By Matthew Russell Lee, Partial exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, July 12, updated -- In what several Security Council members tell Inner City Press is "brinksmanship," US Ambassador Susan Rice's July 11 closed door statement first reported by Inner City Press that the US will only support a Syria resolution under Chapter 7 was countered July 12 by Russia.
Russian Deputy Permanent Representative Pankin came out of the Security Council before 10 am from a meeting of the five Permanent Members and joked to Inner City Press that things looked "bright and shiny."
Moments later he clarified his bright line, saying the Russia will not agree to Chapter 7, that it is a "red line."
Later China's Li Baodong exclusively told Inner City Press "we have a problem with that as well. We support a renewal of the mandate, as requested by Kofi Annan."
Inner City Press asked Ambassador Rice about this as she left the Peacebuilding debate in the Security Council later on July 12. She answered that she does not like to disclose the US' red lines, "especially not in the press." Or would that be the Press?
Meanwhile the 11 am experts meeting on Syria that had been scheduled as reported by Inner City Press for the UK mission was moved to the consultations room of the Security Council. Why? A member told Inner City Press, "we have two drafts" - the UK and the Russian -- "so we had to find a neutral venue." And so it goes at the UN.
Update of 1 pm -- Inner City Press asked French ambassador Gerard Araud if Chapter 7 is a red line. "Yes," he said. "On both sides." Watch this site.
