No Russia, no China at UNSC meeting on Lanka

(May 12, New York, Sri Lanka Guardian) The United Nations Security Council informal session on Sri Lanka turned out to be a virtual non-event with Russia and China not attending, reports said.

An Inner City Press report said:

In the face of the weekend's bloodbath on the beach in Sri Lanka, the UN Security Council had its more throw-away meeting yet on the topic, not even an informal Council session, without members such as China and Russia, the Council's president this month. In April, the Council met in the UN basement in informal interactive sessions, with all 15 members present and a common statement at the end. Monday, only some members went up to a meeting room booked at the last minute on the UN”s 33rd floor.

The basement “wasn't available,” a Permanent Five member's spokesperson told Inner City Press. No list of the NGOs participating was available. Inner City Press asked U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice about Sri Lanka. She said she would be attending the meeting. Inner City Press asked if she would speak publicly on the topic after the meeting. Maybe, was the answer. As of 3 p.m., it had not happened.

After the meeting, the foreign ministers of France, the UK and Austria came down to the microphone in front of the Council. Inner City Press directed a question at France's Bernard Kouchner, whether he would use the expiration of the European Union's favorable tariff treatment for Sri Lankan textiles, the so-called GSP Plus, as a way to try to protect civilians from government bombing as took place over the weekend.

The answer came from the UK's Miliband, that “Sri Lanka does not want to isolate itself from the international community... Sri Lanka depends to some extent on trade with the European Union [so] the human rights aspects of the discussion are taken seriously, by the European Commission at this stage.” Only then did Kouchner answer, that “Benita Ferrero-Waldner has been involved.”
-Sri Lanka Guardian
Unknown said...

These people are simlpy accepting a report sent by a so called 'Doctor' who does not exist is Sri Lankan Medical professionals list. This person only can be a LTTE supporter who has been moving from LTTE's Kilinochchi debacle as that was the time LTTE started sending out 'civilian killings' out to the Inernetional media where they quoted a 'doctor'. If not why is this doctor is moving with the LTTE to where ever they retreat? The make shift hospital might be a mobile unit LTTE is maintaining to treat its injured cadres and leaders. One cannot accept information from a biased party like that. UN and these three countries are stupid to believe it.

They also keep on saying that inependant people should be allowed in to IDP camps. For god's sake , How many have now been allowed into? Kouchner and Milliband themselves were there. Are they not independant? Sri Lanka need not allow any more into these IDP camps. If these countries want to help in maintenance of them they can surely help.

Similarly the request to enter NFZ cannot be allowed and is non-negotiable. The reason is,if any of the foreigner are taken hostage, which is sure to happen, LTTE leaders will automatically have an escape route for LTTE will then bargain with the SL government for their own escape.