webmaster
© Copyright DEHAI-Eritrea OnLine, 1993-2010
All rights reserved
From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Mon Sep 27 2010 - 09:48:36 EDT
http://www.innercitypress.com/som1uneritrea092610.html
UN's Invitation to Eritrea for Somalia Meeting Was Revoked at IGAD's Demand
By Matthew Russell Lee, Exclusive
UNITED NATIONS, September 26, 2010 -- The Somalia meeting at the UN on
September 23 featured a little notice last minute disinvitation. The
UN's Department of Political Affairs had invited Eritrea, a a member
of the regional group IGAD which has hosted the leaders of the
Alliance to Reliberate Somalia and supports the Al Shabab rebels.
But the other IGAD members wanted Eritrea excluded. They prepared a
draft Communique which criticized the UN for inviting Eritrea. To
avoid the criticism, the UN unceremoniously disinvited Eritrea, just
before the meeting began.
Little was said about this. In fact, the political coordinator of a
Security Council member told Inner City Press he had not heard about
the disinvitation, but saw Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's chief of
staff Vijay Nambiar whispering to Eritrean Permanent Representative
Araya Desta, and then his disappearance from the meeting room.
This Security Council member told Inner City Press his country thinks
excluding Eritrea was a bad idea. They are a player, he says. Not
having them present makes resolution less likely.
Analogy has been made, as it has with respect to most Security
Council members other than the US, France and UK being willing to meet
with Sudan's Omar al Bashir, to Slobodan Milosevic's participation in
the Dayton peace process.
But several IGAD members told Inner City Press Eritrea is such a
“spoiler” or troublemaker that it would be a “mockery” to have them
present.
Eritrea's Perm Rep Desta, Nambiar whisper and disapprearance from
meeting not shown
Uganda's Permanent Representative Rugunda confirmed to Inner City
Press, let's just say, Eritrea was not present when the meeting
actually happened.
Whatever one thinks of the wisdom of disinviting Eritrea, it is
surprisingly how little has been said or reported about it. Hence this
exclusive report, and questions which will be forthcoming. Watch this
site.
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----