By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, September 12 -- After French foreign minister Laurent Fabius said earlier today that the UN report on chemical weapons in Syria will be released on Monday, and will implicate Bashar al Assad, the question arose: how did he know?
Outside the UN Security Council at 10 am on Thursday, Inner City Press asked French Ambassador Gerard Araud, how did minister Fabius know?
Araud replied, we were told last night.
Inner City Press followed up, If you don't mind, by whom?
Araud paused. By the Secretary General, he said.
While appreciative of any answer, it raised more questions. Did Ban Ki-moon tell only the French or "P3" including the US and UK? Who in turn transferred the information or spin to their favorite pass-throughs?
More troublingly, did Ban actually tell France and others that the report will allow the assignment of responsibility, specifically to Assad? Because that's what the leakees, and then Fabius, said.
The UN Secretariat should immediately clarify this. At its noon briefing on Thursday, it appears the whole space will be taken up the Herve Ladsous, the former French diplomat who now heads UN Peacekeeping. Watch this site.
