I visited the UN Security Council about two weeks ago. Here is an article I wrote on the experience for the intern newsletter.

One of the perks of being an UN intern is the ability to waltz into open Security Council meetings. While attempting to inconspicuously dance your way past security might raise a few eyebrows, by simply flashing your badge you gain immediate access to the world of high diplomacy.

On January 27th the Security Council held an open debate entitled “The Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”. Held in the Security Council chamber, it was the first opportunity for many interns to witness the operation of arguably the most important UN decision-making institutions. Along with the regular Member States, representatives from the Palestinian Authority and Israel, as well as the Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon, were in attendance.

While not a debate in the traditional sense, the topic did stimulate some interesting discussion on the current situation in the region. Centred on the plight of the Palestinian people, Oscar Fernandez-Tarano, assistant secretary-general for political affairs delivered a sobering assessment of the situation on the ground one year after the Gaza Conflict had erupted. He elaborated on cases of denial of food and aid to the Palestinians and argued that the continued stalemate is precipitating a humanitarian crisis in the region.

Many nations urged Israel to loosen restrictions on the transport of aid and fuel into the occupied territories and stop the continued expansion of settlements into East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Israel stated its willingness to negotiate with the Palestinians, but demanded the cessation of the continued rocket attacks into its territory. Israel also noted Hamas’ continued denial of its sovereign legitimacy. Lebanon provided the most vitriolic reaction, whereas the United States condemned Hamas’ rocket attacks but urged Israel to restrict settlement building in the occupied territories.

While this meeting seemed informal, it gave the interns an interesting look into how the council operates, as well as the nuances of international diplomacy and debate. It also gave insight into the somewhat overwhelming complexities of attempting to solve an issue as old and volatile as ‘the Palestinian Questions’.

I couldn’t stay for the entire debate, but you could see that Israel was in for a bad day. Apart from the US, all other nations condoned Israel’s behaviour. While I don’t condone violence of any kind including the Hamas rocket attacks, but what Israel are doing – namely the expansion of settlements – is not constructive. The rest of the world can see that but not many seem interested in helping the Palestinians people.

The UN issued a press release that includes information concerning the entire breadth of the debate which you can read by clicking here.

I also attended the UN’s Holocaust Memorial Ceremony held in the General Assembly that same night. I have to say, I was disappointed. While the music was quite good, the speeches were sloppy. The keynote speaker seemed a charming old lady and had some interesting stories, but rambled on a bit more than was necessary.

One speech by the Israeli minister for Information Yuli Edelstein could only be described as outright propaganda. He did not really talk on the Holocaust at all, instead gave a demagogic lecture about the right of Israel to exist and the threat of Iran’s (conveniently forgetting Israel’s own alleged nuclear arsenal), glossing over anything that actually had anything to do with ‘remembering the holocaust’. You can tell by his previous press statements, that there wasn’t much hope for the exercise of rationalism.

While I don’t disagree with Israel’s right to exist, nor disagree with their right to be suspicious of Iran, the whole manner in which Edelstein preached to the crowd, taken in context with the current plight of Palestinian, left a bad taste in my mouth. I cannot support the utilisation of human tragedy as contemporary political currency. Simply put, it wasn’t the time or place to talk about such subjects.

There was what seemed like a moving speech from a Sinti representative who talked the 20,000 deaths of the Sinti people during the holocaust, but the sound was so awful that it was really hard to hear.

Still an impressive day – getting to hang in both the Security Council and the General Assembly was pretty special.

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It has been a hectic few days for me in the Big Apple. I’ve started my internship with the United Nations and I’m already in the thick of it. I’m working in Peacekeeping with some awesome people and I’m glad my meager skills can contribute to something that is of worldwide importance. I’m also glad that I have plenty to do because there is no risk I’ll get bored. I’m not at the secretariat building (you know the famous one that everyone knows about) but closer to Grand Central station in midtown east. I believe my section might be near the security or disarmament guys. I note a lot of example landmines on display, which is quite interesting.

My UQ colleague Fanney (also a UN intern) and myself at our orientation session

I’ve only been in the internship a few days, but we’ve done an orientation session, organised some intern activity committees and had a few social outings with my fellow interns. Orientation was interesting – we were addressed by Gillian Sorenson, senior advisor to the United Nations foundations and former assistant secretary general for external relations during Kofi Annan’s tenure as Secretary-General, as well as Anita Sharma, the North American coordinator for the UN Millennium Campaign. I’ve joined the newsletter and sports committees (naturally) and there looks to be some great little activities being organised. There are about 200 of us, so there is always something interesting planned.

Today I got my free tour of the UN secretariat building which also took in a walk through the general assembly and other interesting little exhibits.

AK-Stratocaster

I’ve sorted my accommodation. After a brief stint in Long Island City with the awesome Gabe and Jade, I’ve moved ever so slightly closer to the UN building. I’ll be moving to midtown in a few weeks but for the meantime I’m staying in a Catholic German Men’s Guesthouse in the Upper East Side. The rent is affordable and I get a free meal a day. Sure, it might be operated by some people who may or may not have inspired the character of Basil Fawlty from Fawlty Towers, but overall, I’m pretty happy here.

Managed to grab a shot with Ban-Ki inside the UN Secretariat.

I’m thinking of hitting up some central park ice skating this weekend, followed by a gig in Brooklyn. I note White Rabbits are playing, which is a band I’d be interested in checking out. Helps that it only cost $15!!

More…..soon.

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