As
Gbagbo
Moves to Eject UN Choi from Ivory Coast, No UNSC Action
Under US, Only Obama Statement
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
December 3, upstead -- In Ivory Coast,
Laurent Gbagbo's adviser and
Ambassador to the UN Alcide Djedje has threatened to throw out of the
country UN envoy Y.J. Choi after Choi rejected the decision of the
Gbagbo dominated Constitutional Council that Gbagbo won the run off
election, 51% to 49% over Alassane Ouattara.
This
took place
hours after the UN Security Council, led this month by the US, had
begun to call a meeting, then stood down. Inner City Press observed
and reported the preparations for the meeting.
Inner
City Press can now report
that a video link was established, and a UN Mission in Cote d'Ivoire
official appeared on screen, ready to speak to the Council.
But
the US never
convened the Council to meeting. Another Permanent Five ambassador
told Inner City Press on Friday afternoon that the US had said, only
a press statement, no meeting.
Some
fairly or unfairly even wondered
if the US decision not to call a meeting despite the “crisis” in
Ivory Coast was related to Permanent Representative Susan Rice not
being in New York.
At
11:50 am, Inner
City Press asked the US Mission to the UN to confirm or deny by
e-mail that there would be a Council meeting. Not having any response
for an hour, Inner City Press asked again, including a question on
Sudan, and was told that it would be called.
During
that time, apparently more friendly press was told that there would be
no
meeting, but rather a press statement read by Brooke Anderson.
Now
as 6 pm has
passed, no meeting, and no UN Security Council press statement read by
Brooke Anderson. (Also, no answer on 12
SPLM soldiers killed in Sudan.)
The US
Mission had not informed UN staff still in waiting that they could go
home (perhaps to return this weekend).
An
African diplomat told Inner City Press at the stakeout that some
countries, like his, wanted to check that all had been done correctly,
including in Choi's statement.
UN Choi & Gbagbo in 2007, threat to eject not shown
At
5:15 pm e-mailed out a copy of a statement by US
President Obama, hailing Ouattara's win and calling on Gbagbo to
respect the result.
So
has Barak Obama
become the Security Council? What explains the Council's failure to
meet, and failure to even issue a press statement?
Some of those
surrounding the Council have been told to be "on alert" for a Council
meeting, or at least read out of a UNSC statement by some US
Ambassador, over the weekend...
, 
