On
Syria,
Portugal Says
ICC Cited in
Meeting by
Delegation,
Another
Dismissive
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
October 12 --
The was a
meeting on
Syria of UN
Security
Council
diplomats on
Friday
morning, but
it was low
profile and
many
of the Council
member's
Permanent
Representatives
either didn't
come
or left early.
As Inner City
reported,
the sign
outside North
Lawn
Conference
Room 6
referred only
to a
closed Arria
formula
meeting; no
mention of
Syria.
Afterward
Inner
City Press
asked
Permanent
Representative
Cabral of
Portugal,
which
organized the
Arria formula
meeting, "What
happened in
there?"
Speaking
exclusively
to Inner City
Press, Cabral
replied that,
"They
brought to us
the full
horror of the
situation.
There was
avery good
phrase by
Professor
[Paulo]
Pinheiro, that
civil war
breeds
violence
and
ruthlessness
and lack of
rule of law. I
find it very
credible.
They did try
to do an
honest job in
the midst of a
difficult
circumstance.
They have a
balanced
approach and I
think an
impartial
one."
Cabral
paused. "Now,
what do we do?
In terms of
human rights
and
ensuring
accountability,
and a way out
of conflict
[which will
be]
only a
political one.
As Professor
Pinheiro said,
increasing the
military
capacity of
the opposition
and government
would only
lead to
more
suffering. So,
we must
support
Brahimi, we
must create
conditions for
a peaceful
negotiation."
Inner
City Press
asked Cabral
if the
International
Criminal Court
had come
up. Cabral
nodded and
said, "there
were
references
from some
delegations."
The
briefers,
Inner City
Press reported
just after the
meeting began
included
Assistant
Secretary
General Ivan
Simonovic and
two members
of the Human
Rights Council
panel on
Syria, not
only the above
(or
Cabral)
mentioned
chairman Paulo
Pinheiro but
also member
Karen
AbuZayd.
Cabral
replied, "They
did mention
the ICC --
saying the
responsibility
is for the
[Security]
Council."
Another
delegation
that DID speak
to Inner City
Press after
the meeting
snarked that
"those who
talk then most
about this
didn't even
stay."
Inner
City Press
asked and was
told that
Pinheiro and
Abu-Zaid would
hold a
briefing for
the press on
Tuesday,
October 16.
Apparently
they'll be
in New York
over the
weekend until
then. Why
didn't or
don't they
speak publicly
on Friday
after the
meeting? Watch
this site.
, 
