United Nations, Mar. 31 (Prensa Latina) — Former Nicaraguan foreign minister Miguel D’Escoto, now appointed as the representative of Libya to the UN, said Thursday that the United Nations has become a “lethal weapon of the Empire (United States).”
“We have to get it back, because if it dies it will not be born again,” warned D’Escoto, who was president of the 63rd period of sessions of the UN General Assembly (2008-2009).
In an interview with Prensa Latina in New York, D’Escoto, a Catholic priest, said the UN is dysfunctional, unable to fulfill the goals for which it was created.
D’Escoto harshly criticized UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, accusing him of betraying the UN Charter. He did not rule out coordination between the UN secretary general and the host country (the United States) to prevent former Libyan Foreign Minister Ali Treki from the entering U.S. territory.
Treki, who chaired the UN General Assembly until last September, was appointed Libyan ambassador to the UN two weeks ago by President Muammar Gaddafi, but he did not receive a U.S. visa to travel to New York.
“I don’t know what kind of effort Ban Ki-moon made with respect to that visa, as part of his duty as UN leader,” said D’Escoto.
Now, the appointment of D’Escoto as Libya representative is in doubt, after the U.S. representative to the UN, Susan Rice, claimed the Nicaraguan does not have a diplomatic visa.
Following the statement by Rice, the UN press office cancelled a Thursday press conference with D’Escoto that had been announced on Wednesday by UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq.
US Interference and Arms Supply to Libyan Opposition Denounced
by Prensa Latina
Caracas, Mar 31 (Prensa Latina) — The government of the US is supplying munitions to the Libyan opposition and taking part in the Libyan conflict, assured the representative for Libya to the United Nations, Miguel D’Escoto.
In statements to TeleSur, D’Escoto criticized the recent statements by US President Barack Obama on possibly arming to opponents to Coronel Muammar Gaddafi.
“This is pure hypocrisy and demagogy, they are already giving weapons to the rebels, and not only that: they are interfering in the struggle of the Libyan people,” he said, adding that this action is against international law and the United Nations Charter.
“There is no doubt that the US government will keep on behaving like an empire, and its policy will not depend on who the President is. The military complex is the real boss in the US government,” said D’Escoto.
D’Escoto said he will work for a ceasefire in Libya and start a dialogue between the government and the opposition.
The disarmament also implies a stop in the flow of weapons delivered by the coalition formed by the US and several European nations.
Many of the weapons are coming to Libya from Egypt.
D’Escoto also criticized the position adopted by the UN in the conflict and advocated for a reform of the organization.
The Libyan government formally assigned D’Escoto as its representative before the UN this Tuesday, since Ali Treki, appointed to the position on March 4, could not start his work because he could not get the visa to enter US territory.
Cf. “Miguel D’Escoto dice que se necesita la reinvención de la ONU para evitar más drama” (TeleSur, 30 March 2011); “Delegado de Libia ante la ONU, Miguel D’Escoto: Proveer armas a los rebeldes libios es intromisión en los asuntos internos de un país” (TeleSur, 30 March 2011); “UN Blocks Libya Briefing by d’Escoto” (Inner City Press, 31 March 2011); “Ceasefire in Libya Demanded at UNSC” (Prensa Latina, 31 March 2011).
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