At
UN
on Libya,
Proposed Arms
Embargo
Exceptions for
TNC & UN
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 12
-- With the UK drafted
resolution on
Libya
expected to be
circulated to
Security
Council
members today,
German
Permanent
Representative
Peter Wittig
told the Press
that he
doesn't
"expect any
acrimonious
philosophical
debate," and
predicts
adoption this
week.
But
when Inner
City Press
asked two
other well
placed Council
sources, the
answer
was "not so
fast." One
source, from
among the IBSA
(India,
Brazil and
South Africa)
grouping, told
Inner City
Press that the
proposed
modification
of asset
freeze and
particularly
the arms
embargo could
give rise to
some debate.
A
European
diplomat who
is a proponent
of the draft
countered to
Inner City
Press that it
would not life
the arms
embargo but
open
"exceptions"
to it.
Another
Council
diplomat, from
a country
which has
recognized the
Transitional
National
Council, told
Inner City
Press that the
proposed
exceptions
to the arms
embargo are
for the TNC,
and separately
to take in
weapons to
protect the
UN.
Guns in
Libya: is
there a lack?
Arms embargo
exception not
shown
Some
wonder: is it
that the TNC
does not have
enough
weapons? But
the diplomat
from the
country
recognizing
the TNC
predicted that
any questions
or
opposition
will
disappear,
indicating
that they have
to see which
way
the wind is
blowing. Watch
this site.
Footnote:
a well placed
Permanent
Representative
told Inner
City Press the
Credentials
Committee is
supposed to
formally
switch to the
TNC this week.
* * *
In
Libya,
UN Wants to
Train Police,
Confers with
EU, Martin May
Have 2 Rivals
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 9 --
UN adviser on
"post
conflict"
Libya Ian
Martin briefed
the Security
Council on
Friday and
then took
questions from
the Press.
Inner
City Press
asked Martin
if he wants to
become the
Special
Representative
for Libya, if
that requires
the National
Transitional
Council's
consent, and
what has
happened to UN
mediator Al
Khatib.
Of
those three
questions,
Martin's only
answer was
that it is up
the the
Secretary
General, Ban
Ki-moon. A
well placed
Council source
told Inner
City Press
that while
"the "Brit"
Martin is the
front runner,
another UN
official from
the UK,
Michael
Williams,
might also be
considered, as
well as Oscar
Fernandez
Taranco. Al
Khatib, the
source said,
is entirely
out of the
picture.
Inner
City Press
asked Martin
if the
training of
police he
described
would be done
by member
states, or
regional
groups, or UN
staff
themselves.
Martin said
the UN is
meeting with
"actors"
interested in
training
police in
Libya. After
the stakeout
Inner City
Press asked
him if these
actors
included
member states.
Yes, Martin
said, and the
European
Union. Inner
City Press
asked, "The
Finns?" He
said yes.
Martin
and Lynn
Pascoe briefed
the Security
Council on a
three month
mission plan
by Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon which
the UN
withheld for
14 hours after
Inner City
Press published
it on Thursday
night.
At Friday's
noon briefing,
another
correspondent
asked why the
UN had not
released,
since it was
already on
InnerCityPress.com.
The Deputy
Spokesman said
he didn't
know; twenty
minutes later,
the UN
belatedly put
it online.
Thus is
transparency
at the UN.
Khatib, Ban
& Martin
on Aug 26,
Khatib now
MIA, Martin
has 2 rivals?
The
next step will
be circulation
as early as
Monday of a
resolution
being drafted
by the UK,
about the
mission and
about removing
some
sanctions.
Libya
Sanctions
Committee
chairman
Cabral told
Inner City
Press that
travel bans on
individuals
would remain,
and that some
institutions
are not yet
under the full
control of the
NTC. UK
Permanent
Representative
Lyall Grant
said it will
be important
in revising
sanctions to
make sure all
money goes to
the Libyan
people.
A
European
spokesman
afterward said
that the
mandate of
NATO will not
be impacted,
it has no
sunset. Watch
this site.
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