OPINION:
“U.N. proves major threat to press freedom” by Drew Johnson (Web, May 3) claims that in September 2014, U.N. Peacekeeping Chief Herve Ladsous prevented reporters from filming a media engagement in Sudan. Writer Drew Johnson also alleges that Mr. Ladsous canceled the briefing when efforts to prevent filming proved ineffective.
This is inaccurate. The press conference Mr. Johnson mentions was related to a high-level meeting about Mali that took place on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Sept. 27, 2014, and not in Sudan. Mr. Ladsous did not prevent reporters from filming. He did, however, briefly attempt to cover the light of a camera that was being thrust in his face as he was speaking with reporters while awaiting his turn to address the media.
Mr. Ladsous has an open, collegial and regular relationship with the press corps. He and officials in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations regularly make themselves available to the media, including through press stakeout engagements, press conferences and briefings on all issues related to U.N. peacekeeping, videos of which are posted on the U.N. website (webtv.un.org).
Anyone with questions related to this issue or any other is welcome to contact us.
ISMINI PALLA
Deputy Chief of Public Affairs
Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support, United Nations
New York
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