By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, October 28 -- The UN's Libya envoy Ian Martin buzzed around the Security Council Friday morning, meeting with a number of Western ambassadors. Inner City Press has learned the purpose of his selective bilateral meetings: "he cannot set up UNSMIL in three months, he needs a rollover" -- that is, more time for the UN Support Mission in Libya.
But three non-Western Permanent Representatives consulted by Inner City Press not only had not met with Martin, their Missions to the UN had not even received any request from Martin for a meeting. This included a Permanent Five member of the Council.
Chinese Permanent Representative Li Baodong, not aware of any request from Martin, smiled and told Inner City Press, "That's a good point." The Permanent Representative of an African Union member said no contact had been made by Martin, despite statements that Africans and the African Union would be kept involved.
Sources on the UN's Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions say that Martin has requested to meet with them.
As Inner City Press previously reported, there is a $10 million cap on funds that can be expended without going to the full Fifth (Budget) Committee, yesterday the scene of a fiasco in which the European Union's insistent request to speak second was resolved, against the EU, by a coin flip - click here for that story.
"One third of Martin's mandate is gone and he did nothing," a Council diplomat told Inner City Press. "We all know he needs a roll over, he told the Security Council in an open session. But why do his meetings in this order?"
In fairness, UNSMIL is barely getting deployed. Martin briefed the Council by video not from Tripoli but Malta. But he or some other knowledgeable person about Libya in the UN needs to take and answer questions - and not only friendly questions, like friendly delegations.
Friday's buzzing around, yet another Council diplomat told Inner City Press, "shows who Martin's friend are."
