PassBlue UN Podcasts

**BONUS EPISODE**

Will the world's war against the coronavirus stop (at least temporarily) all other wars? Secretary-General Antonio Guterres certainly hopes so. Still working in a mostly-empty UN headquarters, Guterres has made a global call for cease fires of all conflicts...with mixed results. And if Guterres gets sick himself, who is in charge of the United Nations? PassBlue reporter Laura Kirkpatrick investigated the line of succession for the top position at the UN.

No one knows how long the pandemic will last, and it may be a problem for the 75th annual UN General Assembly meetings in New York in September. Norwegian Mari Skare, the Chef de Cabinet of GA President Tijani Muhammad Bande of Nigeria, shares with us how she has moved the General Assembly to remote work and what options are currently on the table for this year's UNGA.

Correction: The podcast mentions a press briefing by the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the Economic and Social Council President, Mona Juul and the President of the Security Council, Zhang Jun, but previously omitted to mention that the President of the General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande was part of it and his office is the body that called the meeting.

Links:

PassBlue's live coverage of the Coronavirus pandemic at the UN: www.passblue.com/2020/03/15/the-u…s-rages-updates/

PassBlue's Facebook Group, where our reporters are giving updates and answering your questions: bit.ly/3a4KNX7

PassBlue's Twitter: @pass_blue

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Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University. Take your career to the next level and earn an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance. It’s a 4-week intensive program taught by practicing humanitarian professionals, in locations around the world, from Kathmandu to Amman, New York to Geneva. Students will learn how facilitate dialogue and cooperation between governments and civil society, how to be more effective during humanitarian crises, and more. For more information on the upcoming program dates and locations, visit www.fordham.edu/iiha/grad and click on International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance.

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Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Partnership for Transparency, a group of volunteer international development specialists. They work to advance good governance in developing countries by supporting civil society organizations.

PTF believes governments alone can’t be expected to stop corruption. Their latest research shows that well-designed, citizen-led programs to strengthen transparency and accountability can produce better outcomes than state-led initiatives.. PTF’s report has practical recommendations for how empowered, engaged, and professional non-government actors can advance Sustainable Development Goal 16.

To read the report or learn more about PTF’s work visit ptfund.org.

On March 13, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres ordered New York-based personnel to start working from home from March 16-April 13. In this episode, we explore the question: How is working remotely affecting diplomacy? To answer it, we talked to four diplomats from four countries, all based in New York, about how their respective missions to the UN are handling the crisis: Rodrigo Carazo, the Costa Rican ambassador to the UN, Deputy Permanent Representatives Dmitry Polyanskiy of Russia and Odd-Inge Kvalheim of Norway and Mohamed Ali Jalardi, a counselor for Lebanon. And, we look at how the UN itself is transitioning from operating at the UN headquarters to...living room couches.

Links:

PassBlue's live coverage of the Coronavirus pandemic at the UN: https://www.passblue.com/2020/03/15/the-un-in-new-york-virtually-shuts-down-as-the-coronavirus-rages-updates/

PassBlue's Facebook Group, where our reporters are giving updates and answering your questions: https://bit.ly/3a4KNX7

PassBlue's Twitter: @pass_blue

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Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University. Take your career to the next level and earn an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance. It’s a 4-week intensive program taught by practicing humanitarian professionals, in locations around the world, from Kathmandu to Amman, New York to Geneva. Students will learn how facilitate dialogue and cooperation between governments and civil society, how to be more effective during humanitarian crises, and more. For more information on the upcoming program dates and locations, visit www.fordham.edu/iiha/grad and click on International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance.

-----

Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Partnership for Transparency, a group of volunteer international development specialists. They work to advance good governance in developing countries by supporting civil society organizations.

PTF believes governments alone can’t be expected to stop corruption. Their latest research shows that well-designed, citizen-led programs to strengthen transparency and accountability can produce better outcomes than state-led initiatives.. PTF’s report has practical recommendations for how empowered, engaged, and professional non-government actors can advance Sustainable Development Goal 16.

To read the report or learn more about PTF’s work visit ptfund.org.

The coronavirus -- COVID-19 -- outbreak is on everyone's minds right now, and the United Nations is no exception. As China assumes the Security Council rotating presidency for March and tries to stay focused on its top priorities, we look at how the outbreak has affected Chinese diplomacy here in New York and how it led to limiting the biggest annual women's rights meeting in the world, the Commission on the Status of Women, to just one day, on March 9. A Hong Kong-based China expert, Dr. Courtney Fung, joins us to provide her insights on China's diplomatic handling of the virus so far and the country’s long-term foreign policy strategies at the UN.

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Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University. This summer, take your career to the next level and earn an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance. It’s a 4-week intensive taught by practicing humanitarian professionals, in New York City. Students will learn how facilitate dialogue and cooperation between governments and civil society, how to be more effective during humanitarian crises, and more. The program runs from May 31st through June 27th. For more information, email [email protected].

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Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Partnership for Transparency, a group of volunteer international development specialists. They work to advance good governance in developing countries by supporting civil society organizations.

PTF believes governments alone can’t be expected to stop corruption. Their latest research shows that well-designed, citizen-led programs to strengthen transparency and accountability can produce better outcomes than state-led initiatives.. PTF’s report has practical recommendations for how empowered, engaged, and professional non-government actors can advance Sustainable Development Goal 16.

To read the report or learn more about PTF’s work visit ptfund.org.

**DOUBLE FEATURE ALERT**

U.S. President Trump has made good on his campaign promises to redefine America's relationship with the rest of the world – for better or for worse, depending on perspectives -- and the United Nations has in many ways been the epicenter of his "American First" policy abroad. Most recently, his peace proposal for Israel and Palestine scraps decades of UN Security Council binding resolutions on the matter and even got one ambassador recalled. But what alternative visions to end the long conflict in the Middle East have been proposed by the Democrats hoping to unseat Trump in November?

In this double feature episode, Al-Araby reporter Nabil Abi Saab, from Lebanon, walks us through the complicated background to the recent proposed UN resolution reacting to Trump’s Mideast plan and visits from relevant VIPS, including Jared Kushner, to New York that reflect the fallout of the American proposal in the Security Council so far. Plus, PassBlue contributor Jeffrey Laurenti explains how American foreign policy got to the current state of isolationism versus globalism, and shares everything we know (and everything we don't but wish we did) about what the Democratic primary candidates think of the United Nations and other global organizations, as well as other top foreign policy issues.

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Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Partnership for Transparency, a group of volunteer international development specialists. They work to advance good governance in developing countries by supporting civil society organizations.

PTF believes governments alone can’t be expected to stop corruption. Their latest research shows that well-designed, citizen-led programs to strengthen transparency and accountability can produce better outcomes than state-led initiatives.. PTF’s report has practical recommendations for how empowered, engaged, and professional non-government actors can advance Sustainable Development Goal 16.

To read the report or learn more about PTF’s work visit ptfund.org.

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Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University. This spring, they’re offering online humanitarian training courses. Topics include cash, commodities, and services in a humanitarian response, managing or negotiating humanitarian responses, and more. Courses runs from March 16 through April 25.

Or, earn an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance. It’s a 4-week intensive taught by practicing humanitarian professionals, in New York City, from May 31st through June 27th. For more information, email [email protected].

This month, A royal family comes to the UN, and it’s not Meghan and Harry on their first North American tour after Megxit. It’s the royal family of Belgium, making their first ever appearance before the UN Security Council. But that's not the only exciting event Belgian Ambassador Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve has on the agenda for Belgium's presidency this month. In an exclusive interview, he opens up about his diplomatic experience, the European perspective on Brexit, and Belgium's top priorities in the Council. What we're watching: how US President Trump's Middle East Peace Plan plays out among the Council members as Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas the plan's architect (and President Trump's son-in-law) Jared Kushner visit the Council chambers.

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Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University. This spring, they’re offering online humanitarian training courses. Topics include cash, commodities, and services in a humanitarian response, managing or negotiating humanitarian responses, and more. Courses runs from March 16 through April 25.

Or, earn an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance. It’s a 4-week intensive taught by practicing humanitarian professionals, in New York City, from May 31st through June 27th. For more information, email [email protected].

-------

Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Partnership for Transparency, a group of volunteer international development specialists. They work to advance good governance in developing countries by supporting civil society organizations.

PTF believes governments alone can’t be expected to stop corruption. Their latest research shows that well-designed, citizen-led programs to strengthen transparency and accountability can produce better outcomes than state-led initiatives.. PTF’s report has practical recommendations for how empowered, engaged, and professional non-government actors can advance Sustainable Development Goal 16.

To read the report or learn more about PTF’s work visit ptfund.org.

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the words "United Nations"? Melissa Fleming, UN Under Secretary General for Global Communications, spends a lot of time thinking about how people all over the world answer that question. A newcomer to UN headquarters in September, with a big agenda ahead (like the UN's 75th anniversary), Fleming wants the UN to become synonymous with positivity and real solutions. In the process, can she improve what some see as the UN's image problem?

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Hey there! Did you know UN-Scripted is part of a publication called PassBlue? We're a women-led news site with smart, exclusive articles on the UN almost daily. You can subscribe to get our articles right in your inbox by visiting www.passblue.com.

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Support for UN-Scripted comes from the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University. This spring, they’re offering online humanitarian training courses. Topics include cash, commodities, and services in a humanitarian response, managing or negotiating humanitarian responses, and more. Courses runs from March 16 through April 25.

Or, earn an International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance. It’s a 4-week intensive taught by practicing humanitarian professionals, in New York City, from May 31st through June 27th. For more information, email [email protected].

As the United Nations Security Council faces rising tensions between the United States and Iran in the Middle East, Vietnam assumes the Council presidency this month as well as the chairmanship of the Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN)for 2020. On this week's show, we chat with two experts about how Vietnam may navigate the global crisis alongside its own priorities: Noeleen Heyzer, a distinguished fellow at the University of Singapore and former diplomat and high-level UN official, and Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran, a senior editor at The Diplomat and a fellow at the Carter Center.

CORRECTION: The UN ambassador from China is properly referred to as "Ambassador Zhang" because of Chinese naming conventions. Last episode, we referred to him as "Ambassador Jun," which is his first name. Special thanks to our listeners who brought this to our attention. Whether correction or comment, we'd love to hear from you! We're at @Fillionsteph10 and @CandelaKacie on Twitter.

China's investments around the globe purportedly came with "no strings attached." But many countries on the receiving end of those investments are now declining at the United Nations to denounce China's human rights record, even as its treatment of the Uighurs becomes increasingly difficult to deny. Co-host Stéphanie Fillion brings us up to speed. Also, we bring you an exclusive interview with the highest-ranking US citizen at the UN: Rosemary DiCarlo. She shares with us what it’s like to be a female Under-Secretary-General as the UN strives for gender parity in senior posts, heading a brand new UN department, and moving "across the street" from the US mission to the UN to the UN Secretariat. To read our full coverage of the UN and receive our articles in your inbox, visit www.passblue.com and subscribe.

Because the UN is located in New York City, the ambassadors don't often get to see the rest of the US, let alone experience "Southern hospitality." No more. As Security Council President this month, US Ambassador Kelly Knight Craft is taking the council "home for the holidays" to her home state of Kentucky. PassBlue Editor Dulcie Leimbach travelled to the horse capital of the world to see what's in store for the ambassadors, and learn more about Knight Craft's hometown and family history. PassBlue Contributor Irwin Arieff also joins us to discuss Knight Craft's record since taking the UN post in September.

African summits may be in vogue, and Russia’s recent summit in Sochi is no exception. PassBlue correspondent Joe Penney traveled to to the Black Sea resort to report on Russian President Vladimir Putin's pitch to African leaders: promoting a second African independence, this time financial, including offers of major developments like nuclear power. Yet, Russia is the #1 supplier of weapons to Africa, and many Russian and African delegates didn't pass up a chance to hold and pose with Kalashnikovs at the summit. Also: highlights from our exclusive interview with former Swedish foreign mister and mother of feminist foreign policy, Margot Wallstrom, on whether feminist foreign policies are here to stay.