By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 28 -- After a closed door meeting with Syria oppositionists, French Ambassador Gerard Araud came out and claimed that the Syrian National Coalition is the only legitimate representative of the Syrian people, in the eyes of the immense majority of member states of the UN General Assembly. French Mission to the UN transcript here.
Inner City Press asked what the claim was based on, given the multiply amended language of the last Qatar drafted resolution voted in the GA. Inner City Press' question cited as an example Brazil. Video here, from Minute 5:06; see Inner City Press story and exclusive publication of Brazil's Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti's two letters to Qatar, here.
But the French Mission to the UN's "transcript" of the stakeout press encounter, here, omitted the reference to Brazil. It also omitted the Araudian claim of a "scientific education" and about "any mathematical system" -- a claim that Russia's Vitaly Churkin mocked minutes later at the same microphone.
Beyond the mathematical fact that 107 of 193 member states is not an "immense" majority, Araud misrepresented what the 107 votes were for. Qatar's drafted wanted to "support" the Arab League giving Syria's seat to the opposition, but this ran into widespread opposition in the GA and requests to “avoid language on the recognition of any opposition group at the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.”
So to get votes -- there was still widespread abstention -- this was changed before the vote to "welcome" the switch and only "in this regard," in regard to political transition. Others like Malaysia wanted only to "note" the switch.
But after those changed to procure votes, Araud made the claim he did, on video. Will this cost him and Qatar votes if they try another Syria or other resolution?
The Syria oppositionists led by Saudi supported Ahmad Al Jarba, after a faux "UN briefing" which the "they / Reuters spy for the UN" dubious UN Correspondents Association led by Pamela Falk of CBS publicized only to those which pay money to UNCA, went on to tell a media also funded by Saudi Arabia that they'll try to get the Syria UN seat, probably in September. Will the same chicanery be tried? Nous allons voir. Watch this site.
