By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, June 14 -- When African Union ministers wanted to come engage with the UN Security Council about NATO's bombing of Libya, the United States wanted to keep the meeting behind closed doors, the UK even suggesting it merely be a lunch, sources told Inner City Press.
Now in advance of the June 15 meeting, which will be a briefing and “interactive dialogue,” sources tell Inner City Press that the US is opposing an African proposed Presidential Statement, which would reiterate the importance of compliance with Council Resolution 1973.
Below is a copy of the draft, obtained by Inner City Press, which among other things “reaffirms that resolution 1973 (2011) explicitly excludes a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.”
The three African members of the Security Council -- South Africa, Nigeria and Gabon -- are proposing the Statement. The US is apparently saying they cannot decide on the draft in 24 hours. (Others note that recently on Sudan, US Ambassador Susan Rice put forward a draft Presidential Statement at 2 pm and asked for it to be adopted that day.)
The timing excuse, some feel, is a ruse: the US is hoping that Gaddafi can be killed and taken from power before the Security Council issues any further statement on Libya.
Before publication of this story, Inner City Press asked US Mission to the UN in writing to answer three questions, including this one. While the Mission's spokesman provide an interim answer to one of the three questions, there was not answer to the request for denial or confirmation and comment on the US "opposing on Libya a proposed statement reiterating compliance with Resolution 1973, and why."
Inner City Press spoke to an anti-Gaddafi member of Libya's Mission to the UN, who confirmed the African proposed statement and that the US will not accept it. He said, “the freedom fighters are now within 40 kilometers of Tripoli.”
Neither Libyan side, he predicted, will speak in the interactive segment of the June 15 meeting. “We don't have credentials,” he said. Previously, the UN let Ambassadors Shalgam and Dabbashi speak, but no more. Nor does Gaddafi have a representative at the UN, after Nicaraguan former president of the General Assembly Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann was blocked, with Susan Rice saying his tourist visa would be revoked if he tried to speak for Gaddafi.
Footnote: No other than Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam has moved to hold a press conference at the UN. As it happens, it will not be inside the UN but rather across the street. Watch this site.
Here is the African-proposed Draft Presidential Statement on Libya
At the _____th meeting of the Security Council, held on 15 June 2011, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “the situation in Libya”, and having received a briefing from a ministerial delegation of the African Union High-Level Ad-hoc Committee on Libya, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:
The Security Council expresses its deep concern over the continuation of violence in Libya, and reaffirms its commitment to the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1970 (2011) and 1973 (2011) in letter and spirit to ensure protection of civilians in Libya. The Security Council reaffirms that resolution 1973 (2011) explicitly excludes a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.
The Security Council demands a complete end to violence and all attacks against and abuses of civilians, perpetrated by all parties and the establishment of an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. They stressed the need for such a ceasefire to be credible and verifiable, and encouraged the African Union and the United Nations, as well as other stakeholders, to spare no efforts in achieving this objective. The Security Council further demands a speedy solution to the crisis which responds to the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people and tackles the underlying causes of the current crisis.
The Security Council stresses the need for a political solution to the conflict in Libya. In this respect, and recalling the provisions of paragraph 2 of UN Security Council resolution 1973(2011), they welcome the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya, Mr. Abdel-Elah Mohamed Al-Khatib, and those of the AU High-Level ad hoc Committee on Libya in the context of the AU Roadmap. The Security Council agreed on the need for close coordination of all efforts in support of the UN and in accordance with paragraph 2 of Security Council resolution 1973(2011) to find a solution to the crisis. The Security Council welcomes the joint effort being undertaken by the UN, AU, LAS, OIC and EU and looks forward to the outcome of their next meeting to be held in Cairo, Egypt on 18 June 2011.
The Security Council expresses its serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country, and calls for full compliance with human rights and International Humanitarian Law and the creation of the required conditions for the delivery of assistance to all needy populations across Libya, including by guaranteeing appropriate access to humanitarian organisations. The Security Council stresses the need to provide necessary support to the African migrant workers living in Libya, including those seeking to leave the country.
The Security Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.
The Security Council will remain seized of this matter and will continue to meet to review the implementation of its resolutions on the situation in Libya.
