By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, January 4, updated -- US Ambassador Susan Rice was asked Tuesday about Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo and Sudan's Omar al Bashir's billions.
Rice called Gbagbo a serious concern, and reiterated to Inner City Press that she still does not recall any meeting with International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo about Bashir diverting money to foreign bank accounts.
As Bosnia assumes the presidency of the UN Security Council for January, other Council members' Ambassadors arrive for bilateral consultations on the month's program of work. Susan Rice went first, and spoke afterward to the Press. She predicted an “interesting” 2011, with the Council being joined by countries which seek a more permanent presence: India, South Africa, Germany.
Inner City Press showed Rice a follow up story quoting “one senior American official” as “aware of the prosecutor's investigation.” Rice said she had seen the story, but still did not remember the meeting with Ocampo memorialized in a State Department cable published by WikiLeaks. I think I would remember that, she said.
UK Permanent Representative Mark Lyall Grant went in second for consultations. On Iran's invitation to some countries to take a nuclear tour of the country, Lyall Grant called it “diversionary,” but noted the upcoming round of talks.
Inner City Press asked Lyall Grant about a Swiss report that UK foreign secretary William Hague said he would look favorably at sending troops -- the article implied UK troops -- to Cote d'Ivoire. I've been away, Lyall Grant said, but I doubt he meant UK troops, rather that he would support a vote to send troops.
On his way out, Lyall Grant said on the Middle East that anything that leads to a resumption of negotiations will be good. He declined to comment on the new line up of the Council -- whether for example India might support China in driving Myanmar entirely off the Council's agency, or others support the pro-sovereignty position Russia took on Ivory Coast -- saying “at least let us meet” before asking for comment.
Inner City Press asked Lyall Grant about Nepal. He said the opposition letter which the UN Secretariat told Inner City Press on January 3 had been received had still not been circulated. Yes, he noted, Karin Landgren has got another job. Click here for the Jan. 3 Inner City Press piece on Nepal.
Whoever was third on the schedule came late -- Bosnia's Ivan Barbalic left the Council at 10:50, saying that one Ambassador was late, “Vitaly” was expected later in the morning: Russia's Ambassador Churkin.
Passing by the Security Council but not entering, a diplomat from Georgia stopped to ask Inner City Press why the Council doesn't at least ask for a briefing from Secretary General's representative to the Geneva talks about Abkhazia. “Russia is keeping it off the agenda,” the diplomat complained. Watch this site.
Update of 11:41 pm -- as India's Permanent Representative Hardeep Singh Puri walked in to the Council, Inner City Press asked him what are India's priorities for the month. “Full support for the Bosnian presidency,” he said quickly. Inner City Press asked, What about Nepal?”
“The mission is over,” he said. “Wind up.”
