Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations

UN in Lock-Down As Pontiff Passes Through, Diplomatic Sidelines

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN

UNITED NATIONS, April 18, Speech uploaded 11:30 GA Staff -- Trucks full of sand blocked 42nd Street. Police filled the avenue in front of the UN. Staff were told not to open their windows; several ground floor windows were blocked with blue fabric. Inside, access to elevators was blocked by blue temporary walls. The windows of the press bullpen were covered over, to block view or a shot, it wasn't clear. The Press, then, had to head up to the cheap seats, the fourth floor gallery over the General Assembly hall. Below, Ambassadors glad-handed and took photos of themselves. The outgoing U.S. Permanent Representative Zalmay Khalilzad worked the room as Monsignors in black robes floated down the aisles.

The press was given a copy of the Pope's speech, told by the UN not to report it until 11:30 a.m.. But on Vatican Radio's web site, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the permanent observer at the UN for the Holy See was quoted that "in his address Pope Benedict will not focus on specific international trouble-spots, but will concentrate on the general argument that 'our future must be based on respect for universal truths and our common humanity.'" If the Vatican can push up against if not break the embargo, we can say that the concept of "Responsibility to Protect" may make an appearance, in the Pope's speech to UN Staff (uploaded at 11:30). Watch this space (updates below).

Pope at JFK airport, while UN waited in lock-down

At 11:01, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim gaveled the session to order. "Distinguished delegates, please be seated." A straight-backed light brown chair was waiting in a spotlight. The press gallery filled up, with reporters traveling with the Pope. The talk was of sexual abuse victims.

Everything was choreographed. It was predicted in advance that GA President Srgjan Kerim would say 400 words in introducing the Pope, then retire for a papal photo-op in the room behind the Star Trek-like podium.

The actual count of Kerim's speech was 658 words...

At 11:08, the crowd rose and applauded as Pope Benedict XVI walked down the center aisle.

In the press gallery, reporters scrambled to get the headsets to work. "This is broken," one complained. "Very low tech," Inner City Press told him. "Like the Vatican," the religion reporter replied.

At 11:16, Ban Ki-moon intoned that the UN has six official languages, but no official religion.

At 11:26, with the Pope speaking in French, many in the press gallery could not hear, much less understand. For all the security preparations, it would have made sense to ensure that the speech could actually be heard.

Still, at 11:30, Inner City Press uploaded the text of the speeches - GA Staff

At 11:49, a standing ovation. The Pope arose from his creamy straight-backed chair.

After a series of security checks, Inner City Press re-surfaced at 12:35 penned in a stakeout by the Delegates' Entrance. NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly stopped and called his meeting with His Holiness "indescribable." Inner City Press asked if the NYPD has been involved in reviewing the safety of the "swing space" the UN has rented at Madison Avenue and 47th Street, and Second Avenue and 46th. Yes we've been involved, Kelly said. Inner City Press asked, do you think it's safe, a building with no set-back and a garage? It's still all being considered, Commissioner Kelly responded. And then he was gone...

And at 1:20, a full 25 minutes early, the Pope headed to the exit, preceded by sharpshooters carrying black duffel bags, followed by a strike force in helmets. The Pope waved at the press, as did Ban Ki-moon. The spotlights were turned off. And it's a wrap.

At UN, Curtains Closed for Pope, Walking Path of Lee Myung-bak, Roasting Rudy Reported

UNITED NATIONS, April 17 -- In the run-up to the Pope's three-hour visit to the UN on Friday, blue paper curtains were put over not only windows facing First Avenue, but even internal windows in the UN's media section, along the path the Pope's slated to walk. Concern about a possible sniper from outside is one thing -- but inside? Many reporters have decided to simply not come in on Friday, as there will not even be a noon press briefing. Meanwhile, the meet-and-greet described as for UN staff is reportedly being limited to high officials at the Under Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General level. Quietly, staff on the 38th floor where Ban Ki-moon works have been told they can line up along the corridor Friday morning and each shake the Pope's hand.

Thursday night, television trucks were lined up along 41st Street between First Avenue and the East River. First Avenue itself was lined with metal police barricades, and a Metropolitan Transit Authority sign on the bus stops on Second Avenue said they would not be used, due to a "Papel" visit.

A two-page, 19 item minute-by-minute script provided by the UN's Protocol and Liaison Service contains, for a single minute (11:14 a.m.) the notation that "His Holiness, the Secretary-General and His Holiness entourage, escorted by the Chief of Protocol (COP) will proceed to the General Assembly Hall via the 3rd Floor of the Secretariat Building, and descend by special elevator to the second floor exiting in the Chinese Lounge." The press, cordoned off behind blue curtains, will not be able to see this one-minute transportation drama.

Footnote: before South Korean president Lee Myung-bak's choreographed walk with Ban on Wednesday, complete with stops at a display of South Korean printing and a staged tour of the GA Hall, on Tuesday night he and Ban spoke at the Korea Society. Ban called Lee Myung-bak "the steamroller," because of his history with the Hyundai company which among other things makes construction equipment. Lee joked back that Ban lost his job then traveled around the world for two years to find a new job, at the UN. But then Lee made a gaffe: he forgot Rudy Giuliani's name, then when he remembered it, he joked that maybe Rudy should come ask him for advice on how to win a primary. Inner City Press' sources at the Korea Society dinner were surprised at this impromptu roasting. One does not imagine it repeated with the Pope on Friday. Watch this site.

These reports are usually also available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis.

Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund. Video Analysis here

Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.

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