By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, June 23 -- Ban Ki-moon met and took credentials from three new ambassadors at the UN on Thursday. The Press was given one hour's notice of the triple header of photo ops: Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Central African Republic. As it happened CAR was put in between the other two, as a form of buffer.
Earlier at the stakeout, Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor told Inner City Press he had not yet discussed the Durban review or “Durban Three” with the Secretary General, but would. Would this be the day?
Inner City Press arrived as required twenty minutes before the first stakeout. After being checked for weapons with an electronic wand, Inner City Press and an Israeli photographer were taken up to the Secretary General's suite on the third floor of the North Lawn Building.
Up in Ban's reception room while waiting, the Israeli Mission's genial spokeswoman made funny small talk about the world of spokespeople in the UN. When, before Ambassador Prosor, Ban Ki-moon came in, she whispered to him to button up the lower button of his suit jacket so his tie would not be seen. He did.
Ambassador Prosor came in with his staff, and greeted Ban then Department of Political Affairs chief Lynn Pascoe. Click here for photo. Then they all went into Ban's office for a quick meeting.
When Prosor and team left, by another door, the new Ambassador of the Central African Republic Charles-Armel Doubane came in with two staffers, one apparently from CAR and one apparently not.
Ban came in, his second buttom undone again. He read out his greeting in French and was introduced to Lynn Pascoe, who returned the greeting in English. Then they went into Ban's office.
The third and final photo op involved the new Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Abdallah Yahya A. Al-Mouallimi. This time the co-greeter with Ban, again with second button undone, was not Pascoe but rather Vijay Nambiar. Click here for photo. Ban introduced him as “my chief of staff” to Ambassador Al-Mouallimi, who said, “I know, I met you last night.” Mysteries, mysteries.
