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Darfur Peacekeepers Left Hanging
As U.S. Opposes any Indictment Freeze Reference in Resolution
Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of
Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis
UNITED NATIONS,
July 31 -- The joint African Union
- UN peacekeeping mission in Darfur UNAMID ran up against it expiration
on
Thursday, as the Security Council repeatedly postponed its vote on a
resolution
to extend it. At the last minute, the U.S. demanded the deletion of a
reference
"taking note of the African Union communique" which called for
suspension of the indictment of Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir. The
U.S.
spokesman said this would send the wrong message. Some opined that U.S.
envoy
for Sudan Rich Williamson suddenly objected to language which had been
included
in the final "draft in blue." Others said the beef went as high as
Condi Rice.
Notably,
Sudan's Ambassador gave the UK "high marks... Ambassador Sawers and
Madame
Karen" Pierce, and said that the U.S. was disrespecting the African
Union,
a supposedly equal partner in UNAMID.
U.S.' Rich Williamson with Mia Farrow, African Union
not shown
Chinese
Ambassador Wang Guangya said the
African Union language should stay in, that to remove it would be "a
bit
difficult." As Inner City Press reported, before casting a veto along
with
Russia against the U.S. and UK-supported resolution to impose sanctions
on
Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe, Ambassador Wang said the situations was
"difficult, extremely difficult."
While
anger at the U.S.'s eleventh hour "obstruction" grew in many
quarters, a person wanting to be identified as a Western diplomat
emerged and
called the situation "solvable" but not "solved." The
Ambassadors of the UK and China, who had sat together in the Delegates'
Lounge,
exited separately. "Keeping up appearances," muttered one wag. But
where was the U.S.?
Update of 7:34 p.m. -- China's
Ambassador Wang emerged to announce, "Another half an hour, they still
have a problem with the language." He headed down the long hallway.
Update of 7:53 p.m. -- It has been
confirmed to Inner City Press by a participant in the negotiations that
the U.S. request for a 1 to 4 day "technical" rollover was rejected.
Consultations continue...
Update of 8:05 p.m. -- while
Ambassador mill about, the flat screen TV in front of the Council
chamber plays UNIFEED footage of the UN's Jane Holl
Lute dancing with peacekepers, then Sudan's President Omar Al
Bashir "dancing in Darfur." Earlier in the week, Inner City Press asked
Sudan's Ambassador to clarify this dancing. "It is not dancing in the
dark," he said, to laughter. "It is dancing for our martyrs." He went
on to call ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo a "screwdriver in the
toolbox of double standards." This quote has
traveled...
Update of 9:14 p.m. -- another
five minute break, to be followed by more consultations. Sudan's
Ambassador says the Americans' request for a five day rollover and more
time to change the text was rejected. The vending machine by the
Security Council is running out of food.
Update of 9:39 p.m. -- we are in
the Chamber, meeting about to beginning...
Update of 9:42 p.m. -- they will
be voting on S/2008/506, that is, the actual resolution, not a
technical roll over
Update of 9:43 p.m. -- only U.S.
Amb. Wolff has abstained, holding his hand in the air.
Update of 9:44 p.m. -- UK Amb.
Sawers praises adoption of Resolution 1828, regrets that the concerns
of "one delegation" could not be addressed due to a lack of time.
For analysis: it is not at all
clear that the U.S. would be the most opposed to suspending the
indictment against Al Bashir. But it was the most opposed to mentioning
this possibility. Why?
Update of 9:55 p.m. -- as Costa
Rica's Ambassador Urbina speaks, UK Amb. Sawers passes a note to
Russia's Churkin, who laughs and writes back. What is this, high school?
Update of 10:04 p.m. -- as
China's Amb. Wang speaks of the importance of "winning the support of
the people of Sudan" by properly balancing "judicial" and peace and
development issues, a U.S. staffer enters and a note is handed to
Wolff. No, this is not high school. It is assumed that he will
speak soon.
Update of 10:08 p.m. - Amb. Wang
will speaking, calls Moreno-Ocampo's application for an arrest warrant
against Al Bashir an "inappropriate decision made at an inappropriate
time." Amb. Wolff takes notes. Wang continues that China supports the
attempt to suspend the ICC proceedings, under the relevant provisions,
that is, Article 16 of the ICC's Rome Statute. Libya is next.
Update of 10:29 p.m. -- At the
stakeout, Amb. Wang explains his vote, Inner City Press asks why he
think the U.S., which abstained on even mentioning Article 16
suspension of proceedings, would agree to suspend. Wang says permanent
members should take up their responsibilities.
Update of 10:30 p.m. -- Russia's
Amb. Churkin is leaving without speaking at the stakeout. Because the
delegates' exit on 45th Street is closed, he passes by the Press.
"Abkhazia!" Inner City Press calls out. Amb. Churkin laughs. And he is
gone. U.S. Amb. Wolff still in the chamber.
Watch this site.
And
this --
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