By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, June 23 -- Russia put a draft resolution on Syria, the UN mission UNDOF, “into blue” on Thursday afternoon, three diplomats told Inner City Press.
A Western diplomat expressed frustration, saying that especially with the earlier draft resolution condemning violence in Syria stalled, the UNDOF resolution should “reflect events on the ground” in a way that the Russian draft does not.
US Ambassador Susan Rice earlier on Thursday told the press that “we think that there needs to be a credible renewal of the mandate of UNDOF and that that mandate renewal needs to account [for] recent developments on the Golan Heights and on the area between Israel and Syria.”
But at the UN, going “into blue” connotes that a vote can be called in 24 hours. “Russia is forcing their hand,” a third diplomat said.
At the same time, Russia circulated a resolution on the issue of alleged organ trafficking in and by the leadership of Kosovo. As described to Inner City Press, the resolution calls for a UN Special Representative on the organ trade issue, who could either coordinate or do his or her own investigation. Click here for Inner City Press coverage last month of the organ issue.
An opponent of the organ resolution said of Russia, “they are trying to connect the two.”
A proponent noted that there's a certain Republika in which the resolution may be popular.
Thursday afternoon's session ended abruptly without the planned “Any Other Business” segment on the pending Libya Presidential Statement. We will have more on this.