UK Mission to the UN

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Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,

I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the freedom of information act. In order to assist you with this request, I am outlining my query as specifically as possible.

I write with reference to the below press release from UK Mission to the UN that the organisation UN Watch has on its website:

“ UK Press Release: Statement on comments by UN Special Rapporteur, Richard Falk – 24 April 2013
The Spokesperson of the UK Mission to the UN said:
‘The UK objects strongly to recent remarks made by UN Special Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, Richard Falk, linking the Boston bombings to “American global domination” and “Tel Aviv”. This is the third time we have had cause to express our concerns about Mr Falk’s antisemitic remarks. It is important to the UK that Special Rapporteurs uphold the highest standards in their work and we have twice previously made clear that remarks by Mr Falk were unacceptable.’ “

1 Could you please confirm that the above quoted press release was issued by the UK Mission to the UN and to who the press release was issued and in what format, orally, faxed, email etc?

2 If this press release is genuine, has it been altered or abridged and if so what is the wording of the official press release.

3 To what other agencies other than UN Watch was the press release issued?

4 Why was this particular press release not included anywhere on the UK Mission to the UN website and is notably excluded from the section entitled 'Announcements'?

4 The precise phrases in Richard Falk’s original article that the UK Mission to the UN have construed to be anti semitic and an explanation why?

I understand that under the act, I should be entitled to a response within 20 working days. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Yours faithfully,
S Smith

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

FOI Request, Ref: 0437-13
 
Dear Sir/Madam
 
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request. It has been assigned a
unique reference number (above) and has been passed to the relevant
section within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to deal with. They will
be in touch with you should your request need clarification.
 
We received your request on 13 May 2013 and will aim to respond within 20
working days.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Information Rights Team
FCO
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: S Smith [[1]mailto:[FOI #161208 email]]
Sent: 13 May 2013 14:05
To: DP-FOI IMG (Restricted)
Subject: Freedom of Information request - UK Mission to the UN
 
     Dear Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
 
     I am writing to make an open government request for all the
     information to which I am entitled under the freedom of information
     act. In order to assist you with this request, I am outlining my
     query as specifically as possible.
 
     I write with reference to the below press release from UK Mission
     to the UN that the organisation UN Watch has on its website:
 
     “ UK Press Release: Statement on comments by UN Special Rapporteur,
     Richard Falk – 24 April 2013
     The Spokesperson of the UK Mission to the UN said:
     ‘The UK objects strongly to recent remarks made by UN Special
     Rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, Richard Falk, linking
     the Boston bombings to “American global domination” and “Tel Aviv”.
     This is the third time we have had cause to express our concerns
     about Mr Falk’s antisemitic remarks. It is important to the UK that
     Special Rapporteurs uphold the highest standards in their work and
     we have twice previously made clear that remarks by Mr Falk were
     unacceptable.’ “
 
     1 Could you please confirm that the above quoted press release was
     issued by the UK Mission to the UN and to who the press release was
     issued and in what format, orally, faxed, email etc?
 
     2 If this press release is genuine, has it been altered or abridged
     and if so what is the wording of the official press release.
 
     3 To what other agencies other than UN Watch was the press release
     issued?
 
     4 Why was this particular press release not included anywhere on
     the UK Mission to the UN website and is notably excluded from the
     section entitled 'Announcements'?
 
     4 The precise phrases in Richard Falk’s original article that the
     UK Mission to the UN have construed to be anti semitic and an
     explanation why?
 
     I understand that under the act, I should be entitled to a response
     within 20 working days. I look forward to hearing from you in the
     near future.
 
     Yours faithfully,
     S Smith
 
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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     If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your
     web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
 
 
     -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 

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***********************************************************************************
Visit [1]http://www.gov.uk/fco  for British foreign policy news and travel
advice and [2]http://blogs.fco.gov.uk to read our blogs.
 
This email (with any attachments) is intended for the attention of the
addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended recipient, please inform
the sender straight away before deleting the message without copying,
distributing or disclosing its contents to any other person or
organisation. Unauthorised use, disclosure, storage or copying is not
permitted.
Any views or opinions expressed in this e-mail do not necessarily reflect
the FCO's policy.
The FCO keeps and uses information in line with the Data Protection Act
1998. Personal information may be released to other UK government
departments and public authorities.
All messages sent and received by members of the Foreign & Commonwealth
Office and its missions overseas may be automatically logged, monitored
and/or recorded in accordance with the Telecommunications (Lawful Business
Practice) (Interception of Communications) Regulations 2000.
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References

Visible links
1. http://www.gov.uk/fco
2. http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/

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