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September 11, 2009

Ahmadinejad left off the guest list for Obama's UN reception

By Ethel C. Fenig

Whoever says President Barack Obama (D) is appeasing Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, by trying to engage him in dialogue is like so wrong.

Guess who is not invited to the U.N. reception Obama is hosting in honor of the opening of the U.N.'s General Assembly, and the first time that a U.S. President will chair a U.N. Security Council session? That's right - Ahmadinjad.

At least that's what White House press secretary Robert Gibbs replied in response to a reporter's question.

MR. GIBBS: Here's one date I do have. On September 24th, the President will chair a summit-level meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the topic of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. This is only the fifth time in the history of the U.N. that a head of state-level Security Council summit has been convened, and the first time ever that a U.S. President will chair a U.N. Security Council summit.

These are the members of the U.N. Security Council. who are, according to the U.N. Charter, charged with maintaining international peace and security.

The Council is composed of five permanent members - China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States - and ten non-permament members (with year of term's end):

Austria (2010)

Japan (2010)

Uganda (2010)

Burkina Faso (2009)

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (2009)

Viet Nam (2009)

Costa Rica (2009)

Mexico (2010)

Croatia (2009)

Turkey (2010)


And after chairing the Security Council, it will be onto President Obama's reception. Except Ahmadinejad.

MR. GIBBS: Yes. Host a meeting with countries that contribute the largest number of troops and police to U.N. peacekeeping operations.

Q Are all the heads of state invited to the reception?

MR. GIBBS: I don't have a list of who's RSVP'd.

Q Will President Ahmadinejad be invited?

MR. GIBBS: I doubt it.

Q Who controls the invite list?

MR. GIBBS: Burton does.

Q No, but I mean, is it -- (laughter) -- is it the U.S. or --

MR. GIBBS: Yes, yes, this is an American reception, so yes.

All right, now back to our regularly scheduled programming. Yes, ma'am.

Q Why would he be left out?

MR. GIBBS: Because Iran is failing to live up to its international obligations.

Q There's no other nation in the U.N. --

MR. GIBBS: No, I don't -- I think there are others that might miss out on the hors d'oeuvres.

Wow, that will show President Ahmadinejad! If Iran fails "to live up to its international obligations" it won't be invited to a party! With hors d'oeuvres. So there!


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