At
UN
on Yemen, Russia Blocks Lebanese & German Statement Supporting
GCC
By
Matthew
Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED
NATIONS,
April 19 -- When the UN Security Council got a briefing
on
Yemen on April 19, a statement was proposed by Germany and
Lebanon. But it was not agreed to.
Inner
City Press
has seen the proposed statement, and it is very simple:
“The
members of the Security Council heard a briefing from... on the
situation in Yemen.
“They
expressed their concern at the political crisis in Yemen, and called
on the parties to exercise restraint and to enter into a
comprehensive dialogue to realize the legitimate aspirations of the
Yemeni people.
“They
also expressed their full support to the mediation role of the Gulf
Cooperation Council.”
A
Western
spokesperson told the Press pointedly that “the usual suspects”
had blocked this simple statement by saying that they needed
instructions from their capitals. Other sources in the Council,
however, reduce the suspects to a single one: Russia.
They
describe a
standoff between the second and third highest diplomats in Russia's
Mission to the UN -- top ambassador Vitaly Churkin was not involved
-- and Lebanon's Permanent Representative Nawaf Salam.
The
Russians,
they say, asked Salam when Lebanon wasn't taking the anti-statement
position. Salam in turn raised his voice, saying that Russia should
be following the Arab countries' lead, and that Russia's Ambassador
in Beirut would to asked to explain why not.
Inner
City Press
will venture this explanation: Russia sees the GCC as a pro-American
grouping and does not want to support it.
Ban & Saleh, previously, Russia and 2d term not shown
Another
Western
spokesman, on background, said that the real purpose of the briefing
was to provide support to the Gulf Cooperation Council mediation in
Yemen. A well placed UN source told Inner City Press this was
wishful thinking, that the GCC process would need outside support or
“content.”
The
reason for the
Western countries deferring to the GCC, he said, was that “probably
only a GCC country would be willing to take Yemen's president” Ali
Abdullah Saleh if
he stepped down.
While
the UN
Secretariat seems to feel positive about the Security Council session
and that it could do more in Yemen than the GCC can, others predict
that Russia will not get instructions for the rest of the shortened
week, and the statement will die. The questions is whether this is
another thing Russia will admonish Ban Ki-moon about during his
upcoming visit there. We'll see. Watch this site.
Footnote:
As
US Ambassador Susan Rice left the meeting, she was asked if Syria
had also been discussed. “No,” he said. Why not? Because the
topic was Yemen, she said as she left. But Syria did come up in the
Security Council during Monday's “horizon” briefing by Lynn
Pascoe. Watch this site.
* * *
At
UN,
Yemen
Taken Up by Security Council, Syria Discussed But No Bahrain,
Under Ban Envoy Litmus Test
By
Matthew
Russell
Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
April
18 -- While Yemen wasn't listed as a topic for the
Security Council's “horizon” briefing on Monday, once UN
Department of Political Affairs chief Lynn Pascoe mentioned it,
several members asked to have more information.
And
so on April 19
at 3:30 pm there will be a separate Security Council briefing devoted
to Yemen. German Ambassador Wittig told Inner City Press that the
situation in Yemen raises regional issues, including piracy.
Inner
City
Press
asked Wittig if Germany would like Syria, which also discussed in the
horizon briefing, to ascend to the Security Council agenda. Wittig
said that Germany is concerned, that an eye should be kept on Syria.
Another
Council
member's
Deputy Permanent Representative said that the Yemen briefing
was okay because “he” -- Pascoe or Ban Ki-moon -- sent an envoy
there, “so let's hear what he has to say.”
So
if Syria
accepted an envoy, it too would be discussed in the Security Council?
This puts Ban not pushing for an envoy -- Oscar Fernandez Tarranco --
to Bahrain in a different light.
We
will have more
on Yemen, where the capital city is said to be split in two with a
renegade general in control of half. Watch this site.
* * *
On
Libya,
US
Says
Arming Rebels Is Legal, Deferred Answer on Visas of
d'Escoto
By
Matthew
Russell
Lee
WASHINGTON
DC,
April
14
-- While at its April 14 briefing the US State
Department on Libya
was primarily asked why it is not arming or
funding the rebels, giving more planes or even “whacking”
Gaddafi, described as “fist pumping” in a convertible in Tripoli,
Inner City Press ask State Department spokesman Mark Toner if
allowing funds to the rebels might not result in violations of the
arms embargo in UN Security Council resolution 1970.
While
the
idea
is
that arming the rebels would require another resolution, beyond 1973,
Toner replied that arming the rebels is legal. See transcript:
MR.
TONER:
We
believe
that – our understanding of the sanctions and
what was prohibited, that this was – this action was legal, that it
was lawful.
Inner
City
Press:
How
about the arms embargo? How does – I mean, if this
– both revenue streams, do you feel that the arms embargo under
Resolution 1970, which is a total arms embargo on the country, is
this something that you would be discussing with (inaudible)? Do you
think – you keep saying that the revenue stream is only for the
operation of the government.
MR.
TONER:
We’ve
talked
about this before, and what we’ve said is
that 1970 – taken in totality, 1970 and 1973 – that it is
permissible to get arms to the opposition, and that’s something
that remains on the table, certainly. We’ve never taken that option
away.
Inner
City
Press:
And
could I ask you about visas, too? So also on Libya,
there – I’ve tried to ask this to the mission in New York --
MR.
TONER:
Yeah.
Inner
City
Press:
--
but there was – there were stories saying that Ali
Treki, who is the former foreign minister of Libya, was denied a U.S.
visa, more recent stories saying that D’Escoto
Brockmann, who was
named to represent Libya, couldn’t get a visa. Is that true? And
what’s the visa status of the two diplomats who left?
MR.
TONER:
D’Escoto
Brockmann
is the Nicaraguan?
Inner
City
Press:
Nicaraguan.
Absolutely.
D'escoto Brockmann previously at UN, US visa not shown
MR.
TONER:
Okay.
Yeah.
I’m trying to remember, but this is a couple
weeks ago, I believe, when this was in the news. But we had very real
concerns about his status, and I believe we were looking into it, but
at the same time, obviously, complying with our obligations as a host
nation for the UN. But we felt that he had – we had concerns –
there were concerns about his status here that needed to be
addressed. I don’t know what the exact status is today of that,
though. I’d have to check.
Inner
City
Press:
(Inaudible)
the Nicaraguan? His --
MR.
TONER:
Yes,
the
Nicaraguan. As far as the Libyan --
Inner
City
Press:
The
representatives – yeah, Shalgam and Dabbashi.
MR.
TONER:
--
representative
– I’m not sure what the status of that
is. I’ll have to check for you.
Inner
City
Press:
:
Okay. Yeah, thanks.
Seven
hours
later
there
still was no answered. And while an official of the US Mission
to the UN, which has rebuffed Press questions about visas for some
time, told Inner City Press that on Libya the legality of UN envoy al
Khatib also being paid by Jordan would be publicly addressed this
week, it hasn't been. We'll see -- watch this site.
, 
