As
France Spins
2-Step on
Mali, ECOWAS
Frustration,
What of
Algeria and
Chad?
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
October 4 --
When
Thursday's
Mali
consultations
of the UN
Security
Council broken
up near 5 pm,
French
Ambassador
Gerard Araud
emerged and confirmed
that France
would
circulate a
draft
resolution
shortly (in
a day or two)
but NOT yet to
deploy ECOWAS
forces.
Why
the delay?
Araud twice
said, we've
been waiting
for some time
for
details from
ECOWAS. He
said the
resolution
might specify,
deliver
the delays in
30 days or as
soon as
possible.
Inner
City Press
asked Araud,
what about
Mali neighbors
which are not
members of
ECOWAS, like
Mauritania and
Algeria?
Araud
replied that
any and all
countries are
invited to be
involved. He
mentioned the
European
Union, then
circled back
to Chad.
But
again, what about
Algeria? The
country has
long opposed
interventions,
especially
involving
former
colonialism
France. While
pretending not
to take the
lead or play
any special
role on Mali,
it was Araud
who came to
the
stakeout; it
is France
which is
drafting.
Then
again, MUJAO
in Northern
Mali last
month executed
an Algerian
diplomat.
Araud said
that there is
unanimity in
the Council on
Mali,
and afterward
Cote d'Ivoire
Ambassador
Bamba, who was
not allowed in
the meeting,
emphasized to
the press that
at the Sahel
meeting at the
UN during
General Debate
week, there
was a strong
political
demand a
resolution
authorizing
force.
But
what about the
neighbors,
which are not
members of
ECOWAS? Watch
this
site.
, 
