By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 27 -- After the Mali meeting of the UN Security Council, France's Gerard Araud came out and took questions from the Press. On Mali, Inner City Press asked if the so-called parallel force would be under UN control, who would pay for it, and how it would compare to France's parallel force in Cote d'Ivoire, the Force Licorne.
Araud said that this “didn't come up” but that it was a “real question,” to be discussed at another Council meeting next Tuesday. Other sources said there was grumbling because Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's report on Mali was, for this meeting, only in English.
A reporter from the US State Department asked Araud if he was “still shooting for April 15.” He laughed at the use of the term “shooting” applied to the situation in Mali, then said, “in April.”
On the Congo, Inner City Press asked how the concerns of Troop Contributing Countries like Guatemala and Pakistan were being addressed. Araud emphasized that the French draft is “in blue” and will be voted on tomorrow. He assumed that Pakistan and Guatemala will vote yes.
Inner City Press has inquired if there will be explanation of votes. “Or votes,” was the answer. Watch this site.
