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UN Envoys Fume Over New York Smoking Ban
The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 9-4-2003 | Simon English

Posted on 09/03/2003 5:14:43 PM PDT by blam

UN envoys fume over New York smoking ban

By Simon English in New York
(Filed: 04/09/2003)

A diplomatic confrontation between American authorities and much of the rest of the world intensified yesterday as senior officials at the United Nations insisted on their right to smoke in the organisation's headquarters.

Casting aside petty differences and forging new allegiances, UN ambassadors said they would ignore New York's smoking ban, imposed five months ago and extended to the UN this week.

A directive signed by Kofi Annan, the secretary-general, demanded that "no smoking shall be permitted in any of the UN premises at headquarters", in line with the anti-smoking fixation of Michael Bloomberg, New York's mayor. But at the UN building, Mr Annan and Mr Bloomberg faced rebellion. Despite warnings from UN officials that anyone caught puffing in the building would face "disciplinary action", smokers lit up and inhaled deeply.

The Russian ambassador, Sergey Lavrov, seen marching to the delegates' lounge for a smoke, said Mr Annan "doesn't own this building".


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ban; envoys; new; nyc; pufflist; smoking; un; unhq; york
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1 posted on 09/03/2003 5:14:44 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam
The Russian ambassador, Sergey Lavrov, seen marching to the delegates' lounge for a smoke, said Mr Annan "doesn't own this building".

LOL! The Russian was like, "And what are you going to do about it? Pass a resolution against me? LOL!"

Man, I knew this would NOT go over well, the Russians and other Eastern Europeans and most of the third-world smoke more than Bette Davis in "Now, Voyager".

2 posted on 09/03/2003 5:17:50 PM PDT by wimpycat (Down with Kooks and Kookery!)
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To: blam
Oh, this is hysterical. I can see a SNL or Tracey Ullman skit here.
LOL!
3 posted on 09/03/2003 5:18:12 PM PDT by EggsAckley (......No more debating with McClintBots who are NOT from California.........~</;o))
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To: blam
Bet they don't pay mikey's taxes either?
4 posted on 09/03/2003 5:20:17 PM PDT by dts32041 ("Moderate Arab" he's the one who detonates his bomb via remote control.)
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To: blam
Good for them.

Too bad NYC will let them do as they please while they will issue summonses for US citizens breaking the same law.
5 posted on 09/03/2003 5:21:14 PM PDT by At _War_With_Liberals
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To: EggsAckley
I hope they keep on ignoring it, and then when the rest of New Yorkers see the UN guys getting away with it--one of two things can happen. They'll get even more pissed off at the UN, or they'll say, "Hey! If you're not going to enforce the law against them, then you can't enforce it against us!" and proceed to light up.
6 posted on 09/03/2003 5:22:04 PM PDT by wimpycat (Down with Kooks and Kookery!)
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To: At _War_With_Liberals
Maybe the UN will open up a smoking "sanctuary" for New Yorkers...let the public in there. That will further cause tension, either between New Yorkers and the UN, or New Yorkers and Bloomberg's Volstead-Act-like law. Either way, something good might come of it.
7 posted on 09/03/2003 5:25:00 PM PDT by wimpycat (Down with Kooks and Kookery!)
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To: blam
This is hilarious.

The Battle of the Bureaucrats.

I just love the Onion.

8 posted on 09/03/2003 5:25:56 PM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: blam
There is a long-established inverse relationship between smoking and intelligence levels, for obvious reasons. I am therefore not in the least surprised that UN delegates and employees are upset.
9 posted on 09/03/2003 5:27:15 PM PDT by southernnorthcarolina ("Yes, but other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?")
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To: *puff_list
Smoke ring ping.
10 posted on 09/03/2003 5:28:13 PM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: Madame Dufarge
Say, lets move the UN to Saudi Arabia, no drinking, no smoking, no showing face.

11 posted on 09/03/2003 5:34:01 PM PDT by stubernx98
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To: stubernx98
Say, lets move the UN to Saudi Arabia, no drinking, no smoking, no showing face

Well, not for the little pipples anyway.

12 posted on 09/03/2003 5:38:34 PM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: blam
Despite warnings from UN officials that anyone caught puffing in the building would face "disciplinary action", smokers lit up and inhaled deeply.

They have diplomatic immunity. There's nothing Kofi can do no matter how much he huffs.

13 posted on 09/03/2003 5:40:12 PM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: southernnorthcarolina
There is a long-established inverse relationship between smoking and intelligence levels, for obvious reasons. I am therefore not in the least surprised that UN delegates and employees are upset.

What a neat little package for an anti-smoking snot.

14 posted on 09/03/2003 5:41:20 PM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: southernnorthcarolina; *puff_list
"There is a long-established inverse relationship between smoking and intelligence levels, for obvious reasons."

Oh really?

Is that inverse relationship anything like Ohm's law?

Your painting with an awful broad brush there.

And just to let you know something....I'm 36, been lightly smoking for 20 years, have a physical every year with chest x-ray which is still normal, and would have NO problem keeping up with you or anyother smoke knatzie on any kind of run, walk or any other physical activity.

15 posted on 09/03/2003 5:42:09 PM PDT by Vigilantcitizen (Herman Cain for Senator.)
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To: blam
I find it rather funny that the UN wants to ban our guns but gets upset when we ban their cigs....
They should just "suck" it up.
16 posted on 09/03/2003 5:42:33 PM PDT by cavtrooper21 (The only thing criminals will get from me is a .45 bullet or cold steel... Their choice.)
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To: southernnorthcarolina
Well.
Dang nabbit! I'ze allay's wondered about why I cain't count to moren' tten on my toes ...
Go fly a kite...
17 posted on 09/03/2003 5:45:09 PM PDT by cavtrooper21 (The only thing criminals will get from me is a .45 bullet or cold steel... Their choice.)
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To: blam
Wow, some members actually speaking up for democracy, must be a first for the UN.
18 posted on 09/03/2003 6:04:42 PM PDT by Great Dane (You can smoke just about everywhere in Denmark.)
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: Madame Dufarge
What a neat little package for an anti-smoking snot.

LOL, thank you again.

20 posted on 09/03/2003 6:08:27 PM PDT by Great Dane (You can smoke just about everywhere in Denmark.)
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