Jubaland Reaches UNSC But Not Somalia Kenya Rift, UK Hot & Cold on Syria
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, June 13, 2013 -- Jubaland made it into the UN Security
Council on Thursday, when UN Assistant Secretary General Taye-Brook Zerihoun
gave a closed door briefing. Afterward UK Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant,
Security Council president for June, came out and announced that his
delegation has circulated a draft press statement expressing concern about
tensions there.
Inner City Press asked Lyall Grant if Kenya would be mentioned in his
press statement, given Somalia's complaints including at the recent African
Union summit how its parliamentarians were "blocked by Kenya" from entering
Kismayo. Video here
<
http://webtv.un.org/watch/sc-president-sir-mark-lyall-grant-united-kingdom-
on-liberia-security-council-media-stakeout-13-june-2013/2477037618001/>
from Minute 2:38.
Lyall Grant replied that he didn't think Kenya would be named, but AMISOM
would be and Kenya is part of AMISOM. He acknowledged "incidents" in Kismayo
and said there should not be distractions from the fight against Al Shabaab.
While Lyall Grant, when reached at the stakeout, is responsive, as is his
spokesperson, this stands in contrast
<
http://www.innercitypress.com/scuk1banpress060413.html> still to the UN
Mission in Geneva.
After two days of questions and complaints
<
https://twitter.com/UKMissionGeneva/status/345149256333672448> about the
Human Rights Council resolution they tweeted that they had tabled, on
Thursday morning when tw-asked for a copy of the resolution, they said it
was on the HRC's website
<
https://twitter.com/UKMissionGeneva/status/345157837938376705> .
But hours later, after signing in to the
<
https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/345181686759305216> "extra-net,"
the draft resolution wasn't there. And it has still not be received. Ah,
Digital Diplomacy.
<
http://www.innercitypress.com/banpress1ununca061213.html> Watch this site.
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After Somaliland Said UNSOM Can't Function There, Kay Keeps Talking
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, June 14, 2013 -- The day after Somaliland through its
foreign minister told UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay that his UNSOM
mission is not welcome in Somaliland, Inner City Press asked Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Martin Nesirky for the UN's response.
Nesirky said he'd try to get an answer from the Department of Political
Affairs. And soon this came in:
"From: UN Spokesperson - Do Not Reply [at] un.org>
Date: Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 12:34 PM
Subject: Your question on Somaliland
To: Matthew.Lee [at] innercitypress.com
Regarding your question on Somaliland at today's noon briefing, we have the
following information from the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) to
share:
Following meetings with officials in Somaliland, the head of the UN
Assistance Mission in Somalia, Mr. Nicholas Kay, said the following
yesterday: 'I take very seriously the Somaliland government's concerns as
expressed today. This is a complex and sensitive issue and I believe the
mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, UNSOM, can bring
considerable benefits to Somaliland across a range of issues, while fully
respecting its particular circumstances. I look forward to continuing the
dialogue.'
Today, Mr. Kay met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland to
further discuss UNSOM's mandate and operations in Somaliland. There is a
common will to continue the dialogue. We are following the situation closely
and are in close contact with UNSOM. The United Nations is pleased that
dialogue is continuing with Somaliland authorities."
Inner City Press has obtained and is putting online the Somaliland letter.
<
http://www.innercitypress.com/somaliland1unsomicp061313.doc> It says the
UN
"ignores the reality of Somaliland's existence and functioning as an
independent state since 1991 and the self-determination rights of our
people. Since the purpose of such an office is to extend the remit of the
federal government to Somaliland, my government is of the view that a
UNSOM'S presences in Hargeisa will not be in the best interest of our
country. Therefore, we can not allow UNSOM'S political office to function in
Somaliland."
The UN should not be surprised, though some perhaps are: as Inner City
Press reported in April, Somaliland's letter to the Security Council was
never distributed to the Council members
<
http://www.innercitypress.com/un1somaliland042713.html> . Then the UN
system gave Somaliland's airspace to Somalia, triggering a ban on UN flights
<
http://www.innercitypress.com/un3somaliland051613.html> . Can Nicholas Kay
turn this around? We'll see.
Received on Fri Jun 14 2013 - 16:18:48 EDT