Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1cotezim042908.html
www.innercitypress.com/un1cotezim042908.html
UNITED NATIONS, April 29 -- As the Security Council met on Cote d'Ivoire on Tuesday morning, the Ambassador of former colonial power France Jean-Maurice Ripert took to the stakeout microphone. His lead focus was Zimbabwe, but Inner City Press asked for France's position on the delay of the Ivorian elections from June to November 30, and whether the promised disarmament and identifications for voting will take place before then. We must support the process, Ripert said. Inner City Press asked, but what about the delay? "It doesn't matter when it happens," Ripert said, "but that it happens." Some say it won't happen until 2010, if then...
K.Y. Choi, who hasn't spoken to reporters at UN since he became the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, strode into the Council at 9:55, decidedly earlier than the Ambassadors he would address. While he spoke, Inner City Press asked the Spokesperson's office if, at least, Choi would come to the stakeout microphone for questions. It did not take place.
As Lynn Pascoe briefed the Council about Zimbabwe, reporters scoured the UN following reports of sightings of representatives of the Movement for Democratic Change. Amb. Ripert emerged, and Inner City Press asked if he had met with the MDC today. We meet with all sides on Zimbabwe, including here in New York, he said.
Ripert was asked, but did you meet with them today?
That doesn't make a difference, he said.
It does to us, Inner City Press said.
The point is, we meet with all sides in Zimbabwe, and well before this crisis, Ripert said. His statement to the Council favored a UN mission to Zimbabwe, but only "en liaison" with the African Union and SADC. Fat chance...
Footnote: the rumor of Ripert taking over from fellow Frenchman as head of UN Peacekeeping continues to circulate. Some opposition was heard, from a party with business before the Council. But the opposition was whispered, back by the cigarette butt strewn bar that was closed after the First Gulf War. The Secretary General gets to pick his USGs, another diplomat said, reminiscing on Boutros Galli's selection of Kofi Annan. That will not happen here. Watch this site.
And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1cotezim042908.html
