By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, September 23 -- While some at the UN thought that Palestine's Abbas would not in fact file for full membership, late morning Friday he did just that. Abbas handed an application to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, then headed to the General Assembly to deliver his speech.
While Armenia spoke, including about the "genocide scholars community," Inner City Press ran to the UN stakeout and asked Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt about votes for Palestinian statehood. Bildt said "it will be decided in these buildings," in the Security Council. He spoke of caution.
Through heavy rain over at the UN's noon briefing, Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky declined a request to provide "color" about Ban's meeting with Abbas, referring to the television footage. He was asked if there is a Middle East Quartet meeting in the afternoon, and he said he didn't know.
Inner City Press asked Nesirky about the role of UN official Robert Serry in the Quarter. As reported yesterday night, Serry was saying loudly into his cell phone, "He asked me to convey a personal message to Lavrov, I need to reach Lavrov."" Nesirky said Serry represents the UN on the Quartet.
The General Assembly hall was standing room only, no one more was allowed in. Over in the new North Lawn building, diplomats sat at marble coffee tables watching Abbas' speech on the Internet. Many of them clapped when the audience in the hall clapped.
Inner City Press watched with a political adviser in from Malaysia, who nodded in affirmation at nearly everything Abbas said. "The US will veto, it is shameful," he said. But are there nine affirmative votes, which would then require a veto to block?
In the hall in the Israel's seats, the Deputy Permanent Representative looked stonefaced. There was no sign of Netanyahu, set to speak in less than an hour, or Avigdor Lieberman or Permanent Representative Prosor.
During a standing ovation, US Ambassador Susan Rice also remained seated, looking glum. When Abbas finished, the unenviable task of following him went to Japan's new Prime Minister Noda, the self-described bottom feeder. And so it goes at the UN.
