By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, October 16 -- The morning after Australia's Security Council election party in the UN Tent, Inner City Press asked the country's Permanent
Representative Gary Quinlan about his Finnish counterpart Jarmo Viinanen having just exclusively told the Press that Finland has 165 commitments, from the 193 UN member states.
Combined with Luxembourg supporters telling Inner City Press that country has 150 promises, that would leave Australia with a mere 71 votes.
Ambassador Quinlan paused then said, "Take that and double it, then add twenty."
That would be 162. Like Viinanen, he said he believes country's commitments, recounting that one member state -- only one, he emphasized -- recent came and said it was switching its vote away. He said he was disappointed, but appreciated being told.
That candor can be contrasted with this race, in which by some counts one third of member states are dissembling and committing to three countries for only two seats.
Beyond the tent reception, with over 400 guests, and a lot of travel, African sources tell Inner City Press that Australia will be funding a post in the African Union.
Inner City Press asked Russian Permanent Representative Vitaly Churkin about it and he quipped, the important thing is not to have more than 193 votes.
Yes, that might bring in an investigation. First the voting, on October 18. Watch this site.
