At
UN
on Libya, After AU Speech Against Marginalization, SC Closes Doors
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 15 -- With African Union ministers at the UN to meet
with the Security Council about Libya, the first step was to decide
how much of the meeting would be closed to the press and public. The
decision, not surprisingly, was that almost all of the meeting was
closed.
The
foreign
minister of Mauritania was the only public speaker. He recited the
meetings that the African Union has had, climaxing with a call
against “attempts to marginalize the Continent” and that “we
cannot be spectators to the calamities that befall us.”
Afterward,
as the
Ambassadors walked out of the Council to a secure closed door meeting
in the pre-fabricated North Lawn building, French Ambassador Gerard
Araud told the press that the African Union statement had been
“constructive.”
When
Araud was
asked if France would support a pause in the NATO bombing, Araud
brushed the question off and walked north to the closed door meeting.
Even
before the
Mauritanian minister's briefing, Council Deputy Permanent
Representative met on the draft
Presidential Statement the African
members had proposed on Tuesday, exclusively reported and published
by Inner City Press.
US' Susan Rice & AU's Jean Ping, lunch invitation not shown
An attendee
said that “the West,” led by
the United States, insisted that the draft had been proposed too
late. Again one notes that the US proposed a Presidential Statement
on Sudan at 2 pm before a recent 3 pm meeting, and asked for action
that day.
The
Council
member's interpretation is that the West wanted to keep criticism of
NATO's bombing campaign in a closed meeting, so it will be covered
less by the media. While one African member said that the goal is to
engage and bring the Council and AU strategies together, the lack of
a Presidential Statement and confining other criticism to closed door
meeting may make this less likely. Watch this site.
* * *
At
UN on Libya, African Council Members Want Statement on Compliance With
Resolution 1973,
US Said to Oppose
By
Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
June 14 -- When African Union ministers wanted to come
engage with the UN Security Council about NATO's bombing of Libya,
the United
States wanted to keep the meeting behind closed doors, the
UK even suggesting it merely be a lunch, sources told Inner City
Press.
Now
in advance of
the June 15 meeting, which will be a briefing and “interactive
dialogue,” sources tell Inner City Press that the US is opposing an
African proposed Presidential Statement, which would reiterate the
importance of compliance with Council Resolution 1973.
Below is a
copy of the draft, obtained by Inner City Press, which among other
things “reaffirms that
resolution 1973 (2011) explicitly excludes a foreign occupation force
of any form on any part of Libyan territory.”
The
three African
members of the Security Council -- South Africa, Nigeria and Gabon --
are proposing the Statement. The US is apparently saying they cannot
decide on the draft in 24 hours. (Others note that recently on Sudan,
US Ambassador Susan Rice put forward a draft Presidential Statement
at 2 pm and asked for it to be adopted that day.)
The
timing excuse,
some feel, is a ruse: the US is hoping that Gaddafi can be killed and
taken from power before the Security Council issues any further
statement on Libya.
Before
publication
of this story, Inner City Press asked US Mission to the UN in writing
to answer three questions, including this one. While the Mission's
spokesman provide an interim answer to one of the three questions,
there was not answer to the request for denial or confirmation and
comment on the US "opposing on Libya a proposed statement reiterating
compliance with Resolution 1973, and why."
Inner
City Press
spoke to an anti-Gaddafi member of Libya's Mission to the UN, who
confirmed the African proposed statement and that the US will not
accept it. He said, “the freedom fighters are now within 40
kilometers of Tripoli.”
Neither
Libyan
side, he predicted, will speak in the interactive segment of the June
15 meeting. “We don't have credentials,” he said. Previously, the
UN let Ambassadors Shalgam and Dabbashi speak, but no more. Nor does
Gaddafi have a representative at the UN, after Nicaraguan former
president of the General Assembly Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann was
blocked, with Susan Rice saying his tourist visa would be revoked if
he tried to speak for Gaddafi.
Footnote:
No
other than Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam has moved to
hold a press conference at the UN. As it happens, it will not be
inside the UN but rather across the street. Watch this site.
Here
is
the African-proposed Draft Presidential Statement on Libya
At
the
_____th meeting of the Security Council, held on 15 June 2011, in
connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled
“the situation in Libya”, and having received a briefing from a
ministerial delegation of the African Union High-Level Ad-hoc
Committee on Libya, the President of the Security Council made the
following statement on behalf of the Council:
The
Security
Council expresses its deep concern over the continuation of
violence in Libya, and reaffirms its commitment to the full
implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions 1970
(2011) and 1973 (2011) in letter and spirit to ensure protection of
civilians in Libya. The Security Council reaffirms that resolution
1973 (2011) explicitly excludes a foreign occupation force of any
form on any part of Libyan territory.
The
Security
Council demands a complete end to violence and all attacks
against and abuses of civilians, perpetrated by all parties and the
establishment of an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. They
stressed the need for such a ceasefire to be credible and verifiable,
and encouraged the African Union and the United Nations, as well as
other stakeholders, to spare no efforts in achieving this objective.
The Security Council further demands a speedy solution to the crisis
which responds to the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people and
tackles the underlying causes of the current crisis.
The
Security
Council stresses the need for a political solution to the
conflict in Libya. In this respect, and recalling the provisions of
paragraph 2 of UN Security Council resolution 1973(2011), they
welcome the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for
Libya, Mr. Abdel-Elah Mohamed Al-Khatib, and those of the AU
High-Level ad hoc Committee on Libya in the context of the AU
Roadmap. The Security Council agreed on the need for close
coordination of all efforts in support of the UN and in accordance
with paragraph 2 of Security Council resolution 1973(2011) to find a
solution to the crisis. The Security Council welcomes the joint
effort being undertaken by the UN, AU, LAS, OIC and EU and looks
forward to the outcome of their next meeting to be held in Cairo,
Egypt on 18 June 2011.
The
Security
Council expresses its serious concern over the deteriorating
humanitarian situation in the country, and calls for full compliance
with human rights and International Humanitarian Law and the creation
of the required conditions for the delivery of assistance to all
needy populations across Libya, including by guaranteeing appropriate
access to humanitarian organisations. The Security Council stresses
the need to provide necessary support to the African migrant workers
living in Libya, including those seeking to leave the country.
The
Security
Council reaffirms its strong commitment to the sovereignty,
independence, territorial integrity and national unity of the Libyan
Arab Jamahiriya.
The
Security
Council will remain seized of this matter and will continue
to meet to review the implementation of its resolutions on the
situation in Libya.
, 
