By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, April 4 -- The UN's Special Envoy to Libya Abdul Ilah Al-Khatib confirmed to Inner City Press on Monday that he is still a paid Senator in Jordan. Meanwhile he ostensibly serves only the UN.
Al Khatib took questions from the press after briefing the Security Council about Libya. Inner City Press asked him if he is still a Senator from Jordan, paid by Jordan, and how that is consistent with his UN role.
I am not a UN staff, he replied. The details of my contract are still being worked out.
After the on-camera stakeout, he told Inner City Press he wish he had been contacted before the first story in this series.
But Inner City Press has repeatedly asked UN spokesman Martin Nesirky and Farhan Haq to explain al Khatib's arrangement with the UN, in light of an Office of Legal Affairs memo calling his double service impermissible under UN rules and Charter.
Inner City Press also asked Khatib for his views on the treatment of protesters in Jordan. He said that “other than one or two accidents,” Jordan has allowed protests to take place. But if that changes?
Numerous UN sources have told Inner City Press of deep disquiet, even quite close to Ban Ki-moon, with Khatib's double service, and the selection of a sitting Senator from a country facing protests to represent the UN in Libya.
Some Council members have expressed, not for attribution, dissatisfaction with Khatib. That may explain the UN's move to its British former envoy to Nepal Ian Martin to work on a mission to Libya.
It is now understood that the nomination of Ian Martin came not from the UK Mission but from within the UN Secretariat itself. Duly noted.
