On
Libya, UK
Meets African
UNSC Members, EU
Says Doesn't
Need
Resolution
By
Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive
series
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 23
-- With the
UN's outgoing
envoy to Libya
Bernardino
Leon trying to
put a positive
light
on
every twist
and turn of
his talks, on
September 19
his Mission
condemned
airstrikes.
According to
the EU's
Federica Mogherini,
he chats daily
with her, see
below. Meanwhile
Martin Kobler,
amid electoral
fights and the
FDLR in the DR
Congo where's
he's based is
said poised to
take the Libya
post. Such is
the UN.
This too:
On September
21, after European
members of the
Security
Council spoke
about
putting "into
blue" for a
vote their
resolution for
naval forces
off the coast
of Libya,
African
members of the
Security
Council
exclusively
told Inner
City Press
they were
opposed. They
said they
wanted, at
least, a
meeting of all
fifteen
members to
discuss the
European draft
about Libya,
and hearkened
back to NATO's
bombing of
Libya.
On
September 22,
they got a
meeting - with
the UK. After
repeatedly
being asked by
African
diplomats what
it had heard
of response(s)
to the letter
they sent,
Inner City
Press asked UK
Ambassador
Matthew
Rycroft, on
Twitter, about
it. He quickly
replied, “Good
meeting today
with 3 African
SC
Ambassadors.
Discussions
continue on
text of draft
resolution.”
This is a step
forward at the
UN. We'll have
more on this.
Thanks.
Good meeting
today with 3
African SC
Ambassadors.
Discussions
continue on
text of draft
resolution https://t.co/h9pFdfMB9h
"I
spoke
yesterday
night with
Bernardino
León, I have
daily contacts
with the UN
Special
Representative...
For EUNAVFOR
MED, as you
know we are
ready to go to
Phase two on
the high seas.
I am going to
visit the
Headquarter in
Rome tomorrow
and Phase 2 on
the high seas
is something
that can start
even without a
Security
Council
resolution. So
this is what
we are going
to do."
So, bait and
switch? We'll
have more on
this.
Back
on August 26,
Leon briefed
the UN
Security
Council about
his political
agreement
still without
the
Tripoli-based
General
National
Congress, and
Libya's
Ibrahim
Dabbashi
chided Council
members about
Al Qaeda, the
Security
Council agreed
on Elements to
the Press read
out by
President for
August Joy
Ogwu,
below. YouTube video here.
When
Ogwu finished
reading out
the Press
Elements, she
was asked a
series of
questions...
about South
Sudan. The
failures on
Libya were
forgotten, or
no longer news
at least at
the UN. Inner
City Press
asked Ogwu if
in
consultations
the Council
members had
discussed
Dabbashi's
critique, that
Al Qaeda is
more of a
problem than
ISIS or Daesh.
We do not
discriminate
between
terrorist
groups, Ogwu
said. There
was less of an
answer on
South Sudan
(Inner City
Press' South
Sudan coverage
is online
here.)
Leon among
other things
said that
"there can be
no doubt that
the danger
posed by Daesh
to Libya and
the Libyan
people is
real, imminent
and palpable.
Libyan
security and
military
actors, as
well as
political
stakeholders
on either side
of the divide,
are fully
cognizant of
the danger
posed by
Daesh-affiliated
militants.
However, they
must recognize
that no
strategy aim
at containing,
if not
eliminating,
the Daesh
threat will be
viable unless
it is part of
a concerted,
unified and
coordinated
effort that
brings all
Libyans
together under
a single
banner whose
allegiance is
to the Libyan
State, and to
a Government
that is
inclusive and
representative
of all
Libyans.
“Although the
General
National
Congress in
Tripoli did
not initial
the main text
of the Libyan
Political
Agreement
along with
other dialogue
participants
on July 11, I
am confident
that their
concerns can
be addressed
in ongoing
discussions on
the annexes of
the Agreement,
including
those
pertaining to
the formation
of the
Government of
National
Accord.
“I am
increasingly
confident that
the process is
finally
drawing to its
final stages.
Time is
running out.
the onus is on
Libya's
leaders on all
sides, and at
all levels, to
make that
final push
towards peace.
Equally
important, the
international
community must
also move
quickly to
present a
clearly
articulated
strategy in
support of the
Libyan State
and the
efforts by the
Government of
National
Accord to
contain and
eliminate the
threat that
groups like
Daesh are
posing not
only to the
stability of
Libya, but
equally to
regional and
international
security."
[The UN
Spokesperson's
office did not
until 1 pm
have a copy of
Leon's 10 am
speech - and
even then,
still "check
against
delivery," as
noted and
questioned by
the Free
UN Coalition
for Access,
FUNCA.]
From the
Security
Council's
August 26
Elements to
the Press, as
fast
transcribed by
InnerCityPro:
“Security
Council
members noted
the progress
in the
political
process as
well as the
local
ceasefire
initiatives in
some parts of
Libya. They
however
expressed
their concern
about
deterioration
in the
political,
security and
humanitarian
situation.
Council
members
underscored
that only an
inclusive and
representative
government can
resolve the
political and
security
challenges
inside the
country.
“In particular
Council
members
expressed
concern about
expansion of
extremism by
ISIL and other
terrorist
groups. They
expressed
support for
the ongoing
peace process
that aims to
establish a
government of
national
unity. In this
regard they
welcomed the
initialing of
the Agreement
of 11 of July,
2015 as a
critical step
toward peace
and stability
in the
country. They
urged those
parties that
are yet to
sign to do so
without delay.
“Council
members urged
the
international
community to
continue to
support the
political
process in
Libya in order
to achieve a
lasting peace.
In the
connection,
they
highlighted
the importance
of close
cooperation
between the
African Union,
the UN, the
EU, the Arab
League and
other
international
organizations."
The reference
to the African
Union, given
the Security
Council having
rebuffed the
AU back in
2011, is
particularly
noteworthy.
Back
on July 15,
Inner City
Press asked
Leon what plan
he may have to
get the GNC to
sign, and
about
long-time
Libyan
ambassador
Ibrahim
Dabbashi's
criticism in
the Security
Council of its
Sanctions
Committee. Video here.
On the latter,
Leon said that
that first
step is to
form a unity
government,
THEN to listen
to what it
asks for. On
the GNC, Leon
seems to say
they agree in
principle,
only differing
on timing or
sequencing.
The same two
questions,
nearly
identically,
were repeated
by a Gulf
media; an
Italian
journalist
asked about
the flow of
migrants to
Europe. This,
Leon seized
on, asking
rhetorically
what “we” can
tell the
British, whose
people were
killed in
Tunisia by a
guy reportedly
trained in
Libya.
The answer
again
reflected
Leon's at
least dual
allegiances or
constituencies.
He was the
EU's envoy,
then put in to
replace UN
enovy Tarek
Mitri.
Recently
former IAEA El
Baradei said
Leon was
involved in
the “coup” in
Egypt. (Leon
said he hasn't
seen that You
Tube and
doubts El
Baradei said
it.)
The UN, after
ousting Tarek
Mitri as envoy
in favor of
Bernardino
Leon, has been
promoting its
good works in
Geneva and in
the country.
Back on
February 18,
speaking
before the
foreign
ministers of
Libya (Tobruk)
and Egypt,
Leon again
cited his own
work: "given
the sense of
urgency, I
have called
for the next
meeting of the
political
dialogue to
finalize
discussions
initiated in
Geneva on the
formation of
government of
national unity
and security
arrangements
to pave the
way for a
formal and
comprehensive
cessation of
hostilities.”
At the
Security
Council
stakeout
before the
Jordan-requested
meeting began,
UK Ambassador
Lyall Grant
said the
meeting would
provide a
chance to hear
from Libya and
Egypt; he said
he hadn't yet
seen the draft
resolution.
(Another
non-Arab
Permanent
Representative
said they HAD
seen the
draft.)
After
Leon, Libya's
foreign
minister said
he is not
requesting an
international
intervention,
only wants
Egypt's help.
Egypt's
Foreign
Minister
Shoukry,
citing the
killing of the
US Ambassador
in Benghazi,
said that too
little was
done after the
parliament was
chased to
Tobruk. He
said he is
counting on
Jordan to
distribute the
draft
resolution.
Some of the
Council say
they have a
different line
of thinking.
Watch this
site.
At
the UN
Security
Council's
meeting on
February 15 --
about Yemen --
nothing was
said about
ehte Egyptians
in Libya. But
hours later a
Senior US
State
Department
Official
issued this:
"Secretary
Kerry called
Egyptian
Foreign
Minister
Shoukry today
in the
aftermath of
the horrific
video showing
the murder of
twenty-one
Egyptians. The
Secretary
offered his
condolences on
behalf of the
American
people and
strongly
condemned the
despicable act
of
terror.
Secretary
Kerry and
Foreign
Minister
Shoukry agreed
to keep in
close touch as
Egyptians
deliberated on
a response."
Bernardino
Leon, as Inner
City Press
exclusively
reported, was
installed as
head of UNSMIL
after
then-head
Tarek Mitri
declined to
make the UN
mission a mere
appendage of
European / UK
diplomacy. Is
it working?
UNSMIL's
former deputy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
of Mauritania
has been moved
to head
UNMEER, the
UN's Ebola
mission.
Sources in
Yemen say Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
was the UN's
“designated
security
official” when
a UNICEF
staffer was
taken hostage
while
traveling to
the Sana'a
airport
without the
required (and
needed)
security
detail. Some
say Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
was
distracted, in
Yemen and
later in
Libya, by side
business
interests.
But a check of
Ban Ki-moon's
Public
Disclosure
website, where
his officials
are supposed
to make
rudimentary
disclosure of
the finances
and outside
business
interests,
does not even
list Ismail
Ould Cheikh
Ahmed (while
numerous other
Deputy SRSGs
are listed).
His is not in
the most
recent
database, for
2013 - and may
escape any
disclosure by
become an
Under
Secretary
General with a
mere nine
month stint at
UNMEER. Then
what? We'll
stay on this.
When the UN
Security
Council met
about Mali on
January 6, it
was Malian
Foreign
Minister
Abdoulaye
Diop, and not
UN
Peacekeeping
official Herve
Ladsous, who
distributed
his speech and
came to take
Press
questions.
(Ladsous has a
policy
against it,
here and here.)
Inner City
Press asked
Diop about the
Mali talks in
Algiers, and
about the
impact of
Libya. On the
latter, Diop
said that “in
2012 the Mali
crisis started
when the war
started in
Libya and many
Malian
elements who
were part of
the Libyan
army decided
to come back
home with the
arms and
ammunition.
This started
the
destabilization
of Mali.”
Diop added,
"In the
southern part
of Libya there
is a group
that has
declared
allegiance to
the Islamic
State.” (When
asked to name
the group he
could not or
would not.)
On
Leon: To try
to counter
Libya's
lawless power
struggle, the
UN engaged in
one of its
own.
After Inner
City Press
repeated asked
about it,
including at
the UN's noon
briefings on
August 11 and
13, on August
14 the UN said
Bernardino
Leon will take
over as its
Libya envoy on
September 1.
When Inner
City Press
asked if that
is really
Leon's
starting day,
given that
he's said
he'll go to
Tripoli as
early as next
week
representing
the UN, Ban
Ki-moon's
deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq
said Leon is
merely
"familiarizing"
himself with
the work he
will be, and
Mitri remains
in place until
September 1.
Really?
Ignoring the
previous
questions and
the
power-play,
wire services
like Reuters
merely retyped
("reported")
the UN's
August 14
announcement
that Leon will
start
September 1.
And now?
Back
on August 1,
Inner City
Press exclusively
reported
that UN envoy
to Libya Tarek
Mitri was
being "pushed
out" of the
post,
including by
UK envoy to
Libya Jonathan
Powell, and
cited his
brother Lord
Powell's
extensive
business in
Libya through
Magna
Holdings.
The UK
mission,
usually
responsive,
did not
provide
comment on
written Press
questions on
this; at UN
Ambassador
Mark Lyall
Grant's August
4 press
conference
Inner City
Press asked
about Powell's
and Mitri's
relationship,
without
direct answer,
seehere.
Then the UK's
Ambassador to
Libya Michael
Aron has announced,
on Twitter no
less,
that Mitri is
out and Ban
Ki-moon has
installed a
new UN envoy,
former
Zapatero
diplomat
Bernardino
Leon Gross.
The UN, at
least at its
August 8 noon
briefing and
in emails
since, has not
announce
anything about
replacing
Mitri, much
less by whom.
Ban Ki-moon's
office said
that for
August 9 and
10,
"Spokesperson
on call:
Mr. Farhan
Haq." So Inner
City Press
wrote to Farhan
Haq, as
well as to
lead spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric:
Hello.
Now that the
UK Ambassador
to Libya, and
others, have
announced that
Ban Ki-moon
has appointed
Bernardino
Leon to
replace Tarek
Mitri as Ban's
representative
to Libya, head
of UNSMIL,
this is a
request on
deadline -
today - that
your Office
confirm that
this
appointment or
nomination has
been made.
Has
the letter
been sent to
the Security
Council?
Is
Leon already
confirmed?
If
not, how it is
appropriate
that P5
countries are
saying he
already has
the job? On
deadline,
today.
But more than
four hours
later, by
"close of
business" in
New York, the
"spokesperson
on duty" had
not answered,
had not even
acknowledged
receipt of the
question.
What does it
mean to be the
UN's
"spokesperson
on duty"?
Isn't it for
Ban Ki-moon to
make this
announcement?
In fact, in
2011 when
France had
already gotten
its Jerome
Bonnafont in
place to
replace its
Alain Le Roy
atop UN
Peacekeeping,
Bonnafont's
bragging about
it in India,
where he was
French
Ambassador,
led to Ban
rescinding the
"offer."
So Ban has
accepted or
done nothing
to stop this
P3 power grab
to oust Mitri.
But can "his"
successor be
pre-announced
and Ban accept
that too?
Footnote:
Inner City
Press is
exclusively
informed that
UNSMIL deputy
Ismail Ould
Cheikh Ahmed
also has
business,
literally:
fisshing
business. Ban
and those in
control of
this play
accept that
too? Watch
this site.
Background:
Inner City
Press on
August 1 asked
UN spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric what
UN envoy Tarek
Mitri is
doing;
Dujarric said
he was not
aware but
would check.
Inner City
Press had
reported that
Mitri, unlike
the other UN
international
staff who
relocated to
Tunis, went
back to his
native
Lebanon.
Sources in the
region
exclusively
told Inner
City Press
that Mitri had
been hoping
for a
government
post in
Lebanon,
describing him
as less than
committed to
remaining with
the UN.
Now we can
report more.
These
knowledgeable
sources say
that Mitri is
being "pushed
out," mostly
they say by
the UK's envoy
to Libya,
former Tony
Blair aide
Jonathan
Powell.
"Mitri was
expected to
take on a
mostly support
function," one
source told
Inner City
Press. "He
stood up and
said no,
headquarters
didn't back
him up and now
he's being
pushed out."
We'll have
more on this.
It was nine
days after
Libya's
foreign
minister
Mohamed Abdel
Aziz at the UN
Security
Council
stakeout told
the Press
his country
wanted
international
help to
protect oil
fields and
ports,
including
airports, that
the US
announced it
had relocated
its Tripoli
embassy staff
out of the
country to
Tunisia.
Inner City
Press asked,
where is UN
envoy to Libya
Tarek Mitri?
He briefed the
Security
Council from
Beirut --
sources tell
Inner City
Press he has
been on
vacation
there, and
this deputy,
too, was out
of the
country.
Back on July
17 when
Libya's
foreign
minister
Mohamed Abdel
Aziz emerged
from the UN
Security
Council to take
questions from
the media,
Inner City
Press asked
him to be more
specific about
what type of
“support”
force he is
asking for.
Mohamed
Abdel
Aziz replied
that the
request is not
for a
“military”
force -- but
then went on
to say say the
force should
protect oil
fields and
ports. If
that's not
military, what
is it?
Inner
City Press
also asked
Mohamed Abdel
Aziz for
Libya's
current
position on
the US
arresting Abu
Khatallah.
Compared to
the complaints
of others,
Mohamed Abdel
Aziz said that
even though
under
international
law it is
unacceptable,
since Libya
can't protect
witnesses,
maybe it is
okay.
Given
the current
state of
affairs, what
is “Libya's”
position?
Meanwhile
on
July 17 the
UN's envoy to
Libya Tarek
Mitri told the
Security
Council -- by
video from his
native
Lebanon, while
other UN
international
staff are in
Tunisia --
that the
fighting has
“cast a shadow
over the
election on 25
June of the
200 member
Council of
Representatives.”
Ya don't say.
Mitri
said
that barely
forty percent
of the 1.5
million
registered
Libyans went
to the polls.
He said 12
seats will
remain vacant;
41 candidates
were
disqualified
under the
post-Gaddafi
Law on
Political and
Administrative
Isolation.
Final results
are supposed
to be
announced on
July 20. Watch
this site.