Friday, January 27, 2017

On W Sahara, UNSC Prez Tells ICP UN Mission Not Fully Functional, No Discussion of AU Bid


By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, January 27 – After the UN Security Council held a closed door meeting about Western Sahara on January 27, Inner City Press asked the Council's President for January Olof Skoog of Sweden what happened in the meeting. Video here.

  Specifically, Inner City Press asked Skoog how many of the 83 members of the MINURSO peacekeeping mission expelled by Morocco have be able to return.
 Skoog did not give a number, but said that MINURSO is still no up to full functionality. He mentioned Guerguerat.
  Inner City Press asked if Morocco's attempts to join the African Union, and the impact that might have on the political negotiations, had been discussed. Skoog said no.

  There was no time to ask about the Norwegian oil fish ship that, it seems, violated the recent European court ruling. And less than two hours later, guards citing the eviction / Press downgrading order of Spanish UN official Cristina Gallach demanded to know where Inner City Press' "minder" was, putting an end to a diplomat's provision of information to Inner City Press. This is today's UN.