Status Update

Several of the recent developments on the situations covered in our May Forecast are addressed in the relevant briefs in this issue.  Other interesting Council developments in May included:

• Nepal: The Council considered the first Secretary-General’s report on the UN Mission in Nepal on 4 May (S/2007/235) and was briefed by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Nepal and head of UNMIN, Ian Martin, on the mission’s activities. On 1 May, Martin conveyed that the constituent assembly elections scheduled for June would be delayed, most likely until mid-November.
• Ethiopia/Eritrea: On 8 May the Council  considered the Secretary-General’s most recent UNMEE report (S/2007/250) and issued a press statement expressing concern over the impasse between the two countries and reaffirming the integrity of the Temporary Security Zone (SC/9014).  The Council was also briefed on the situation by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hedi Annabi, on 29 May.
• Peacebuilding Commission: On 10 May, the Security Council (with the General Assembly) received the report of the Commission’s field mission to Sierra Leone (S/2007/269).
• Sierra Leone: On 11 May the Council held consultations on Sierra Leone and the Secretary-General’s report on UNIOSIL’s post-election role (S/2007/257). The Secretary-General praised preparations for the national elections which are now expected to take place on 11 August. However, his report also noted that Sierra Leone still required the support of the international community and close work with the Peacebuilding Commission to consolidate peace and make progress on combating corruption and promoting accountability. No formal Council action was taken.
• Children and Armed Conflict: On 11 May the Council’s Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict met to review the Secretary-General’s reports on children caught up in conflict in Somalia (S/2007/259) and Uganda (S/2007/260).  The Group also called for the immediate demobilisation of all child soldiers in Sri Lanka and Nepal.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: On 15 May, the Council adopted resolution 1756 extending MONUC’s mandate to 31 December 2007 and maintaining the mission’s personnel strength.  The resolution also requested that the Secretary-General submit a report by 15 November which would include drawdown benchmarks for MONUC.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: On 16 May the Council was briefed by the High Representative for the Implementation of the Peace Agreement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, on his most recent report (S/2007/253). He emphasised the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to make progress on constitutional reform, a unified police force and cooperation with the ICTY so that the EU Association Agreement could be implemented (SC/9018). (Please see our 14 May Update for more details.)
• Burundi:  The Council considered the Secretary-General’s first report on the UN Integrated Office in Burundi on 21 May (S/2007/287) which praised the country’s cooperation with the Peacebuilding Commission.  The Secretary-General also called on the government to establish a truth and reconciliation commission and a tribunal as originally stipulated in resolution 1606. On 30 May the Council adopted a presidential statement welcoming, inter alia, steps taken by the government to promote dialogue and reconciliation, but also urged increased efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights and in combating impunity (S/PRST/2007/16).  
• Humanitarian and Human Rights Situation in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa: On 21 May, Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes briefed the Council on his visit to Somalia and northern Uganda (SC/9020).  At press time, the Council was also set to be briefed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, on 31 May.  The briefing was expected to deal with the human rights situation in the DRC and to update the Council on the steps taken by the High Commissioner and MONUC to address it. (Please see our 29 May Update for more details.)
• Sanctions Committees: On 22 May, the Council received its semi-annual briefing from the chairmen of the 1373 (Counter-terrorism), the 1267 (Al-Qaida/Taliban), and the 1540 (WMDs) Committees (S/PV.5679).  The Counter-terrorism Committee reported on the assistance needed for improved state compliance (S/2007/254).  The 1540 Committee noted as its main concern the need to achieve improvement in states fulfilling their reporting responsibility (S/2007/257). The chairman of the 1267 Committee said that improving the Committee’s procedures and list of targeted persons and organisations was a priority (S/2007/229).
• Afghanistan: On 23 May the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan briefed the Council on the situation there in a private debate. An official communiqué of the meeting was issued as S/PV.5680.
• Timor-Leste: On 23 May the Council issued a presidential statement  (S/PRST/2007/14) after the successful conclusion of the 8 May runoff elections in Timor-Leste congratulating the Timorese people and President-elect Jose Ramos-Horta and calling for free, fair and peaceful elections in the upcoming parliamentary poll, scheduled for 30 June.  The statement also expressed concern over the country’s fragile security situation and emphasised continued cooperation between all parties. The Council also held consultations on Timor-Leste on 30 May.
• Haiti: On 30 May the Council held consultations on Haiti and recent gains in the country’s security situation and the completion of local elections (SC/9032).
• Middle East: On 30 May the Council issued a press statement expressing grave concern over the breakdown of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip (SC/9028).

Full forecast