At UN, Iran Denounces UAE, Serbia Mocks Albania, Congo War Forgotten

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, September 26 -- In the UN's version of Saturday Night Live, at the end of a day of mostly boring speeches, Iran used its "right of reply" to defend its nuclear programs and treatment of protesters, and to denounce the United Arab Emirates for bringing up the issue of three disputed islands.

Then Serbia mocked Albania's statements about progress in Kosovo and the return of Serbian families there. To the contrary, the Serbian representative said, the Serbians in the "province of Kosovo" at the most endangered people in Europe, in what has become a crime haven.

Albania replied that Serbia's rhetoric was "old fashioned," of the type that led to "the worst war since World War Two." One question: ever heard the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Among the four countries which voted to allow the coup leader of Madagascar to speak were Ecuador and Denmark. Who knew?

UN's Ban and Ahmadinejad

Footnote: Like the Ever-ready bunny, Ban Ki-moon just keeps motoring along. Saturday at six p.m. he and his advisors came out of a meeting with the ASEAN foreign ministers. While there were journalists including Inner City Press huddled against a stakeout barricade, the type of gaggle to which Ban usually at least waves, this time he proceeded without looking over. He will brief the press on Tuesday, then leave on another trip. Monday he's to meet, back to back, withe Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and Myanmar, then Cameroon's Paul Biya. Watch this site.