SBS Chief Political Correspondent Karen Middleton is at the
UN covering Australia”s bid for a Security Council seat. But there”s already
been some horse-trading with Mongolia in the press room.

In the media room at the United Nations, it”s a
survival-of-the-fittest situation.

Journalists, photographers and camera crews from 193 countries take up a lot of
space and there simply is not enough to go around.

So it becomes a battle for territory – early risers versus those with the
chutzpah to just move in and take over.

Time zone differences can help, allowing for a kind of timeshare arrangement
between the northern and southern hemispheres.

As the General Assembly debate began today, the usual fight for desks ensued.

When the first among the Australian contingent arrived, they struck up a
conversation with the Mongolians, who had some prime real estate at the front
of the room.

The amenable Mongolians were happy to sublet their spot to the Aussies on the
basis that they”d need it back at 4pm.

Unfortunately, they came back a little early, surveyed the tangle of Australian
equipment and journalists, stood for a moment looking slightly less amenable
than before and then left, presumably conceding – for the time being at least –
that possession was indeed nine-tenths of the (international) law.

It”s not clear whether the Mongolians will return to avenge their loss or take
their retribution in other ways.

So, Australians back home, if your country happens to lose the Security Council
bid by a single vote, we”re sorry.

But remember – we did it for you.

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