Inner City Press -- Investigative Reporting From the United Nations to Wall Street to the Inner City

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 4 -- When the UN Security Council's president for November Liu Jieyi of China briefed the press on Monday, most questions were about Syria and its neighbors, Iran and Lebanon.

  Even the question about Saudi Arabia for now saying it will not take the Council seat it without competition won is largely about Syria and Iran, while the Saudis also list Palestine.

  Liu Jieyi's longest answer, very precise, was about the draft resolution circulated Friday by the Council's three African members for a one-year deferral of the International Criminal Court's Kenya proceedings.

   Liu Jieyi said that China supports the request, that the ICC should respect national judicial processes and that the UN should support regional groups.

  Inner City Press asked Liu Jieyi about the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the agenda for November 6, and Central African Republic, on the agenda for November 25. On DRC, Liu Jieyi said that regional efforts should be supported (one might ask, ICGLR or SADC?). On CAR, he said proposals are being made but he won't prejudge them.

  Liu Jieyi was thanked and, on behalf of the Free UN Coalition for Access, was asked to do stakeouts after the Council's holds closed-door consultations like it did on Monday morning, on arms from Libya and aid in Syria. On that latter, the UN's Valerie Amos chosen not to take press questions, for whatever reason. But questions will continue to be asked. Watch this site.