Arab diplomats in the United Nations are trying to push through an initiative that would make all of the Security Council's sessions closed to the media. An Arab diplomat who was described as "central and respected" met the representative of one of the Security Council's five permanent members this week and raised the subject with him.
Observers said the initiative stemmed from the Arabs and Muslim delegates' feelings of "shame and frustration," which have become more marked recently. The observers said the Arabs have encountered embarrassing situations of late, after harsh and bitter Arab speeches in the Security Council led to condemnations.