By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, October 4 -- On the UN Security Council's press statement on Akcakale in Turkey, whatchanged in the 22 hours between the silence procedure being broken by Russia and the statement's read-out by Council President Gert Rosenthal on Thursday evening?
Mostly the inserting of nine final words: "The members of the Security Council called for restraint."
Inner City Press asked Ambassador Rosenthal, once he had read out the statement, whether it would be fair to read this as a call for restraint by Turkey as well, or just Syria.
"Both," Rosenthal said. He confirmed that a separate draft press statement on bombings in Aleppo is under the Council's "silence procedure" until 10 am on Friday. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the press that one Council member had extended silence until then. But would it be further extended?
There were a few other minor changes from the initial Azerbaijani (or "Ottoman") draft and the one agreed to: the first draft expressed condolences first to the Government of Turkey then to the families of the victims; this was reversed in the final statement. Also a reference to "international peace and security" was removed.
Some drew a link from the negotiations to an upcoming visit to Turkey by Russian president Putin on October 14. Others speculated about some other deal being reached.
In the run-up to the passing, a well placed diplomat told Inner City Press of passing the press statement, "If they can do it to keep Turkey quiet, good." But will it? Watch this site.
