By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive Audio
UNITED NATIONS, August 15 -- While the UN Security Council met Thursday about Egypt, at least three of that country's diplomats milled around just outside with the press.
When it was over, Inner City Press asked Egyptian Permanent Representative Mootaz Ahmadein Khalil on tape if the head of the UN Department of Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman could visit the country, as requested by Security Council president for August, Argentina.
Ambassador Mootaz Ahmadein Khalil said that "we have been contacted by the Secretariat" of the UN, "Mr. Feltman expressed his interest to go." He said, through Egypt's Mission to the UN, Feltman asked "to set up a number of high level meetings and we have done so." Inner City Press exclusive audio now online here.
This next step wasn't made clear in the bland agreed summary of the meeting that Argentine Permanent Representative Perceval read out at the stakeout. This was followed by shouting, why had she only denounced the anti-Morsi coup in her national capacity? Well, because a number of members have refused to call it a coup.
Sources, not at the US Mission, told Inner City Press that the US represented by Samantha Power (Inner City Press entrance photo here) expressed an interest in the end of the state of emergency and elections soon.
France proposed "press elements" for a statement, but this was rejected. Argentina wanted to know if Feltman will go.
And now, at least based on what Egyptian Ambassador Mootaz Ahmadein Khalil told Inner City Press, it seems the answer is "yes."
It must be noted that Feltman was previously the US State Department's chief for the Middle East. So will his approach be different than that of the State Department, where John Kerry not only didn't call it a coup, but said the military was restoring democracy?
Earlier on Thursday Inner City Press asked Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's deputy spokesman Eduardo Del Buey if the Secretariat had any comment on Malian coup leader Sanogo being rewarded this week with a promotion to General. Video via here.
No, there was no comment. Watch this site.
