By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 1 -- After the UN General Assembly acted unanimously and by consensus to suspend Libya from the UN Human Rights Council, Venezuelan Ambassador Valero issued a blistering speech denouncing US imperialism and, by implication, the move to suspend Libya.
Standing outside the GA Hall, Inner City Press asked Ambassador Valero when he left why Venezuela hadn't acted on its speech and cast a “no” vote, abstained or at least asked for a roll call.
“We thought this was more effective,” Valero said cryptically. The night before, Inner City Press was told by a major power, and reported, that Venezuela would not vote against, that there would be consensus. But why?
When UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant came to the GA stakeout, Inner City Press asked him if the UK believes that a new Security Council resolution is needed in order to authorize the imposition and enforcement of a no-fly zone. Lyall Grant heard the question, smiled at the UN TV camera and walked away without answering it.
The UK's media strategy at the UN becomes more and more limited every day. Between Tuesday and Saturday of last week -- when Security Council ambassadors attended a Chinese circus between the 5 pm suspension and 8 pm vote -- Lyall Grant spoke primarily to UN Radio. Did he face and answer a question about the need for Security Council authorization, or about the UK's arms sales to Libya?
Inner City Press asked Japan's Permanent Representative Tsuneo Nishida if his country would be supportive of a no fly zone, if on the Council. He amiably declined to answer. At least he came to the microphone.
While there was bragging about African support for the suspension, the Democratic Republic of Congo's Permanent Representative Ileka Atoki told Inner City Press his country was not a sponsor because the DRC has been accused of things without them being verified.
Inner City Press asked DRC's Ambassador Atoki about Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's charge that Cote d'Ivoire's defiant leader Laurent Gbagbo was importing three attack helicopters from Belarus, and he only laughed. Even a diplomat from anti-Gbagbo Burkina Faso said that Ban had badly erred. We'll have more on this.