Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/un1gambari072108.html
UNITED NATIONS, July 21, updated July 22 -- Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Under Secretary General dealing with both Myanmar and Iraq, took a leave of absence to also deal with the Niger Delta conflict in his native Nigeria. On July 10, Inner City Press asked UN Spokesperson Michele Montas to confirm that Gambari had quit the Niger Delta position. Ms. Montas responded that Gambari's "role in the Niger Delta peace talks is a role that he's undertaking on his own." Inner City Press asked if Gambari would tell the UN if he quit the role -- yes, Ms. Montas said -- and if he had by July 10 so informed the UN. "Not that I know of," Ms. Montas replied. Transcript here
On July 21, Gambari told Inner City Press, "I've decided to step down at chairman of the steering group of the National Summit," because it takes "too much time. Ban Ki-moon agreed only as long as it did not negative affect my work here. Of course, as a Nigerian I'm available to help in any way I can. But full time, I can't do it."
Other reasons for Gambari's stepping-down have been set forth. But this is what Gambari approached Inner City Press to say, and we report it here. Inner City Press asked if anyone would replace Gambari. "The sad thing is, no one wants it," Gambari said.
Inner City Press joked that Gordon Brown apparently wants to get involved, referring to Brown's statement that the UK would back up Nigeria's government militarily in the Delta. "That's going to create problems," Gambari said.
The counter-position, expressed to Inner City Press since this piece was first published, is that Brown's comments were misconstrued as an open-ended offer to back the government in, or against, the Niger Delta. We'll see.
Inner City Press also asked Gambari about the UN's loss of value when it converts to the local currency, Kyat, through Foreign Exchange Certificates, as required and valuated by the government of Than Shwe. We will have more on that issue, as the UN's John Holmes as committed to looking into it during his current visit to Myanmar.And see, www.innercitypress.com/un1gambari072108.html
