From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue Feb 03 2009 - 16:15:15 EST
"In describing the footnotes of his program, Amb. Takasu said that "peace
and security in Africa" meant the Djibouti - Eritrea conflict. But when
Inner City Press asked why Zimbabwe was not listed, Amb. Takasu said that
the phrase included Zimbabwe as well"
http://www.innercitypress.com/unsc1japan020309.html
At UN, Japan's Month Starts with N. Korea Confusion, Somalia Short Shrift,
Seikos
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS, February 3 -- As Japan through its Ambassador Yukio Takasu
took over the Presidency of the Security Council for February, many issues
were left of its program of work until acknowledged in response to
questions. North Korea, for example, was not listed.
But when Inner City Press asked about that nation's break of relations
with its southern neighbor and renewed saber or missile rattling, Ambassador
Takasu said that, "putting on his Japanese chapeau," these issues are of
concern and may arise this month. When asked about reports in the Japanese
press that Japan is moving to limit the UN Development Program's re-entry
into North Korea, Ambassador Takasu responded as if he had not seen the
stories, launching into a justification of supporting UNDP's re-entry. So
are the stories, here and there, wrong?
In describing the footnotes of his program, Amb. Takasu said that "peace
and security in Africa" meant the Djibouti - Eritrea conflict. But when
Inner City Press asked why Zimbabwe was not listed, Amb. Takasu said that
the phrase included Zimbabwe as well.
No mention was made of the Council's endorsement of the Congolese -
Ugandan and South Sudanese offensive against the Lord's Resistance Army,
which has gone afoul and led to a slew of massacres by the LRA.
And at the stakeout on Tuesday, after Takasu recited that the Council
condemns violence in Somalia against the AMISOM force, Inner City Press
asked if for a response to reports that AMISOM peacekeepers just killed at
least 25 civilians. That did not come up, Ambassador Takasu said.
At the UN's noon briefing on Tuesday, Inner City Press asked UN Deputy
Spokesperson Marie Okabe if Ban Ki-moon or his envoy to Somalia had any
comment on this killing of civilians. I don't have anything on that today,
Ms. Okabe said. We'll be waiting.
Amb. Takasu after Japan was elected to Council, now the test begins
Earlier in the month, Takasu held an hour-long briefing about Japan's
goals on this Security Council. None of the other four new members held such
a briefing; in fact, they've yet to even speak at the stakeout.
In his January 9 briefing, Ambassador Takasu said that the Council should
first of all be efficient, and transparent only in the service thereof. Some
have an ideology of transparency, he said, adding "I'm not sure." Inner City
Press asked about the scandal at the UN Information Center in Tokyo. Video
here, from Minute 37:39. Ambassador Takasu said "we are very concerned by
the report of the board of auditors, we want a very clear investigation and
conclusion [and] full accountability." Video here, from Minute 42:02.
But in the weeks since, nothing has been said. Nor about a similar scandal
at another UN center in Japan. The analysis is, Japan so wants a permanent
seat on the Security Council, it will allow or cover-up irregularities and
even the theft of its taxpayers' money, in order to play nice with the UN.
Ambassador Takasu is articulate, and has seen the UN from a variety of
position, including with UN Peacekeeping from 1993 to 1997. He's set some
goals for February, to be timed by the Seiko watches he gave Tuesday to all
Council members. We'll monitor progress on the goals.
Update on UNIC from Tokyo: There was an important development regarding the
financial irregularities of UNIC Tokyo at the Parliament, House of
Representatives Standing Budget Committee on 13 January. The issues of UNIC
Tokyo were taken up in the questions by Representative Mr. Nobuto Hosaka to
which the Foreign Minister expressed "regret" over UNIC Tokyo's keeping a 5
million yen time deposit for many years, which originated from Japanese
contribution to UNIC Tokyo, and announced that the Japanese government has
decided to cut approximately 10 million yen from next year's voluntary
contribution to UNIC Tokyo's Trust Fund, PJA.
Mr. Nobuto Hosaka, Member of the House of Representatives of the Social
Democratic Party of Japan also raised the issue of procurement of plane
tickets by UNIC Tokyo for DPKO from 1999 to 2007. The tickets were for
Japanese PKO travelling to UNDOF in which every bid (around 16 million yen
annually) was granted to the same travel agent by UNIC Tokyo.
As noted, Amb. Takasu working in UN DPKO from 1993 to 1997. If he wants to
get to the bottom of this one, and to be transparent, this would be the
month. Developing.
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