In
SC Race,
Australia
Self-Reports
Its Spending,
Finns &
Luxembourg Not
Yet
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September 24
-- As
Australia,
Finland and
Luxembourg
have
competed for
months for two
seats on the
UN Security
Council, Inner
City Press has
covered the
twists and
turns, down to
Finnish
chocolate bars
with Martti
Ahtisaari's
face on them,
Australian
receptions
about
peacekeeping
and Luxembourg
showing up
any- and
everywhere to
speak about
peacebuilding.
Now
that the
annual UN
General Debate
has begun, the
three
competitors
enter the home
stretch.
Australian
prime minister
Julia Gillard
is under
some fire back
home, at least
from Tony
Abbott, for
spending too
much. The
figure is
alternately
presented as $24
million (SBS)
or $40
million (The
Australian -
behind a pay
wall upon a
second visit).
But
late in the
Rule of Law
speeches in
the General
Assembly hall
on
Monday night,
Australia's
representative
said his
country has
spend
fully $300
million
promoting the
rule of law,
and cited its
work in
the
peacebuilding
configurations
on Burundi,
Sierra Leone
and
Liberia.
How
does this $300
million
compare to the
much lower
estimates of
spending
seeking a
Security
Council seat?
Australia
is
not the only
place there
seems to be a
decrease in
transparency
and openness.
Finland, which
seems poised
to win a seat
due to being
perceived as
non-aligned,
this week
offered a slew
of reporters
the
chance to
interview its
president,
Sauli
Niinisto.
But faced with
a
yes from the
Press,
clarification
was sought:
"can you
please
specify your
topic?" To
Inner City
Press this
seems bad
form,
seeming to
condition
access on what
will be asked.
The
reply was
simple:
"Finland's run
for a Security
Council seat,
against
Australia and
Luxembourg.
Also possibly
disarmament."
But even with
this
additional
"gimme" topic,
it has not
happened yet.
Finland will
probably get a
seat. But will
they disclose
how
much they
spent? Will
Luxembourg?
Watch this
site.
UNGA
footnote:
in order to at
least try to
get answered
Australia's
$24 million to
$40 million
range, the
September 25,
3:30 pm
stakeout by
Australia
listed by the
UN Media
Accreditation
& Liaison
Unit in its night-before
Media Alert
lists "Press
Encounter:
H.E. Mr.
Michael
Spindelegger,
Prime Minister
of Australia."
Would that be
Austria?
Or Gillard by
another name?
We'll see.
, 
