15 December 2005
ASO!:
It's Japan's new Foreign Minister. Taso Aso, actually. Unhappy, very unhappy that so much Japanese
money was paid thus far for so little. Having a U.N. Under Secretary General in New York doing hardly anything (under
the guise of Disarmament), a Director General of UNESCO in Paris, another Director General for Internal Telecommunications
Union, plus several senior Japanese officially drawing salaries from the U.N. budget is not enough. A permanent Security
Council seat will be the only satisfaction. Has anyone in Japan asked WHY after so much time and money (billions in
20 years) Japanese diplomacy has failed to obtain that seat? There must be something wrong -- either with the
strategy, or the tactics or with those closely knit characters trying (and failing) to implement it. First line of
questioning should be at the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Aso!
QUE PASA?:
Q: You cancelled your trip to Asia...
SG: We are at a critical stage of the budget process, and the next 15 days is going to be the critical period, so
I decided that it was important for me to be on the ground, to work with the Member States to ensure that we get the
budget approved. And there are other things coming up.
Q: Was it on the recommendation of Ambassador Bolton?
SG: Ambassador Bolton? He doesn't run my programme.
Q: Today, he had mentioned to you that...
SG: I did not speak to Bolton, and I, gosh, you know this is a building where people take credit for lots of things,
so I am amazed.
Q: Sir, why couldn't you make a decision much earlier?
SG: Because I had hoped that things would turn around for the better. I had a series of meetings yesterday, and
decided that we still have some difficulties, that our budget is important, it is one of the most important
documents for the next two years, and that it is best I postpone my trip, not cancel, and deal with the budget and other
pressing issues, and then go to Asia later.
MAHARISHI WANTS YOU:
Since everyone is trying their hand at Eliminating Poverty, why not give a free plug for the
Maharishi. After all, we can at least enjoy his natural herbal teas. Those others give the peoples of the world
nothing in return -- for frequent flyer ego trips. Thus, we readily recirculate a $10 TRILLION request by His
Eminence the Guru in order to develop "organic agriculture" (hmmm!) on five billion acres of unused land with
agriculture potential for 100 countries. Those trillions are just for start-up cost. "Every type of financial institution
is invited to participate immediately and insurance companies will be involved to make the project absolutely
risk-free" -- we are assured. So here you are. It's either pro bono Bono, or our very own Campo O'Campo, or the
Maharishi.
YEAR OF THE POTATOE:
First, we have to spell it right -- with an e. Then we need to inform you that it's 2008. You have
adequate time to prepare for it. So, there will be no excuses if some potatoe couches remain hanging in there on the
targeted ten floors -- depending on which ten the powers that be decide to target. In due course, of course. For by
then, the powers that be now will be having full-bodied massages in Tuscany, Finland or Wyoming. Idaho will be the
best choice, according to connoisseurs. But don't ask the Spokesman. He has enough on his hands as it is.
BONO ELEVATION:
No pro Bono by Bono when it comes to business. For him, Poverty is History, indeed. Digital deals
are now a hot issue in the media market and as Elevation Partners, a West Coast firm, is getting ready to partake in the
cake, who else would be more helpful than U2's main man -- as both an adviser and a partner.
ANOTHER PARIS JUNKET:
This time, the U.N. Day was the pretext, but the date was accommodatingly shifted to 22 rather than
24 October. The shameless Frequent Flyer was supposed to share the "stage" with hip hop rapper former tennis player
Janique Noah. At least the French Cameroonian had something to entertain the crowd. Only there was no crowd. Just a
handful of participants filling about one quarter of the hall. It is really a shame that U.N. Day which used to be
celebrated in France at the highest and most popular levels falls down to such hurried limited shape. But, then,
there seems to be no accountability even at a time of a budget crunch.
TWO FACED:
Several journalists attempting to affect the U.N. sponsored Tunis gathering on the Internet found
themselves in difficulty, if not in physical danger of assault. Except for some limited soft spoken mumbling, no senior
U.N. official offered any practical help or support. The U.N. could have at least set up a conduit of negotiations
between the complaining media and Tunisian authorities. If not in accordance with Article 19 of the Human Rights
Declaration, which is binding to any U.N. official, it would have facilitated smoother proceedings. However,
disappointment with U.N. management reached its peak when the President of Rapporteurs Sans Frontiers, the
international framework of active field journalists, was refused entry to attend the meeting. He publicly referred
to "two-faced bastards at the U.N." Did he mean anyone we know?
STAFF DAY 1961:
In his last address to the staff on 8 September 1961, Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold said:
"We all know that if we feel that what we do is purposeful, not to say essential for the progress of human society
in a broader sense -- yes, even if we believe that what we do is essential only for a small group of people and its
future happiness -- we are willing to accept hardships and serve gladly for the value of serving." He added:
"It is false pride to register and to boast to the world about the importance of one's work, but is false
humility -- and finally just as destructive, not to recognize with gratitude -- that one's work has a sense. Let us
avoid the second fallacy as carefully as the first, and let us work in the conviction that our work has a meaning
beyond the narrow individual and has meant something for man."
DEEP THOUGHTS BY ALI BABA:
I know we were all walking on four legs. Now we are on two. I wonder where all this is going.
QUOTATION OF THE MONTH:
"Who controls the flow of the ocean? Nobody controls it; and it works just fine."
-- Leonard Kleinrock, a computer scientist at UCLA dismissing calls for more oversight of the
Internet
BORDER LOVE PIGEON:
Ahmed Zeitoon of the South Lebanese village of Kfar Tebnit found a pigeon on the roof of his home with
Israeli and English inscriptions tied to one of its feet. He took it to the police which sent it to the laboratories
of the Agriculture Ministry in the regional capital, Nabatiyah. After a conversion of security and linguistic
experts, it transpired that the pigeon was carrying a love message. "Thanks for the wonderful night we spent
together" proclaimed an enthusiastic woman whose address indicated she was in Northern Galilee. It turned out to be
a case of overflight. Ahmed's wife confirmed to suspicious neighbourhood militants that he was with her at home all
last night and there was nothing thrilling about it. While the police kept the pigeon, Ahmed insisted on keeping
the message -- with the address -- just in case.
SALMAN TAILGATE:
Following the leader is a fair motto, particularly for the new and over-ambitious. But young Salman is
taking it too far. Understandably interested in the intentions of the new Under Secretary General heading his
department, he seems to be very keen not only on exploring the new man's views but also his whereabouts. A visitor
who dropped by to escort the new chief for a joint dinner, noticed Salman trailing them, taking the next elevator,
then hotfooting it through the Secretariat exits all the way to First Avenue and 43rd Street, keeping the same pace
and distance. When the upset visitor suddenly turned back to ask Salman Tailgate what the hell he was up to, the young
man produced a paper from his briefcase claiming he had wanted to deliver it. An impression is he is still reporting
to his old boss -- or bosses!
PEDERSEN SONG & DANCE:
A day after Geir Pedersen received an "expansion" in his mandate so he would get "all," not just part
of Lebanon, local jokes spread about how he took that enlarged task in hand. Puzzlement about his added functions
increased when a musical promoter George Aleteriades told the audience of "Future Television" that his newly
formed troupe of gypsy imitators formed their own "country," which was seeking to join the U.N. Already, Novrestan
(Gypsy land) or Halbilad (That land) had received their blessing from Mr. Pedersen, Special Representative of the
U.N. Secretary General, according to Alexteriades, a Lebanese of Greek origin. The demonstrative music that followed
was a blend of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Balkan utterances with sudden injunctions of words like "parakalo"
(Greek), Aman Aman (Turkish), and Ya Ya Ya (that could be anwhere between Marakesh and Baghdad). Another variation
performed by the curiously bearded long-haired oud, lute and drum wielders was a "Yabalala" which turned out to
be an old Lebanese song adapted to hip hop shoulder dancing. Why would Mr. Pedersen "bless" that group, no one
bothered to find out. Maybe he was exploring new NGO's to expand his civil society role. Or maybe he was
touched by a Jalman look-alike rendering of a Turkish version of Besame Mucho.
"BLUNDER" CLARIFICATION:
In an item on the "European Blunder" in the last issue, a parenthesis with a short hand of names
needs to be clarified. A reference to a 1997 Communications Task Force joined (Malloch Brown / S. Sanbar) without
explanation. Actually Mr. Mark Malloch Brown, who was then at the World Bank headed a Task Force upon the
recommendation of Mr. Maurice Strong. Mr. Sanbar was the head of the Department of Public Information; he was
not a member of that group. Both consulted regularly -- agreed or disagreed -- and made joint appearances to the
General Assembly and its relevant committees. Hence the joint reference, and the brief clarification.
AMBASSADOR BAALI LEAVES:
Abdallah Baali, the dynamic and popular Ambassador of Algeria will be returning home after completing
his two years as his country's representative at the Security Council. As the only Arab representative at a period of
several delicate issues dealing with the Arab region -- particularly Syria and Lebanon -- Ambassador Baali had to walk a fine
line between the Council's general consensus and specific requirements of varying Arab countries. He did so with an
enlightened approach and basic commitment to Algeria's long-standing principles in line with U.N. Charter. Having
served in an earlier capacity at the Algerian Mission in New York, his return as Ambassador was facilitated by the
many friendships he had developed in earlier years. His open dialogue with the press and irrepressible sense of
humour came in handy. While he will certainly be missed in New York, his friends and admirers (he had plenty!) wish
him all the best in his new role in Algiers.
VISITING SHAKESPEARE:
To be or not to be. What is the question?
MADONNA'S PASSION:
Returning to Japan after 12 years, fading diva Madonna revealed one of her secret passions: "I missed
heated toilet seats", she declared to a raptured audience.
BELLA SEMAYA DUSHKA FAWZI:
That's the name of the newly born girl delivered by our U.N. media colleague Ahmed Fawzi's wife. We
trust she has the charm of her father and the beauty of her mother plus the wit of both. Her name is printed in full
so we will be able to claim when she grows up to become a famous communicator that you saw it here first.
1600CAKES:
Our good Polish friend Zbigniew Wlosowitz is preparing to return home after serving as the U.N.
Representative in Cyprus. His farewell was noted not only by the many personalities who sang his praise but by
the record number of bakeries fielded by his gracious mother for the occasion. The count within the last two
weeks was 1600cakes.
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