Breaking: UN: We were ‘blackmailed’ into removing Saudi Arabia from blacklist after just a week

[Serpentine]

The United Nations has removed a Saudi-led coalition from a children's rights blacklist after it faced “bullying, threats” and “pressure” from the country’s Muslim allies, it has been claimed.

The Gulf state group was placed on the United Nations list over its military campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen, after the UN report on children and armed conflict said the coalition was responsible for 60 per cent of all child deaths and injuries in the troubled country last year.

According to UN figures, more than 510 children were killed by the coalition and nearly 700 wounded. The group was also said to be responsible for half the attacks on schools and hospitals.

However, Saudi UN Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi claimed the figures were “wildly exaggerated”, and demanded they be corrected.

Saudi Arabia’s main complaint is that the Saudi-backed Yemeni government was not consulted about the report, and that the information used was not provided by them. But on Tuesday, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said this was not the case and that the Saudis had been consulted.

UN sources said Ban Ki-moon’s office was barraged with calls from Gulf Arab foreign ministers and ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) following the blacklisting.

A diplomatic source, who wished to remain anonymous, said there were “bullying, threats, pressure”, adding it was “real blackmail”.

He also said there was a real risk of “clerics in Riyadh meeting to issue a fatwa against the UN, declaring it anti-Muslim, which would mean no contacts of OIC members, no relations, contributions, support, to any U.N. projects, programs”.

Mr Abdallah Al-Mouallimi responded to these allegations, saying “we don't use threats or intimidation,” adding Riyadh was “very committed to the United Nations”.

He also denied the threat of a possible fatwa, saying; “That's ridiculous, that's outrageous.”

Diplomatic sources said the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) would suffer if the blacklisting was upheld, as Saudi allegedly threatened to pull its funding.

The Gulf state is the fourth biggest contributor to UNRWA after the United States, European Union and Britain, having contributed nearly $100 million (£69 million) in 2015.

Kuwait and United Arab Emirates – fellow members of the coalition – also provide significant funding to UNRWA, donating nearly $50 million (£34.5 million) between them last year.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...lacklist-removed-after-one-week-a7073046.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...kmail-after-blacklisting-saudi-led-coalition/

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/09/middleeast/saudi-arabia-un-children/index.html
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Here goes the most useless organization in the world.

Ban Ki Moon statement says it all.

 

[Arabian Stallion]

Excellent.

Either this useless organization decides to make rules equal for all member states and puts much worse offenders (serial which KSA is nowhere near) such as the US, Russia and numerous other countries, including other MENA states, on the same list or they remove KSA and the Arab coalition from it altogether. If not KSA and all the remaining GCC states, which are key donors, should cut all financial support to this useless organization.

If the Houthi terrorists, which were blacklisted ages ago, did not deliberately hide among civilians and stopped using them as shields, there would not be even close to a similar number of civilian casualties. Aside from the widespread use of child soldiers by the Houthi's which the very same UN report stated clearly. It would not surprise me if a substantial number of those 500 were child soldiers. Anyway this is war and not a game. The Houthi's should have stayed in their caves in their native Sa'dah province instead of thinking that they could conquer all of Yemen violently as long as KSA is around. Not going to happen. Ever.

At least this shows that KSA can join hands with the US, Russia, Israel etc. The privilege of the powerful and influential. Good to see.

Anyway

 

[somebozo]

UN Gets blackmailed by Israel, UN gets blackmailed by Saudi Arabia, UN gets blackmailed by USA...only thing UN is able to do..is enforce no-fly zone on Iraq...! Congress of jokers..

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

I have a feeling for some reason that 5 members of UNSC have become so powerful that they have resulted in immoral abuse of its position of power and use of world stage to satisfy its domestic politics back home.

I think a general voting system with more votes for P5 can be introduced to resolve world conflicts and other conflicting interests. In this way atleast the countries in P5 can claim to domestic audience that they did all they can, but obviously member countries will is different.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

It's safe to say we feel relieved and proud of Saudi Arabia for it's influence and political clout that was used to achieve the righteous cause of protecting the Arab Coalition from unjust accusations. Arab Coalition should be thanked for rescuing Yemen from the clutches of Iranian terror groups.

 

[Levina]

UN has finally become a nincompoop.
Hard to believe that it could be bullied and coerced into pulling back KSA's name while behemoths like America,Russia and China are still its members. Its like UN playing the victim card. Laughable!
But then again had any action been taken against the kingdom in the past then the world would have been a much more peaceful place today. America for its own selfish reasons allows a free rein to the kingdom.
Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the world, had the arab world been a lil more kind towards their brethren then Yemen would have fared well. Yemenis fail to get the attention Palestinians get. Alas!

 

[Serpentine]

It's safe to say we feel relieved and proud of Saudi Arabia for it's influence and political clout that was used to achieve the righteous cause of protecting the Arab Coalition from unjust accusations. Arab Coalition should be thanked for rescuing Yemen from the clutches of Iranian terror groups.

If you relieve yourself from 'unjust accusations' by blackmailing and threatening to cut off your your bribe money (which is given to UN to be used exactly for these days), well that says a lot about what's actually unjust. It's great how you described the situation in your own words.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

If you relieve yourself from 'unjust accusations' by blackmailing and threatening to cut off your your bribe money (which is given to UN to be used exactly for these days), well that says a lot about what's actually unjust. It's great how you described the situation in your own words.

So the UN has suddenly become so clean for you Iranians. I see hypocrisy at its best.

 

[Djinn]

If you relieve yourself from 'unjust accusations' by blackmailing and threatening to cut off your your bribe money (which is given to UN to be used exactly for these days), well that says a lot about what's actually unjust. It's great how you described the situation in your own words.

This indeed shows where their strengths lie...........This is something to feel proud of.........As they say 'either by hook or by crook' they have got what they wanted.

 

[الأعرابي]

The UN realized they made a mistake and they corrected their mistake. Why are the Iranians butthurt about this?

 

[Kuwaiti Girl]

It's safe to say we feel relieved and proud of Saudi Arabia for it's influence and political clout that was used to achieve the righteous cause of protecting the Arab Coalition from unjust accusations. Arab Coalition should be thanked for rescuing Yemen from the clutches of Iranian terror groups.

Should the coalition of cowards also be thanked for causing more than 60% of child deaths in Yemen?

The excuse of "Iranian terrorist groups" doesn't justify Saudi / Gulf Arab terrorism.

 

[Solomon2]

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=54185#.V1nfS_krKUk
Content of report on conflict-affected children 'will not change,' asserts Ban

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York. UN Photo/Mark Garten

9 June 2016 – Standing by his decision to remove the Saudi-led Coalition in Yemen from his latest report on conflict-affected children, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said it was one of the most 'painful and difficult decisions' he has ever had to make, and that it is 'unacceptable' for Member States to exert undue pressure as scrutiny is necessary part of the work of the UN.

“The report describes horrors no child should have to face,” said Mr. Ban speaking to the press outside of the UN Security Council chamber, where he acknowledged that the “fierce reaction to my decision to temporarily remove the Saudi-led Coalition countries from the report's annex.”

“At the same time, I also had to consider the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously if, as was suggested to me, countries would de-fund many UN programmes. Children already at risk in Palestine, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and so many other places would fall further into despair,” he stressed.

Insisting that he stands by the report, the UN chief added that the Organization “will assess the complaints that have been made, but the content will not change.”

“I fully understand the criticism, but I would also like to make a larger point that speaks to many political challenges we face. When UN peacekeepers come under physical attack, they deserve strong backing by the Security Council,” he stated. “When UN personnel are declared persona non grata simply for carrying out their jobs, they should be able to count on firm support from the Member States,” he said.

Mr. Ban also underlined that when a UN report comes “under fire” for raising difficult issues or documenting violations of law or human rights, Member States should defend the mechanisms and mandates that they themselves have established.

“As the Secretariat carries forward the work that is entrusted to us, I count on Member States to work constructively and maintain their commitment to the cause of this Organization,” he told reporters.

Turning to the issue of migration, the Secretary-General announced that he will be traveling to the Greek island of Lesbos next week to assess the situation and to show his solidarity.




On 26 January 2016, refugees and migrants wait to enter the Miratovac Refugee Aid Point in southern Serbia, on the border with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, after crossing the Mediterranean. Photo: UNICEF/Emil Vas


“Hundreds of Syrians and other refugees and migrants continue to die in the Mediterranean while making perilous journeys out of war and persecution,” he said. “I have listened to the stories, hopes and fears of many refugees in recent months, to understand this challenge based on their first-hand experience,” he added.

As the global community formulates a global response to adopt at the upcoming High-Level Meeting on large-scale movements of refugees and migrants in September, Mr. Ban said he looks forward to continuing to work with Member States “to meet this test of our common humanity.”

The Secretary-General also took the opportunity at the press encounter to highlight some other challenges affecting the “wide sweep” of the UN's work, such as keeping up momentum on the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement; building on the progress of last month's World Humanitarian Summit; and doing more to resolve major threats to international peace and security.

Responding to questions, Mr. Ban told one correspondent that in the course of making reports available to the Member States or in the course of preparing these reports, the Organization has found that some countries were more concerned that their names are listed together with some non-State actors, like terrorist and extremist groups.

“Therefore, I think the main reaction of the Coalition is also that their names are included and listed together with some terrorist and extremist groups. Therefore, we are now in the process of considering what would be the better modalities of listing those countries,” he explained, but reiterated that no decision has been made as the matter is still being discussed.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Should the coalition of cowards also be thanked for causing more than 60% of child deaths in Yemen?

The excuse of "Iranian terrorist groups" doesn't justify Saudi / Gulf Arab terrorism.

That's a lie.

 

[Serpentine]

So the UN has suddenly become so clean for you Iranians. I see hypocrisy at its best.

The UN is far from clean. Saudis threatened to cut off bribe money they pay to a 'dirty organization' to remove their name which shows exactly where Saudis stand.

It's like bribing a corrupt cop and threatening that corrupt cup with that same money when he wants to report one of your crimes, one is dirty, other is dirtiest.

The UN realized they made a mistake and they corrected their mistake. Why are the Iranians butthurt about this?

Do you think the useless list of a parody organization like UN really matters here? There is no need to be butthurt, the exact opposite. World media is doing a fine job showing a dirty and a dirtier (UN, Saudi regime) entity dealing with each other like this.

The only thing the world knows now is: Saudis killed children and blackmailed useless UN to get their name clean which had the opposite result. We are just sitting here and watching.

One with enough intelligence can easily understand that things went the worst way possible for Saudis.

 

[Post Colonnial]

I have a feeling for some reason that 5 members of UNSC have become so powerful that they have resulted in immoral abuse of its position of power and use of world stage to satisfy its domestic politics back home.

I think a general voting system with more votes for P5 can be introduced to resolve world conflicts and other conflicting interests. In this way atleast the countries in P5 can claim to domestic audience that they did all they can, but obviously member countries will is different.

UNSC should be reconsitiuted