By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 27 -- After Russian foreign minister and US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by phone on July 27, the US State Department issued two read-outs, or a readout in two stages.
The second, an "additional point" by a Senior State Department Official, was that Kerry "underlined our support for a mutual cease fire verified by the OSCE and reaffirmed our strong support for the international investigation to show the facts of MH17."
On July 28 Inner City Press asked Russia's Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin about this read-out: does the US support a ceasefire?
“I supposed he said they did,” Churkin replied. “What their message is in private to the Ukrainians is a different story... There was a phone converation between Vice President Biden and President Poroshenko [then] they went up another stage in escalating the conlict after thaat and immediately.”
Churkin said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has estimated the civilians killed in the conflict at 1,100 and said, “I do hope watching TV coverage... they will understand this is an extremely dangerous crisis and course of action and will give a proper signal.” He said Ukraine would listen, since they “depend on the advice of the US and their politcal support.”
Inner City Press also asked Churkin if Russia think the Dutch and Australians would need Security Council action to send police, armed or unarmed, to Eastern Ukraine.
Churkin replied that Kyiv has been dragging its feet, most recently saying their deal with the Dutch will need ratification by a parliament that has been dissolved. Even if re-called on July 31, will there be a quorum? Churkin said he would leave it up to the Press' “literary talents” to find the right word for this. Watch this site.
Back on July 25 at the UN Inner City Press asked UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq:
Inner City Press: Is there any UN involvement in trying to bring about this deployment? Does the Secretary-General believe that such a deployment would go through the Security Council? Should go through the Security Council? Should the consent of the separatists be sought to avoid a conflict? What’s the UN’s thinking on this deployment of armed individuals into a conflict zone?
Deputy Spokesman Haq: I believe that this is an issue that may come up, among the members of the Security Council in the coming days, so I’ll leave it in their hands.
Five hours later Security Council member Mark Lyall Grant of the UK said
“Its early days, the negotiations between The Netherlands and the Ukrainian government are continuing, as I understand it, in Kyiv. The Australians are obviously involved as well in terms of negotiating the bilateral agreement. When that happens, I think it is quite likely that the Dutch government may want to inform the Security Council of that agreement, and I think it also quite likely that the Security Council will want to take note of that agreement, very possibly in a resolution. I wouldn't expect that to be controversial, and that could happen very quickly after agreements have been reached in Kyiv.”
Inner City Press: "On Ukraine, what is the IMF's estimate or thoughts on the impact of the downing in Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in Eastern Ukraine, and its impact, if any, on the IMF's program?
MR. MURRAY: You know, we're concerned about conflict in the region and a statement we issued the other day addresses that issue.
But what about MH17 and its aftermath? The IMF didsubstantively answer Inner City Press' Gaza and Israel question, here. Watch this site.
