New Zealand hosted the UN Security Council to a lunch in the $11.4 million apartment the government paid for for New Zealand's ambassador to the UN. Photo / Supplied
New Zealand hosted the UN Security Council to a lunch in the $11.4 million apartment the government paid for for New Zealand's ambassador to the UN. Photo / Supplied
New Zealand hosted the 15 members of the UN Security Council to a lunch last Friday in the $11 million apartment it has just bought as residence for New Zealand's just across the road from the UN.
The council's decision-making process was on the agenda - and snapper and minipavs were on the menu.
One of the signature issues New Zealand is promoting in its month-long presidency of the Security Council is for more transparent decision-making.
Mr van Bohemen told NZ reporters today in New York that the discussion extended to the use of the veto by the Permanent 5 members of the council (Britain, France, USA, China and Russia).
The Zeckendorf tower. Photo / Supplied
"I think the most significant part about that lunch was that it was a chance for a very frank conversation about council dynamics and for the non-permanent members to put their view to the permanent members that things could be done in a more inclusive way for the greater benefit of the council."
He started New Zealand's presidency off in July with a breakfast in the same apartment block for council reps but his apartment wasn't ready so a show apartment was used.
He said that in the context of the New York property market, the price wasn't huge.
"It is certainly a huge asset to us, the fact that we can have people come across the road to the building for lunch, even for breakfast, we had a breakfast there as well, and then go back to work without all the hassle of going all the way uptown, means it is a much more useable facility than the previous residence."
The council resumes meeting tomorrow with a briefing on humanitarian aid to Syria.
Its meetings on Wednesday (Thursday morning NZ time) promise to be the most controversial.
In the morning, it will receive a briefing from the Secretary General's special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on progress for a political settlement.
The New York Times reports there have been whispers of a grand bargain between the armed forces of President Bashar al-Assad and his opponents to fight Islamic State.
A debate by the council in the afternoon could be fiery with Malaysia, Australia and the Netherlands promoting a motion to establish a tribunal into the shooting down of civilian airliner MH17 last year by suspected Russian-backed militia.
Russia has given notice today that it will veto the resolution.
A debate on Thursday (Friday NZ time) about the security concerns of small-islands states is expected to attract the attendance of at least 20 foreign ministers.
They are expected to use it to raise issues about climate change.
The Green Party believes the issue should permanently fall within the domain of the Security Council but Foreign Minister Murray McCully has rejected the suggestion.
