK and
Oman. The
discussions
focused on
possible
confidence
building
measures such
as a pullback
from border
areas in
exchanges for
a cessation of
airstrikes and
agreements in
which they
would cease
operations
within Saudi
Arabia. This
was the first
time that
Ansar Allah
have been open
to discuss
limited and
geographically
specific
agreement.
Although they
repeated that
the return of
President Hadi
would be
unacceptable,
they expressed
their openness
to the return
of the
government for
a limited
time. The US
Ambassador,
Matt Tueller
has been
keeping me
regularly
informed of
these
discussions,
which has been
most helpful.
The confidence
building paper
proposed by
the Houthis to
KSA is
attached for
reference.
Although
US officials
were
disappointed
that Saudis
had sent
relatively
junior
representatives,
they still
felt the
meetings were
positive,
largely
friendly and a
good way for
KSA to sound
out Ansar
Allah’s
intentions.
Ansar Allah
and KSA agreed
that there
should be
further
meetings with
hopefully more
senior
representation
although no
dates were
agreed. The
meetings
unfortunately
shed very
little new
light on KSA’s
strategy in
the conflict
or their
willingness to
support a
negotiated
settlement in
the near
future.
The
meetings in
Muscat were of
course heavily
influenced by
the military
developments
in Yemen. The
coalition has
not been able
to make rapid
progress since
their
successes in
Aden, Abyan
and Shabwa in
August. Taiz
remains
contested and
there are
reports that
Ansar Allah
has regained
some territory
which had been
lost in the
past week. The
coalition’s
difficulties
moving
northward
suggest that
an assault on
Sanaa would
likely be
difficult and
time-consuming
than they had
previously
expected.
The
instability
and violence
which have
plagued Aden
following its
capture is
likely also a
source of
concern. The
mostly
pro-independence
Hiraak
fighters are
unwilling to
cooperate
fully with the
GoY in
attempts to
expand
northward.
This leaves
the coalition
dependent on
ground troops
from Islah,
Salafi and
AQAP related
groups, which
UAE is
reluctant to
support.
Conclusion:
I
believe,
following my
discussions in
Muscat, that
we now have a
strong
opportunity to
obtain a peace
deal, and
avoid a
violent
confrontation
in Sanaa, for
the following
three main
reasons:
i) The
revised paper
(attached) is
much stronger
and contains
serious
concessions by
the H/GPC. It
will be
difficult, at
this stage, to
push them
towards
further
concessions.
ii)
The recent
slower advance
of the GoY
affiliated
forces around
Taez and
Maarib could
also offer
another
opportunity.
iii)
The on-going
insecurity and
lawlessness in
Aden, and the
increased
visibility of
AQAP in Aden
region in the
aftermath of
the liberation
of the city by
the GoY and
Coalition
forces, has
started to
raise serious
concerns for
UAE, and in
some KSA
circles.
In
light of the
above, I have
reached the
conclusion
that we should
now move
towards a new
round of
direct talks,
two and half
months after
our first
round in
Geneva. My
recent
shuttling has
now reached a
point whereby
it is becoming
somewhat
transactional
with the
Special Envoy
obtaining a
paper from one
side and
seeking
comments/acceptance
by the other
side. I do not
think we can
sustain this
and I
recommend we
move to a more
strategic
phase. I
recommend
holding this
next round of
talks in Oman
Sultanate as a
first choice,
which seems to
be acceptable
to the Omanis
and all
parties,
especially
KSA. My second
proposed
option would
be Kuwait,
however the
Houthis are
still hesitant
about this
potential
venue.
Ideally, we
should aim at
holding this
meeting before
Eid.
My
discussions in
Jeddah and
Riyadh will be
explicitly in
favour of
moving to
peace talks
phase as
opposed to
continuing
this shuttling
around
papers/proposals.
I have first
indications
that Abu Ali
and Matt
Tueller are
supportive of
this new
approach. In
this regard,
it was
important to
time my visit
to Jeddah
before the
meeting
between King
Salman and
President
Obama
tomorrow. Eric
Polovski –
White House
NSC – who was
just recently
in Muscat is
also fully on
board on this.
I am
conscious that
the
implementation
of this new
proposal
depends very
much on the
GoY's openness
and the KSA
genuine
support (and
not only on
what I am
hearing from
Abu Ali). But
this proposal
is also the
only way to
keep the UN's
efforts at the
center of the
mediation
process and to
avoid a
fatigue among
our various
stakeholders,
especially the
H/GPC. This is
why I once
again need the
support of the
SG and the P5.
Best
regards.
Ismail
Muscat
Principles for
a Solution to
the Political
Crisis in
Yemen
Commitment by
all parties to
implement
relevant UNSC
resolutions
including
resolution
2216,
according to
an
implementation
mechanism to
be agreed
upon, and
without
infringing on
national
sovereignty,
and with
reservations
regarding the
sanctions
against Yemeni
citizens.
A
permanent and
comprehensive
cease-fire by
all parties
with the
withdrawal of
all armed
groups and
militias from
the cities,
according to
an agreed
mechanism to
avoid any
security and
administrative
vacuum along
with lifting
of the land,
sea and air
blockade.
Agreement
on neutral
monitoring
instrument in
order to
verify
implementation
of the
mechanisms
mentioned
above that
will be agreed
upon, under
the auspices
of the United
Nations.
To
respect
international
humanitarian
law, including
the elements
relating to
the protection
of civilians
and the
release of
prisoners and
detainees from
all parties,
including
those
mentioned in
UNSC
resolution,
and to
facilitate
humanitarian
relief and
allow the
entry of
commercial
goods, food,
medical
supplies, oil
derivatives
and other
essential good
without
restriction.
Kaled Bahah’s
government,
formed by
consensus,
returns and
performs its
tasks as a
caretaker
government for
a period not
extending 60
days, during
which a
government of
national unity
is formed, in
a way that
does not
violate the
constitution.
To
resume and
accelerate
United
Nations-brokered
negotiations,
according to
the UNSC
resolution.
All
parties are
obliged to
hand over
heavy weapons
to the State
in accordance
with the
outcomes of
the
Comprehensive
National
Dialogue."
Note:
the "Eric
Polovski" in
the above
would seem to
be Eric
Pelofsky. Just
saying.
On August 7
Inner City
Press was
informed that
as Houthis and
Saleh's GPC
headed to Oman
for
consultations
on August 8
and 9, the
UN's
replacement
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed was not
even initially
invited. He
had to beg to
get included,
which after
sweating has
been allowed,
in the run-up
to his
briefing on
August 12 to
the Security
Council.
On
August 12,
Inner City
Press asked
Yemen
Permanent
Representative,
outside the
Council
meeting,
questions
ranging from
the
destruction of
schools and
health care
facilities in
Sa'ada by
Saudi
airstrikes to
when,
according to
him, the
Houthis might
be "driven"
out of Sa'ana.
Video
here. He
said in a few
weeks - and
added that the
Oman talks
were "not UN."
So
how then might
the parties
negotiate? UN
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric said
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
was headed
back to
Riyadh. That
seems to be
his base,
where he works
from - and
for? Watch
this site.
Oman has
received murky
thanks for
France for
facilitating
the release of
a hostage, who
was working
for the Social
Development
Fund there.
Did Oman pay
for France? Or
will others be
released, as
France brought
about in Mali?
On July 28,
Inner City
Press asked
Saudi Arabia's
Permanent
Representative
about Mokha or
Mocha; he
replied that
previous
allegations
about Saudi
airstrikes on
Old City
Sana'a and on
a palace in
Aden once used
by Queen
Elizabeth had
been proven
untrue. We'll
have more on
this.
Inner City
Press asked
Yemen's
representative
about the
talks in Cairo
involving the
United Arab
Emirates,
allies of
former
president
Saleh and,
it's said, the
US and UK. He
replied that
the Yemeni
government -
in exile -
deals through
formal
channels, the
GCC or UN.
He might have
been asked,
which foreign
minister is he
reporting to:
the one named
by Hadi, or
the one - his
predecesor -
named by
Bahah? We'll
have more on
this as well.
After
publishing its
multi-sourced
story, Inner
City Press on
July 22 asked
the UN's
Associate
Spokesperson
about new APC
and weapons in
Aden, and if
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
is on
vacation. Video here. She replied that she
would check -
but did not
revert with
any response
either way.
So on July 23,
amid reports
that without
Cheikh Ahmed
or any UN
presence talks
were occurring
about Yemen in
Cairo, Inner
City Press
asked,
here.
Inner City
Press asked
the UN where
Cheikh Ahmed
is. UN Deputy
Spokesperson
Farhan Haq
told Inner
City Press
that he has
been "planning
his travels,"
soon to
Riyadh. Yeah,
Inner City
Press was told
by another
less
constrained
but at least
as
knowledgeable
source:
planning his
future travels
while already
on vacation.
Another source
compared it to
then UN envoy
to Pakistan
Jean-Maurice
Ripert going
on vacation
amid national
disasters in
Pakisan and
then losing
his post.
The buzz in
Sana'a, where
Hadi has named
a governor in
exile
described as
an Islamist,
is that Cheikh
Ahmed may well
have known of
the plans to
bring in APC
and weapons to
those fighting
the Houthis in
Aden, and so
"misleadingly"
urged a pause.
Another
compared this
to the UN
luring out
surrendering
rebel leaders
in Sri Lanka -
to their
deaths.
And so from
Aden,
photographs of
brand new
light brown
vehicles,
American-made,
brought in.
Will they end
up in the
hands of Al
Qaeda?
Back on July
9, UN
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon
proudly
announced a
humanitarian
pause to start
on July 10 at
midnight.
When the
supposed pause
failed, Inner
City Press was
told on July
14, it took
Ban Ki-moon
more than two
days to speak
with Saudi
Arabia,
through its
foreign and
defense
ministers.
Ban, it was
said, was "in
the air."
The day before
on July 13 at
the UN noon
briefing Inner
City Press
asked Ban's
spokesman
Dujarric why
the UN had
made another
"call" for a
pause sound
like a
commitment to
a pause, at
least by the
Saudi led
coalition. Video here.
Dujarric
answered that
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed had told
the Suadis of
his desire for
a pause. But
that's not
what the UN
said on July
9.
It quickly
became clear
that some of
key parties
had not been
spoken with or
agreed; the
pause's
midnight
beginning came
and passed
amid
airstrikes.
Inner City
Press is
informed by
sources that
Ban Ki-moon
was urged to
not make the
dubious pause
announcement,
including from
within the
UN's own
Department of
Political
Affairs -- but
Ban announced
it anyway.
At best, it
was rolling
the dice. At
worse, on the
very day that
UN is rightly
criticizing
itself for
making false
promises of
protection in
Srebrenica 20
years ago, in
this case
Yemenis were
told there
would be a
pause, and
some perhaps
relied on it,
to their
detriment. And
still the UN
had said
nothing.
After the July
9
announcement,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's
spokesman if
the Saudis had
been spoken
with. The
answer was,
Hadi told the
Saudis his
position. But
did Hadi ever
agree to the
pause, or just
to the
conditions set
forth in his
letter to UN?
What of Hadi's
responsibilities
to the Yemeni
people?
Now
Saudi Al
Arabiya has
said Saudi
Arabia never
received any
communication
from Hadi to
stop
airstrikes, here.
Someone is
lying.
Where is the
UN's
replacement
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed? Headed
to Ethiopia,
Ban's
spokesman
said, to meet
with Ban on
the sidelines
of the
Financing for
Development
conference
there. Does
IOCA harbor
ambitions for
another UN
system post,
or back in his
own country?
What sort of a
track record
is this? Watch
this site.
At
the July 10 UN
noon briefing
in New York,
Inner City
Press asked
Ban Ki-moon's
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric if
the UN had
spoken with
those in Yemen
opposing the
Houthis but
not supporting
or in contact
with Hadi. Video here. From Dujarric's
answer, it
seems no such
contact has
been made.
So, Inner City
Press asked,
if such a
group fires on
the Houthis
and they fire
back, is the
pause over,
has it been
violated?
We'll see what
happens.
Back
on July 9,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, transcript here:
Inner
City Press:
can you, one,
characterize
not the
communications
with Mr. Hadi,
but with Saudi
Arabia that's
running the
coalition, the
Saudi-led
coalition.
And does this
mean the
Secretary-General's
understanding
is no
airstrikes
during this
time period,
and no further
advances or
use of heavy
weapons by the
Houthis?
Does the pause
mean no
firing? What
does it mean
to each of
those two
sides?
Spokesman
Dujarric:
What it means
is that, if
you read the
statement, the
President…
Secretary-General
notes that the
President,
President
Hadi, has
communicated
his acceptance
of the pause
to the
coalition to
ensure their
support.
A humanitarian
pause means no
fighting.
It means no
bombing.
It means no
shooting.
It means no
fighting.
It means
exactly
that: a
humanitarian
pause in the
fighting that
we've seen, to
enable our
humanitarian
colleagues to
get the aid to
where it's
needed, to
preposition,
and stockpile,
and to reach
the millions
that need it.
Inner City
Press:
Right.
But just for
example,
policing,
who's doing
policing in
these various
cities?
Things happen.
Spokesman
Dujarric:
Obviously I
think… [cross
talk] In any
area in the
country, there
is a… there is
de facto
control and,
obviously,
there is a
need to ensure
safety and
security.
What we're
talking about
is a
humanitarian
pause in the
fighting that
we've been
witnessing for
weeks on end
now.
Inner City
Press:
So just one
last thing on
this. So
the commitment
on airstrikes
is through
President Hadi
to the UN?
Spokesman:
You know, the…
[cross talk]
Obviously,
President Hadi
is a critical
interlocutor
with the
coalition.
And as I've
said, we've
taken note of
the fact that
he's conveyed
to the
coalition his
acceptance.
We expect
everyone
involved in
this conflict
to honor this
humanitarian
pause.
On
July 7 the
UN's Office of
the High
Commissioner
for Human
Rights upped
its estimate
of civilians
killed since
March 27 to
1,528, adding
that one
million people
have been
displaced
since the
beginning of
this round of
the conflict.
To the Saudi
airstrike on
UNDP in
Khormaksar,
Aden, OHCHR
added that
"IOM’s Migrant
Response
Centre in
Basateen, also
in Aden, was
struck by a
mortar and an
airstrike
damaged IOM’s
office in
Harad."
IOM, as Inner
City Press
reported, had
earlier paused
its evacuation
by air of
those seeking
to flee Yemen
due to some
party, which
it left
unnamed,
demanding
information
about those
fleeing BEFORE
the flights
could leave.
Inner City
Press has
asked others
in the UN
about this and
has been told
IOM should
have done the
screening
after the
people were
able to flee.
IOM refused a
direct
question about
caused it to
violate this
best practice,
then stopped
sending the
Press any
information.
There are
countries,
normally vocal
about civilian
deaths, which
are selling
military
equipment to
Saudi Arabia
and its Gulf
allies. Ban
Ki-moon, now
in Oslo, is
relying
entirely on
Saudi-selected
replacement
envoy Ismael
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed, who was
unable to even
get the
parties in the
same room in
Geneva, much
less reach an
agreement.
There remain,
for now,
OHCHR's body
counts.
On June 24,
Inner City
Press asked
the UN's
replacement
envoy Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed about
the request by
the Houthis
and others to
meet not with
him but with
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon, who
did not meet
with them in
Geneva.
Transcribed
here.
On June 25
Inner City
Press asked
Ban's deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq to
confirm
receipt of the
letter and if
Ban will meet
them. Haq said
Cheikh Ahmed
is the envoy,
and Ban's
headed to San
Francisco. The
UN Security
Council issued
a Press
Statement, here.
Also
on June 25,
Inner City
Press asked
new UN aid
chief Stephen
O'Brien three
questions
about Yemen:
cholera, the
destruction of
ambulances in
Sa'ada and
about
international
staff. Video
here.
O'Brien
replied that
cholera is a
risk; he had
no information
on WHO it was
that destroyed
the ambulances
in Sa'ada (we
can guess.) On
international
staff, which
the UN
evacuated
earlier, he
spoke of a
rise from 17
to 70, with
the goal of
getting to
200. He would
not say if
they are
anywhere in
the country
outside of
Sana'a, citing
security. But
at least he
spoke - the Free UN Coalition for Access thanked
him.
Here's
from the June
24 stakeout,
as fast
transcribed by
Inner City
Press:
Inner
City Press: On
the parties in
Sanaa
requesting to
meet the
Secretary
General –
what’s your
response?
Cheikh
Ahmed: "This
question was
raised during
our discussion
with the
Houthis, the
GPC and their
allies. The
Secretary
General had
delayed twice
his travel in
order to be
there for the
parties. We
have sent
twice a plane
from Sanaa
which the
delegation
from Sana'a
could not
take..
Therefore the
Secretary
General had a
major
engagement,
which was the
election of
the new
president of
the General
Assembly which
takes place
only once a
year , and he
had to attend
it. But the
Secretary
General will
continue being
engaged on
this."
The ceremonial
elevation of
the President
of the GA who
will take over
in September
was not an
election at
all - no vote
was taken.
Before
the meeting,
UK Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft
stopped and
told the press
of the danger
of famine in
the country,
and of his
hope for a
Yemen Press
Statement from
the UNSC, in
which the UK
is the
"penholder" on
Yemen. Periscope
video here,
replay
including on
desktop for 24
hours.
Inner
City Press was
digging into
the letter
from political
parties IN
Yemen, asking
for a meeting
with Ban
Ki-moon, NOT
with
replacement
envoy Cheikh
Ahmed. These
parties,
including but
not limited to
the Houthis,
were delayed
in getting to
Geneva so that
they could not
meet with Ban
(who while
there DID meet
with a
US-listed Al
Qaeda
terrorist).
While some are
sure to argue
that Ban now
meeting with
the parties
would undercut
Cheikh Ahmed,
others point
out the the
underlying
resolution
speaks of the
Secretary
General's Good
Offices
INCLUDING his
Envoy. The
envoy is not
the only game
in town - nor,
given his lack
of disclosure,
raised by
Inner City
Press, should
he be. We'll
have more on
this.