UNSC Akcakale Statement Calls for Restraint From Turkey and Syria, SC Prez Tells ICP

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 4 -- On the UN Security Council's press statement on Akcakale in Turkey, whatchanged in the 22 hours between the silence procedure being broken by Russia and the statement's read-out by Council President Gert Rosenthal on Thursday evening?

Mostly the inserting of nine final words: "The members of the Security Council called for restraint."

Inner City Press asked Ambassador Rosenthal, once he had read out the statement, whether it would be fair to read this as a call for restraint by Turkey as well, or just Syria.

"Both," Rosenthal said. He confirmed that a separate draft press statement on bombings in Aleppo is under the Council's "silence procedure" until 10 am on Friday. Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the press that one Council member had extended silence until then. But would it be further extended?

There were a few other minor changes from the initial Azerbaijani (or "Ottoman") draft and the one agreed to: the first draft expressed condolences first to the Government of Turkey then to the families of the victims; this was reversed in the final statement. Also a reference to "international peace and security" was removed.

Some drew a link from the negotiations to an upcoming visit to Turkey by Russian president Putin on October 14. Others speculated about some other deal being reached.

In the run-up to the passing, a well placed diplomat told Inner City Press of passing the press statement, "If they can do it to keep Turkey quiet, good." But will it? Watch this site.

On "Shell Statement," New Silence at UN to 3:30, Or Ambassadors at 4 or 5

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 4 -- With no agreement on the UN Security Council proposed press statement on the shell on Turkey first draft by Azerbaijan, a new draft and "silence procedure" have been declared, Inner City Press is reliably informed, until 3:30 pm on Thursday.

  But it is expected that silence will be broken, Inner City Press is told, triggering a meeting at the level of Permanent Representatives at 4 or 5 pm. This during a previously scheduled closed door consultation on Mali and the request for a military force from ECOWAS to "re-conquer" the north of that country.

  Inner City Press, which first published Syria's letter to the Security Council about the shelling -- even Council members said they got it first from Inner City Press, not circulated by the Council -- Thursday at 1 pm asked Syrian Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari about the letter and the fast-passed Turkish law on military action outside that countries borders.

  Ja'afari's response to Inner City Press' question, on UNTV, included that "the Syrian government has a keen interest in maintain good, neighborly relationship with Turkey.. and explaning to the Turkish people that the Turkish government's policis toward Syria are wrong."

 He called on the Turkish government "to help us control the border, prevent armed groups from infiltrating and to stop the media coverage offered to the headquarters of armed groups, some of them are within Turkey's territory."

  Ja'afari said that there has been no apology because the investigation is not finalized yet. For what it's worth, Turkey said there was an apology.

  As to why Azerbaijan is in the lead in the draft? "It's an Ottoman thing," as a source puts it to Inner City Press. Watch this site.

With Turkey Shell Statement Stalled, Syria Writes to UNSC, Russia Counter-Proposes

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 4 -- With the UN Security Council proposed press statement on the shell on Turkey draft by Azerbaijan stalled, Syria's Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari has written to the Council; the letter is below

  Russia has proposed its own press statement. Meanwhile the Council was meeting on Thursday morning, being briefed about Sudan by Haile Menkerios and Herve Ladsous, the UN official who refuses to answer Inner City Press questions. 

When at 5:35 pm on Wednesday Security Council president Rosenthal read out a press statement on the killing of four UN Peacekeepers in Darfur, he did not answer a Press questions about Darfur but on Turkey said yes the Council might issue a statement, we are waiting to hear from the Turkish Ambassador.

Inner City Press conveyed this to joint UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, what Rosenthal had said about a Council statement. Brahimi replied, "On Turkey? That's good."

Syria's Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari on the other hand, when Inner City Press told him Rosenthal said we are waiting to hear from Turkey, replied "But that is not sufficient, Turkey is shelling us."

Here is the text of the Syrian letter:

"The competent Syrian authorities confirmed that they are seriously investigating the source of the fire which led to the death of a Turkish citizen and her children. Deepest condolences of the Government Syrian Arab Republic were presented to the families of the martyrs and to the friendly and brotherly people of Turkey. In cases of border incidents that happen between any two neighboring countries, states and governments should act wisely, rationally and responsibly, particularly given the special and delicate situation on the Syrian-Turkish borders, where there are undisciplined armed terrorist groups spreading on those borders which have different agendas and identities. Those groups pose a threat to the security of Syria, also to regional security of the countries of the region. The Syrian-Turkish borders are long borders, and exploited in the smuggling of arms, ammunition and armed terrorists who committed massacres in Syria, most recently of which the massacre in Aleppo committed by al-Qaeda that claimed the lives of a number of civilian martyrs. Syria bases its behavior with neighboring countries to the rules of good neighborliness and respect for national sovereignties of states, and it invites, in return, those states to respect the national sovereignty of Syria, and to cooperate in border control and prevention of the infiltration of insurgents and terrorists, according to what Syria has always done.

"We also point out that at seven o'clock in the evening of Wednesday 3 October 2012, Turkish troops had launched artillery shells towards the south of the village of Tal Abiad in the Syrian territory, and stopped at midnight. Turkish troops, then, resumed artillery shelling until seven o'clock of Thursday morning, 4 October 2012, injuring two Syrian army officers, while our forces practiced self-restrain and did not respond to this Turkish artillery shelling.

"The Government of the Syrian Arab Republic calls for the need of cooperation from Turkish government in borders control for the benefit of the two parties, within the framework of respect for national sovereignty and good neighborly relations."

Watch this site.

As Brahimi Says Statement on Turkey Would Be Good, Syria Says Not Sufficient

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, October 3 -- Following the shelling of Akcakale in Turkey, Inner City Press witnessed Turkish Ambassador Apakan going into the Security Council. Afterward Inner City Press asked him, "Shell related?" He said yes, "Shell-related."

When Security Council president Gert Rosenthal gave a summary of the morning's meeting on Haiti, Inner City Press spoke with him about cholera in that country and asked about this "shell-related" Turkish visit. He confirmed the visit and said the Council might get a communication from Turkey in the afternoon.

When at 5:35 pm Council president Rosenthal read out a press statement on the killing of four UN Peacekeepers in Darfur, he did not answer a Press questions about Darfur but on Turkey said yes the Council might issue a statement, we are waiting to hear from the Turkish Ambassador.

Inner City Press conveyed this to joint UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, what Rosenthal had said about a Council statement. Brahimi replied, "On Turkey? That's good."

Syria's Permanent Representative Bashar Ja'afari on the other hand, when Inner City Press told him Rosenthal said we are waiting to hear from Turkey, replied "But that is not sufficient, Turkey is shelling us."

So would a Council statement at this point make any mention of the return of fire? Watch this site.

After Bomb and Call to Ban Ki-moon, Turkey Visits Security Council, "Shell Related"

By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive

UNITED NATIONS, October 3, updated -- Turkey wasted no time. Right after a shell landed on the Turkish side of the country's border with Syria, foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu called UN Secretary General and his envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi.

Then at 1 pm on Wednesday Inner City Press exclusively witnessed Turkey's Permanent Representative to the UN Apakan and four other members of the Turkish mission walk into the Security Council. In the chamber there was an open debate on Haiti, but they did not turn that way.

When they emerged, Inner City Press asked Ambassador Apakan if his visit had been "Haiti related or shell related?"

"Shell related," he exclusively told Inner City Press. One assumes for now that a letter was delivered, or meeting held with this month's Council president, Guatemala. Watch this site.

Update of 1:45 pm - Inner City Press asked Security Council president Gert Rosenthal of Guatemala about Turkish Ambassador Apakan's visit and comment to the Press. Yes, Rosenthal said, Ambassador Apakan met with him, about the Akcakale "incident" there might a communication (that is, at least initially, a letter from Turkey) later in the day. Watch this site.