By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, August 22 -- For Wednesday's UN Security Council open meeting on the Middle East, there was only one speaker: Jeffrey Feltman, doing his first such briefing since arriving from the US State Department.
Even without the ability to reply, Syria's Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari, Palestine's Riyad Mansour and representatives from countries ranging from Egypt to North Korea streamed into the Security Council chamber to listen, and to watch.
Afterward, Inner City Press asked Palestine's Mansour what he thought of Feltman and his presentation. Mansour exclusively told Inner City Press, "He needs more time to get accustomed to the culture that exists here."
On Syria, Feltman said he would be brief: the UNSMIS mission is over, new Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi is coming to New York later this week.
Feltman said that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is concerning about the flow of arms to all parties in Syria -- then mentioned only Security Council Resolution 1747 on Iran arms exports.
While it is argued that is the only directly applicable Council resolution, Ban is allowed to be concerned, and Feltman, to speak about arms flows such as those from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. But it did not happened on Wednesday.
After the meeting, Ja'afari was asked about Brahimi's comment that Syria is a civil war, which drew a rebuke from Damascus. Ja'afari said, "it's the media, he was misinterpreted."
But what about the Syrian National Council's angry claim Brahimi said it's too early for him to say Assad should go? On that Brahimi said the SNC should apologize to him. Unique mediation.
French prime minister Ayrault bragged that his country has said "yes" to the SNC's request for protection, presumably meaning body armor. But will Brahimi need protection from the SNC?
Again, on the Palestine and Israel part of the briefing, Inner City Press asked Palestine's Mansour what he thought of Feltman and his presentation. Mansour answered, "He needs more time to get accustomed to the culture that exists here. You're a smart journalist," you interpret. OK. Watch this site.
