On W. Sahara, ICP Asks Morocco PR Of Full Functionality, AU Letter, Here
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 26 -- The spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Stephane Dujarric, on July 14 told the press that the “first group of 25 MINURSO personnel, first batch, of the returning landed in Layun yesterday.”
But, Inner City Press was exclusively informed by sources, that was false. Confirmed below. On July 26 after the Security Council's closed-door meeting on Western Sahara, Inner City Press asked the Council's president for July Koro Bessho of Japan if UN Peacekeeping's Herve Ladsous had given any indication when more than 25 of the 83 expelled peacekeepers would return.
Bessho said that with 25, the MINURSO mission has not reached the goal of full functionality.
Moments later Inner City Press asked Morocco's Ambassador Omar Hilale about this quote. He replied that Inner City Press always seeks to cast doubt on Morocco; he said that a “package” has been agreed to with the UN Secretariat that is a two-way street.
So what has Ban Ki-moon's Secretariat agreed to? Hilale wouldn't say. He said he will be giving Inner City Press a copy of a letter showing 28 heads of state inviting Morocco into the African Union. And here it is: we are putting it online along with this AU Communique.
When Inner City Press asked with whom in the Secretariat Morocco had negotiated this package, he called it a vicious question. In fairness, Periscope video here - and here.
On July 26, Inner City Press asked UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft if 25, or 50, would be enough. Video here. From the UK transcript:
Rycroft: from what I hear, I think it's well on the way to getting back to full functionality. So, we're looking forward, and seeing that this is an issue which is resolving itself.
Inner City Press Q: Now it's 25. Would 50 be enough?
Rycroft: I'm not going to put a number on it. I'm just going to say that I think we are moving well towards full functionality. I think the issues that have bedeviled the UN presence there are behind us.
Then Inner City Press tried to asked French Ambassador Francois Delattre about what POLISARIO's representative Ahmed Boukhari had said on the record on July 25, that France is trying for a UN Security Council statement “congratulating” Morocco for 25 of the 83 it expelled. Inner City Press asked, trying to make it as easy as possible for Delattre to answer, “Vous voulez felicitez el Maroc?” Video here.
Delattre congratulated Inner City Press' French, but did not answer, saying he would come out of the Council later. But when he did, after he read out statements in French about Central African Republic and Inner City Press said, “one question on Western Sahara?” Delattre said no, no more questions. Then answered more. Periscope video here. Watch this site.
Titre original
Letter to AU on Morocco, As Provided to ICP by Omar Hilale
On W. Sahara, ICP Asks Morocco PR Of Full Functionality, AU Letter, Here
By Matthew Russell Lee
UNITED NATIONS, July 26 -- The spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Stephane …