Afghanistan
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The Council will consider extending the authorisation for the international force in Afghanistan ahead of its expiry on 13 October. Informal discussions on a resolution renewing ISAF’s mandate followed by a formal meeting to adopt the resolution are expected. At press time no wider discussion was expected due to the fact that the Council had met on 29 September to discuss developments in Afghanistan.
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At the end of September, the Council is expected to have a debate on Afghanistan where a briefing by the head of UNAMA, Staffan de Mistura, is expected. The Secretary-General’s report is likely to be circulated in the latter half of September. With legislative elections taking place in Afghanistan on 18 September, Council members will be interested in de Mistura’s analysis of the conduct and outcome of the elections.
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In June there will be a number of Afghanistan-related activities involving Council members. The Council is planning to travel to Afghanistan from 19 to 24 June. At press time the terms of reference for the visit had been circulated but not finalised. Turkey will lead the mission.
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In March the Council is expected to renew the UNAMA mandate ahead of its 23 March expiry and to receive a briefing from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations followed by a debate. Members are currently discussing possible adjustments to UNAMA’s mandate, taking into account the conclusions of the London Conference on Afghanistan.
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In early January, the Council is expected to be briefed by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Afghanistan, Kai Eide. The Secretary-General’s report, expected at the end of December, is likely to cover political developments including the recent elections, security, mission support, the benchmarks presented in the last report and a proposal for a strengthened role of the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan in aid coordination.
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In late December the Council is likely to have before it the Secretary-General’s quarterly report on developments in Afghanistan. It is possible that this will lead members to request a briefing by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide.
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The Council is expected to consider the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) ahead of its expiry on 13 October.
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In late September the Council is expected to have a debate on the Secretary-General’s second quarterly report on developments in Afghanistan. A briefing by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, is also likely.
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In June the Council is expected to consider the Secretary-General’s first report on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) since the 23 March adoption of resolution 1868, which requested that these reports include benchmarks for measuring and tracking the mission’s mandate.
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The mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expires on 23 March and is expected to be renewed
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The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, is expected to brief the Council in mid-October on Afghanistan. The mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan expires on 23 March 2009. The mandate of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan was renewed on 22 September 2008 and now expires in October 2009.
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The mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan expires on 13 October, but the Council may renew it during September.
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In July the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Kai Eide, will brief the Council on the outcome of the international conference in Paris on 12 June on support of Afghanistan. The Council will also discuss the Secretary-General’s recommendations for changes in the operations of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
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Council members are negotiating a draft resolution on Afghanistan which focuses on the trafficking of chemical precursors of heroin.
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The Council is expected to extend the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which expires on 23 March. An open debate on 12 March is likely. Unlike previous years when the mandate renewal was relatively straightforward, this time the vacancy of position of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative to Afghanistan as well as the rapidly deteriorating security situation raise the possibility of a technical rollover.
