At UN, Council Praises Dubious Chad Progress, Makes Deals on Darfur and Myanmar By Matthew Russell Lee January 7, 2007 Inner City Press Source: http://www.innercitypress.com/sc1chad010708.html UNITED NATIONS-- While for lack of helicopter now the European Union force for Chad and the Central African Republic has yet to deploy, the UN Security Council on Monday met and issued a bland press statement on the topic, which welcomed the progress which few but they can see. But diplomatic sources tell Inner City Press that Chad was only one of several issues discussed in the Council's four hour meeting. Members clashed about the upcoming January 9 meeting about Darfur, whether it should be open to the press and public or held behind closed doors. While the Council's president for January, Libyan Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi, would afterwards seem to deny it, the same question arose in advance of the January 16 meeting of Kosovo. Amb. Ettalhi came to the stakeout outside the Council chamber after the four hour meeting. He read the press statement on Chad and then sought to leave. A question was asked in Arabic, to which he turned back to respond. Then Inner City Press asked, did the Council discuss the format of that Darfur meeting, and what was the outcome? Amb. Ettalhi answered, It was concluded for Sudan. We have discussed Sudan only this morning. It will be briefing then consultation. Consultation means behind closed doors. Video here, from Minute 3:48. Inner City Press followed up, based on what Council sources inside the meeting had confided, on Amb. Ettalhi's statement that we have discussed Sudan only this morning. Was Myanmar discussed, Inner City Press asked, and added to the month's program as work, if only as a footnote? It is in footnote, it is agreed, Amb. Ettalhi acknowledged. But then it was not Sudan only that was discussed. The question arises, as it often does after closed-door Council sessions, were any trade-off behind these outcomes? China, for example, has historically fought to keep Myanmar off the agenda -- China and Russia vetoed its inclusion in January 2007. But now, while Myanmar was initially not in Amb. Ettalhi's plan of work, it becomes added. On the same day, discussion of Darfur is confined to another closed door meeting. Coincidence? Watch this site. Iridimi camp in Chad, asking for security in the past and still there are no copters On the failure of the EU force for Chad to begin deployment, Inner City Press asked Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Deputy Permanent Representative of France, which has stepped in to prop up the presidents of both Chad and the CAR, if his country has helicopters in the region that could be use. Yes, he acknowledged, but not enough. The French bases at Abeche in Chad and Birao in CAR were visited over New Years by French minister of defense Herve Morin, who was reported to express doubt about the deployment of the EU force. Inner City Press asked Amb. Lecroix if Chadian President Deby has imposed any limitation on the nationalities of pilots or copter-contributing countries. Amb. Lacroix answered, No, he is very cooperative. And still there are no helicopters... * * * These reports are also available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis. Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund. Video Analysis here Because a number of Inner City Press' UN sources go out of their way to express commitment to serving the poor, and while it should be unnecessary, Inner City Press is compelled to conclude this installment in a necessarily-ongoing series by saluting the stated goals of the UN agencies and many of their staff. Keep those cards, letters and emails coming, and phone calls too, we apologize for any phone tag, but please continue trying, and keep the information flowing. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com UN Office: S-453A, UN, NY 10017 USA Tel: 212-963-1439 Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540