Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1rice061908.html
UNITED NATIONS, June 19 -- As the UN Security Council's debate on a resolution to condemn rape as a tool of war began, after Condi Rice swept into the chamber with her entourage, the U.S. mission let it be known that abstentions were no longer expected. What, one wondered, had been the pro-rape argument? As always at the UN, it was styled as a matter of principle. The first argument, according to Inner City Press' sources involved in the negotiations, was that rape no matter how systematic is not a threat to international peace and security but is rather an internal matter. The second was a cultural argument, that the drive behind the resolution is "Western in nature." To be seen as pro-rape, however, would not do. And so a unanimous vote is expected in connection with Condi Rice's visit. There will be 60 speakers, with Myanmar near the rear in 57th place.
Before the meeting began, France's Rama Yade came to the stakeout microphone and gave a speech in French. Like the Security Council delegation, she had just returned from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically the Kivus. She said militias must be disarmed and then distanced from the Kivus and kept occupied. But which region of Congo would want the FDLR? One imagines a "not in my backyard" battle, in which inducements might be proffered.
On Zimbabwe, Condi Rice will head to the basement for an 11:30 meeting. The Press will be allowed in, after security screening, for the first ten minutes, including a speech by Burkina Faso Foreign Minister Djibril Bassole, then out. On her way to meet Ban Ki-moon, Condi Rice will stop to speak and maybe take some questions. Afghanistan? North Korea? John McCain?
And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1rice061908.html
