By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, November 1, updated Nov. 5 -- Preventive diplomacy under another name and the Hariri Tribunal on Lebanon will be be addressed by the UN Security Council in this first week of the UK's presidency, Inner City Press learned Monday afternoon.
The UN has been very quiet about when United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission prosecutor Daniel Bellemare will be in New York, with UN spokesman Martin Nesirky shirking off questions at Monday's noon briefing. By late afternoon from a Council member Inner City Press learned that the briefing is Friday, November 5 under “Any Other Business.”
[Update: while it was supposed to be Bellamare, he canceled a trip to Boston, New York and Washington because of the attack on Tribunal staff -- this was first reported by Al Nahar -- so it is UN lawyer Patricia O'Brien.]
Also contentious is the concept of preventative diplomacy. The UK has wanted to hear more from the UN Department of Political Affairs, and proposed a wide ranging presentation by DPA chief Lynn Pascoe for November 4 under the heading “preventive diplomacy.”
Some other Security Council members, wary of the Council's mission creep and of that heading, pointed out that it is not on the Council's agenda. Thus it will simply be called “Briefing by Mr. Pascoe,” and seemingly will be confined to a closed door session. One hopes that Pascoe's grab of the time of the General Assembly created Good Offices on Myanmar staff will be raised.
On November 3, Cote d'Ivoire envoy Choi will brief the Council by video link up. Even that gave rise to protests, from some members who do not want the precedent of envoys no longer coming to New York to make their presentations.
They should be aware: UNAMID chief Ibrahim Gambari was in New York last Monday October 25 while they met about Sudan, but did not come to the meeting. “On leave,” Inner City Press has been told.
An issue that remains unresolved by the Council but should be early in the UK presidency is that of those in Abu Shouk IDP camp who have been arrested and harassed since the Council's visit in early October. Now two have been named, while another Council member says the list that should be looked at is longer. What will the UK do? Watch this site.
Footnote: Also on Darfur, when Inner City Press asked the UN's Special Rapporteur on Racism and Xenophobia Githu Muigai to comment on Sudan, accused of genocide, he declined to, saying the International Criminal Court is considering it. So does being indicted have its benefits?