Security Council Report
Monthly Forecast October 2008

19 September 2008: Update Report on Mediation and Settlement of Disputes:     On 23 September the Security Council will hold a high level meeting on the topic Mediation and Settlement of Disputes. The meeting, which will not be an open debate with participation by non-Council members, will be presided over by the President of Burkina Faso and current Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Blaise Campaoré.  A presidential statement is a possible outcome. The key issue for the Council members is whether they will be able to articulate a collective vision of the role of the Council in international mediation efforts in conflict situations. Report in  Web Format • Word Format • PDF Format

16 September 2008:  Special Research Report "Anatomy of a Sanctions Regime: Failed Efforts to Implement Sanctions in Somalia"   The longest-running Council sanctions regime still in existence relates to Somalia. It now dates back 16 years. While all sanctions regimes present challenges, the one in Somalia has faced more difficulties than most. This Special Research Report examines these difficulties. It finds that sanctions’ effectiveness has been hindered by weaknesses in design, unrealistic expectations, and implausible reliance on neighboring countries enforcing the sanctions. The Council’s own lack of political will has also been a major factor at many stages during the 16 year history. At press time, the Council was discussing a possible new sanctions resolution. It remains to be seen whether any new measures will be adopted or whether they will go beyond simply creating a new formal layer of sanctions but leaving effective implementation to subsequent decisions. Report in Web Format • Word Format • PDF Format

 

10 September 2008:  Update Report on Myanmar:  The Council is expected to receive a briefing on 11 September in a closed meeting from Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary-General’s Special Advisor on Myanmar. Gambari recently visited Myanmar from 18-23 August 2008. This is his first visit since the May national referendum which ratified the draft constitution. It is unlikely that the Council will take any formal action at the meeting. However, members are expecting that the briefing could help steer future action.  Report in  Web Format •  Word Format • PDF Format

4 September 2008:  Special Research Report "Cyprus: New hope after 45 years on the Security Council agenda"
The conflict in Cyprus has been on the Security Council agenda since 1963. After the failure in 2004 of a comprehensive peace plan for the reunification of Cyprus, there was a long delay in attempting to restart negotiations. Full-fledged negotiations between the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat finally resumed on 3 September 2008, and were warmly welcomed by the Council in a presidential statement (S/PRST/2008/34) on 4 September. There now seems to be a sense of optimism and hope that the parties, with assistance from the UN, can at last reach a sustainable solution. This Special Research Report attempts to provide for Council members, and other interested parties, a short history of the 45 years of Council involvement in the Cyprus issue.  Report in Web Format • Word Format • PDF Format