By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 6, updated -- After China's Permanent Representative Li Baodong twice told Inner City Press there would consultations on Syria by the Permanent Five members of the Security Council plus Morocco for the Arab League, this small meeting took place midday Tuesday.
While the meeting took place, other Council Ambassador left. Hardeep Sing Puri, the Permanent Representative of India -- yes, "the world's largest democracy" -- told Inner City Press that maybe after Security Council reform his country would be in such meetings.
He again predicted no Council action until after the trips to Syria of envoy Kofi Annan and UN Humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, who it is now understood may brief the Council next Tuesday from Helsinki about her visit.
When the "P5 plus Morocco" meeting broken up, first out was US Ambassador Susan Rice. She was asked whether the press could expect a vote Monday on a draft resolution. "I don't think you should expect anything specific," she said and left.
China's Permanent RepresentativeLi Baodong emerged and also stopped to speak, saying "We are still working on that."
Morocco's Permanent Representative Loulichki called it "promising," but said that no date had been set for another meeting.
France was represented by its Deputy Permanent Representative Martin Briens, who said nothing.
Russia's Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin declined to comment on this way out; on his way into the Council he'd told the press he's "always optimistic."
UK Permanent Representative Mark Lyall Grant, president of the Council for March, declined to comment on Syria. Inner City Press told Lyall Grant that Sudan's Permanent Representative had "liked the Sudan PRST;" a response may be forthcoming on that, perhaps even from the US. Watch this site.
Update of 4 pm: the US Mission provided this, attributable to Ambassador Rice:
