By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, August 2 -- A week after the US evacuated its personnel from Libya to Tunisia, the United Kingdom has followed suit. Still, little has been said by the United Nations. Inner City Press on August 1 asked UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric what UN envoy Tarek Mitri is doing:
Inner City Press: In Libya, it seems like a lot countries, obviously the US did it, but now other countries are pulling their embassies and diplomats out. When Tarek Mitri left, he said he was going to still try to be in touch and try to start a political process. What steps has he taken since he left the country?
Spokesman Dujarric: Libya, obviously the situation is of great concern to us, the increased violence, but I will try to get a more specific update for you on Tarek Mitri.
Inner City Press has reported that Mitri, unlike the other UN international staff who relocated to Tunis, went back to his native Lebanon. Sources in the region exclusively told Inner City Press that Mitri had been hoping for a government post in Lebanon, describing him as less than committed to remaining with the UN.
Now we can report more. These knowledgeable sources exclusively tell Inner City Press that Mitri is being "pushed out," mostly they say by the UK's envoy to Libya, former Tony Blair aide Jonathan Powell.
"Mitri was expected to take on a mostly support function," one source told Inner City Press. "He stood up and said no, headquarters didn't back him up and now he's being pushed out."
Inner City Press has sought comment from the UK mission -- late on August 1 -- about not only Jonathan Powell's relationship with Mitri, but also the appropriateness of Jonathan Power representing the UK in Libya given his brother Lord Powell's business with Libya under Gaddafi through Magna Holdings. We hope to have more on this.
Also on Tony Blair, on July 31 Inner City Press asked theUN:
Inner City Press: on Gaza, Tony Blair, I understand he represents the Quartet, but in previous instances, he’s been active on things like economic development; I know that now, with the power plant out, there’s no cell phone service, there’s a lot of problems, so I just wonder, what is Tony Blair doing and does he report to anyone in the Secretariat what he’s… he got an award recently from Israel that some people found was sort of badly timed. I’m just wondering what is his relationship to the UN?
Spokesman Dujarric: I think Tony Blair’s appointment remains the same, as an Envoy of the Quartet. I don’t’ have any update on his activities. If I do, I will share them with you
Since then, nothing.
It was nine days after Libya's foreign minister Mohamed Abdel Aziz at the UN Security Council stakeout told the Press his country wanted international help to protect oil fields and ports, including airports, that the US announced it had relocated its Tripoli embassy staff out of the country to Tunisia.
Inner City Press asked, where is UN envoy to Libya Tarek Mitri? He briefed the Security Council from Beirut -- sources tell Inner City Press he has been on vacation there, and this deputy, too, was out of the country.
Back on July 17 when Libya's foreign minister Mohamed Abdel Aziz emerged from the UN Security Council to take questions from the media, Inner City Press asked him to be more specific about what type of “support” force he is asking for.
Mohamed Abdel Aziz replied that the request is not for a “military” force -- but then went on to say say the force should protect oil fields and ports. If that's not military, what is it?
Inner City Press also asked Mohamed Abdel Aziz for Libya's current position on the US arresting Abu Khatallah. Compared to the complaints of others, Mohamed Abdel Aziz said that even though under international law it is unacceptable, since Libya can't protect witnesses, maybe it is okay.
Given the current state of affairs, what is “Libya's” position?
Meanwhile on July 17 the UN's envoy to Libya Tarek Mitri told the Security Council -- by video from his native Lebanon, while other UN international staff are in Tunisia -- that the fighting has “cast a shadow over the election on 25 June of the 200 member Council of Representatives.” Ya don't say.
Mitri said that barely forty percent of the 1.5 million registered Libyans went to the polls. He said 12 seats will remain vacant; 41 candidates were disqualified under the post-Gaddafi Law on Political and Administrative Isolation. Final results are supposed to be announced on July 20. Watch this site.
