By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, September 28 -- When Spain's foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo came to take questions from the Press on Friday morning, one expected something about the cutbacks and protests. Instead he delivered a litany of bilateral meetings, including with the Polisario Front of Western Sahara and restored UN envoy Christopher Ross.
Inner City Press asked him if he thought any progress was being made on Western Sahara. He spoke of free determination, consistent with resolutions of the UN.
Ban Ki-moon's readout of his meeting with President Mariano Rajoy Brey did not mention Western Sahara, but rather expressed "appreciation for Spain’s support" for "UN peacekeeping in Lebanon and elsewhere."
Inner City Press asked Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo what IS Spain's commitment to UNIFIL in Lebanon? Spain is cutting half of its peacekeepers there. He replied that Spain only maked changes after consulting its allies; he said Spain has peacekeepers in Afghanistan and Somalia as well as Lebanon. Somalia?
Spain is running in two years for one of two Western European and Other Group seats on the Security Council, against Turkey and New Zealand. Turkey would seem assured of victory. If Australia DOESN'T win this October, New Zealand might have a leg up in two year's time. Watch this site.
