Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/sc81nov110408.html
UNITED NATIONS, November 4, 10:30 am, updated -- With proxy wars raging in the Congo, Somalia and elsewhere, the Costa Rican presidency of the UN Security Council began with a breakfast Tuesday morning. Ambassador Jorge Urbina greeted dozens of diplomats and freeloaders at the Council's entrance. Several of each stopped and spoke with Inner City Press, together painting a picture of the coming month's program of work.
"Myanmar and Zimbabwe are in the footnotes," one well-placed source confided, adding that the U.S. put Myanmar on, and the UK "peace and security in Africa," in this case the code word for Mugabe. The Kosovo meeting was going to be closed, but since the Serbian foreign minister -- "who seems to live in New York," one staffer snarked -- wants to speak, or even his president Tadic, it will an an open session.
There is a footnote on the Middle East, which Inner City Press is told means Tony Blair, the still-outstanding request that he come and briefing the Council, since he serves as envoy to the Middle East Quartet. Last week, even UNRWA's Karen AbuZayd noted that many hats Blair wears, wondering what if anything he accomplishes.
Urbina is said to favor meetings being open, rather than private consultations. Whether that means he will describe Council dynamics at the stakeout microphone, as neither the Belgian or Chinese Ambassadors were willing to do, remains to be seen.
Update of 1 p.m., while in Amb. Urbina's press conference: he has confirmed that Zimbabwe is on, but in response to Inner City Press' request that in the spirit of transparency he disclose which delegation asked to put it on, he said "the Council as a whole." He confirmed that Tony Blair has been asked to briefing the Council, some time ago, but has yet to respond.
And see, www.innercitypress.com/sc81nov110408.html
