Status Update

Recent developments on  Darfur/Sudan, Somalia, Iran, Children and Armed Conflict, DRC, Côte d’Ivoire,  Uganda,  Kosovo,  Georgia,  Guinea-Bissau, Lebanon (UNIFIL), Mandate Review, and Sanctions Committees are covered in the relevant briefs in the July 2006 issue. However, some other interesting developments in June included:

• Lebanon: The mandate of the International Independent Investigation Commission was extended by one year to 15 June 2007 in resolution 1686.   The resolution also expanded UNIIIC’s mandate to include jurisdiction over “other terrorist attacks perpetrated in Lebanon since 1 October 2004.”  Commissioner Serge Brammertz’s report noted that Syrian cooperation had been generally satisfactory (S/2006/375). 
• Cyprus: The Council renewed UNFICYP’s mandate until 15 December 2006 in resolution 1687.
• Burundi: The Council extended ONUB’s mandate until 31 December 2006.  The Council separately requested that Burundi be included on the agenda of the new Peacebuilding Commission, along with Sierra Leone.  And on 18 June the government and the rebel group FNL signed a provisional agreement to end hostilities—but the situation remains tenuous.
• Charles Taylor: Former Liberian president Charles Taylor was transferred to The Hague on 20 June shortly after the adoption of resolution 1688 on 16 June and the advice from the United Kingdom that Taylor would be allowed to enter the UK to serve any imposed sentence (S/2006/406). Taylor’s trial could begin as early as January 2007.
• Timor-Leste: In resolution 1690 the Council adopted a further rollover of the UNOTIL mandate until 20 August.  The resolution also requested the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Council by 7 August on the UN’s future role in Timor-Leste after the mandate expires.
• Liberia: Resolution 1683 adopted on 13 June eased the arms sanctions so that arms could enter Liberia strictly for use by the country’s police and security forces. On 20 June the Council lifted timber sanctions in Liberia in resolution 1689; however, the resolution also determined that this decision would be subject to review after ninety days. The same resolution renewed the diamond sanctions for six months (with a review after four months) and extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts to 20 December 2006.    22 June marked the official start to Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
• Golan Heights:  Resolution 1685 renewed UNDOF by six months to 31 December 2006.
• Iraq: The Council reviewed the mandate of the Multinational Force on 15 June, which under resolution 1637 will continue as requested by a letter from the Iraqi government (S/2006/377).  The Council also discussed UNMOVIC on 8 June.  No Council action was taken.
• Montenegro: The Council recommended to the General Assembly that Montenegro be admitted as the 192nd UN member state (S/RES/1691).
• Thematic Debates: Two thematic debates were held.  The 22 June debate on Strengthening International Law: Rule of Law and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security (S/PV.5474 and resumption 1) resulted in a presidential statement affirming the Council’s commitment to promoting justice and the rule of law (S/PRST/2006/28).   On 28 June the Council held an open debate on Protection of Civilians to discuss the implementation of resolution 1674 of 28 April 2006.
• Working Groups: The Security Council decided to renew Ambassador Kenzo Oshima of Japan’s chairmanship of the Working Group on Documentation and other Procedural Questions until the end of 2006.
  Full forecast