Let's start with the Libyan delegation, specifically who or what should the Libyan UN delelgation be representing. The Libyan rebel leaders who have organized the National Transitional Council have petitioned UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon to represent Libya before the world body. The Libyan seat at the UN is still held by government representatives of Moammar Gaddafi. Particularly noteworthy, is this story on China's recent decision to recognize the National Transitional Council as the leaders of the Libya--the final member of the UN Security Council to do so.
There is a serious bid at the United Nations by the Palestinian National Authority to gain full state level member status, putting the Palestinian Authority at parity with all other fully-recognized UN member countries. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority is pushing a UN vote on the matter for this session...probably in the General Assembly, where no member country has veto power, but also where the action would stand as mostly symbolic. Read here about Russia's support, the "Arab Spring Effect," Europe's likely reaction and some diplomatic implications for the Obama Administration.
Former President Jimmy Carter weighed in on the Palestinian bid, reluctantly supporting it as "an alternative to a deadlock and a stalemate now."
And speaking of Carter, the Guardian has an good profile of the 86-year-old. Worth the read. And worth some discussion/debate of his legacy both during his term in office and the years since.
No comments:
Post a Comment