Saturday, October 27, 2012

On Libya, No UNSC Agreement Even on "Ban-like" Statement, US Said to Block


By Matthew Russell Lee
 
UNITED NATIONS, October 23 -- Amid the fighting in Bani Walid, Libya, the UN Security Council met Tuesday morning on a proposed press statement drafted by Russia. On his way in, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the press the draft tracks what UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on the topic.

  But midway through the closed door meeting, another Security Council member told Inner City Press, "we should pass something on Bani Walid but US not making it easy."

  And when the meeting broke up, the draft statement (which Inner City Press put online last night) had not been agreed to. UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said that Libyan authorities were being reminded of international humanitarian law.

  Inner City Press asked Lyall Grant, who is doing this reminding? He said his government and he believed the US as well.

  Another Security Council source told Inner City Press that US would not accept the Council press statement. "Nothing until after the election," the source said. Another said this first year anniversary was not the time for a "discordant note." And so it goes at the UN.
 
Footnote: if the Council could not agree on, essentially, Ban Ki-moon's statement on Bani Walid, the two Russian drafted statements on Syria seem even less likely to some. Lakhdar Brahimi will brief the Council by video in the morning. Watch this site.