By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, March 6 -- On March 5 China's Permanent Representative Li Baodong predicted to Inner City Press there would be Security Council consultations on Syria on Tuesday. Others scoffed, saying he must be conflating the scheduled briefing by UN Humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, canceled once Syria agreed to let her in March 7 to 9.
Inner City Press late Monday asked Council president for March Mark Lyall Grant of the UK if there would be Syria consultation of the "Permanent Five Plus One." He asked who the One was. Morocco, Inner City Press replied.
"Consultations continue," Lyall Grant said then left. Inner City Press reported it; the UK Guardian called it UN gossip.
As the Security Council held an opening meeting Tuesday morning about Sudan, at 10:30 am China's Permanent Representative Li Baodong came down the stairs to the Council.
He stopped and begin telling Inner City Press, "We had some bilateral consultations on Syria and hopefully we can have consultations today, P5 plus Morocco. We had a meeting with Valerie Amos."
Just then a Gulf TV channel mocked by Syria ran up, and Li Baodong switched his presentation to, we hope for a briefing, to ease the humanitarian situation in Syria.
Moments later Inner City Press asked another delegation about Li Baodong's candid statement, and it was confirmed: a P5 plus Morocco today.
Something is afoot. Watch this site.
