Overview
In February Japan will have the presidency of the Council.
It is unclear whether Japan as president will initiate a special thematic debate. It is perhaps unlikely, but the option is still open.
A session on the Middle East is expected (see our Update Report of 26 January 2009 on Gaza). (Our Special Research Report on the Middle East of 17 December 2007 provides background on the history of Council involvement in the Israel/Palestine issue.)
Public meetings are also expected on:
-
Georgia (to rollover or modify the UNOMIG mandate);
- Timor-Leste (to renew the UNMIT mandate);
- Sudan (in response to Secretariat report);
- Sierra Leone (in response to a Secretariat reports); and
- Iraq (in response to Secretariat reports).
In view of recent developments in eastern DRC and Somalia public meetings on these situations are also very likely.
Council discussions are also expected in informal consultations on:
- Middle East (including Gaza) various briefings are possible;
- Myanmar(following a visit to the region by Special Envoy Gambari); and
- Lebanon(relating to the expiry of the UNIIIC mandate).
Ongoing discussions of the review of peacekeeping initiated in January are likely.
Briefings or informal meetings on Zimbabwe may also emerge.
Agreement is also likely on a Council mission to Haiti.
