US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice’s statement and q&a at the Security Council stakeout:
REPORTER: Madame Ambassador, just one follow up, there has been a lot of talk about this possibly turning into renewed civil war, and we have seen this standoff now dragging on for several days. How concerned is the United States and how concerned were the rest of the Council members that, by doing nothing, or leaving things in this limbo without even having an envoy like Thabo Mbeki on the ground, that this could spark renewed fighting?
AMBASSADOR RICE: I think the United States is obviously very interested in and invested in peace and stability and democracy in Côte d’Ivoire, and we are worried about any development that could undermine peace and democracy, and we think it is important that there be clear and unified statements and actions by the international community that reinforce respect for the results of the elections and reinforce our already considerable commitment of effort and resources to the maintenance of peace and security in Côte d’Ivoire. That certainly is the interest of the United States, and many, many other delegations expressed the same interest.
Thank you very much.
I get the whole dodge-accountable-answers game. But is it so out of line to ask that Ambassador Rice answer the very clear question posed by a reporter: Will this situation — a dispute over the electoral results in the Ivory Coast, and the relative inaction about them — spark renewed violence? Isn’t that kind of exactly the question on everyone’s mind right now? It’s great that “we are worried about any development that could undermine peace” — but wasn’t the point this guy or gal made whether this particular development might in fact undermine peace?
Probably answering that question could anger some people on the ground; maybe it would complicate some of the conversations with the many, many delegations who are “awaiting instructions” (see the link). But honestly, at some point, isn’t it just irresponsible not to answer the question?
Or maybe I’m just a journalist.
