By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 29 -- When the UN Security Council met on July 28 about clashes inside Kosovo, Serbian foreign minister Vuk Jeremic spoke to the Press just outside the Council, and went inside after 6 pm to meet with outgoing Council president Peter Wittig of Germany.
Meanwhile Inner City Press heard that Kosovo's delegation, including its minister Enver Hoxhaj, were refused even entrance into the UN compound, being told that if they did not have a formal appointment, they could not come in.
While Jeremic made a statement on UN TV outside the Council, the Kosovars were nowhere to be seen.
Inner City Press e-mailed the top two Spokespeople for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and asked
“I'm told that the Kosovo delegation 'could not get into the UN' this afternoon, since it had no official business in/with the UN today. Please confirm or deny that the Kosovo delegation requested passes to enter the UN, and separately, that these were denied, and if so why. Thanks, on deadline. Also: can you confirm it was Yakoblev? And Controller Yamazaki's leaving, when? Thanks.”
No response was received on July 28, nor on the morning of July 29. So at Friday's noon briefing Inner City Press again asked if Kosovo had been denied access to the UN compound.
Ban's lead spokesman Martin Nesirky said
“the way it works is, non-member states, other entities, do require an official engagement or appointment at the UN to come in. This was the case yesterday. Originally the Kosovo representative and Serbia had been looking at the possibility of being invited to closed consultation of the Security Council... Neither was invited. Serbia is a member state and therefore had access.”
Inner City Press asked why Kosovo couldn't enter the UN, if other non-state parties to conflicts like the Frente Polisario of Western Sahara and the Turkish Cypriots -- and the Palestinian Authority -- are allowed in every day.
Nesirky said “let's not mix things up here, you know the UN status position.”
But isn't it ridiculous for the Kosovars to not even be able to enter the UN building? Later on July 28 a large group from Senegal entered for an event about Ahmadou Bamba. They were searched with an electronic wand, but were allowed to enter. And not the Kosovars? We'll have more on this.
