By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, October 19 -- As Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakkul Karman campaigns in New York against the immunity for Ali Saleh provided in the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, the 15 members of the Security Council scheduled an experts level meeting not in the UN but at the UK Mission on the Permanent Five members' draft resolution, which calls for "a political settlement based upon [the] Gulf Cooperation Council initiative."
Inner City Press put the draft online earlier today, here.
At Wednesday's noon media briefing, Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky, for the second day in a row, about Karman's letter to Ban opposing any immunity. Nesirky said Ban had yet to receive the letter, but that he might meet with Karman in the afternoon.
Now, Inner City Press has learned the meeting will take place at 5 pm, after the Security Council's experts level meeting. Rallying across from Ban's office on Tuesday afternoon, Karman said she will not leave New York until Saleh is subject to an asset freeze and is referred to the International Criminal Court.
A member of the Security Council, asked about this vow, said dismissively that sure, everyone likes to come to and stay in New York. But another source who has met with Ms. Karman predicts she stands by her words and could "really make an embarrassment" - for Ban, for the Council members, perhaps especially the US.
Karman by UN on Oct 18, (c) MRLee
The US is largely behind the Gulf Cooperation Council, led by US ally Saudi Arabia. Already Qatar dropped out of the deal -- its foreign minister told Inner City Press Qatar is no longer part of it. So really it is the GCC Minus One, just as there is the PG Plus One on Iran.
Supporters of the draft resolution tell Inner City Press that "the GCC is the only game in town." But who structured this game? Watch this site.