Lebanon
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The Council is being briefed today, 20 July, in an open meeting, by the Secretary-General (initial conclusions from the Secretary-General's envoys who visited the region from 12-18 July may be available). A public meeting at the Council is scheduled for Friday 21 July.
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On 31 July, the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will expire. The Council will receive the report of the Secretary-General around 20 July and is expected to adopt a routine resolution extending the mandate of UNIFIL by an additional six months.
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The Council is expected to extend the mandate, which expires on 15 June, of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) regarding the terrorist attack that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 22 others. The Council is also expected to address the fourth report of UNIIIC, to be submitted by its Commissioner Serge Brammertz on 9 June.
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In response to the third semi-annual report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 1559 (2004), submitted to the Security Council on 18 April 2006, France, the UK and the US circulated a draft resolution to all Council members on 10 May.
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In response to the positive developments in Lebanon, the Council is expected to adopt a presidential statement (or perhaps a resolution), giving encouragement to the "national dialogue process" and welcoming the report from the Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Terje Røed-Larsen.
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On 21 March 2006, the Secretary-General submitted the report (S/2006/176) requested by the Security Council in December (S/RES/1644) on international assistance to Lebanon to try those responsible for the terrorist attack that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on 14 February 2005.
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The first quarterly progress report of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) is due on 15 March, and firm Council action can be expected if it reveals clear non-cooperation by Syria.
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Ongoing pressure in the Council on Syria to comply with resolutions 1559, 1636 and 1644 can be expected. However, with the adoption of the presidential statement (S/PRST/2006/03) on 23 January relating to resolution 1559, and with no formal deadlines on the Lebanon/Syria issue during February, Council action is expected to be informal and supplemented by media statements by the President.
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On 31 January, the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will expire. The Council is expected to receive the report of the Secretary-General around 20 January, discuss the recommendations in consultations and extend the mandate of UNIFIL by six months.
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On 13 December, Detlev Mehlis, the Commissioner for the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) on the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, briefed the Council on his second report containing new findings and detailing progress of the investigation.
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On 15 December, the next report of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) on the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Rafik Hariri, is due.
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At press time, Council members are deep in private discussion of possible action on the report into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri from the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission.
