Overview
The US will have the presidency of the Council in September. With the general debate due to start in the General Assembly on 23 September, many world leaders will be in New York for the high-level meetings on key issues. Also, in the Security Council, US President Barack Obama will preside over a head-of-state-level meeting of the Council on 24 September. This meeting will focus on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. (Security Council Report will publish a Cross-Cutting Report in early September, The Security Council’s Role in Disarmament and Arms Control: Nuclear Weapons, Non-Proliferation, and other Weapons of Mass Destruction.)
The Council is due to receive a report from the Secretary-General on Haiti, in preparation for the October renewal of the mandate of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). An open debate is possible.
The Council is expected in September to take up a draft resolution on sexual violence in armed conflict, following up on its 2008 resolution on this matter.
Due for renewal in September are two mandates: that of the UN Mission in Liberia and of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone, and formal meetings are likely on both situations for adoption of Council resolutions.
These meetings of the Council are expected to be preceded by a briefing on Liberia by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ellen Loj, and a briefing on Sierra Leone. Since Sierra Leone is on the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), participation of the chair of the Sierra Leone PBC configuration is likely.
Briefings in consultations are possible from the chairmen of the Council’s sanctions committee on Somalia (751), Sudan (1591), and Iran (1737). In addition, the Council may also be briefed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea sanctions committee’s Panel of Experts.
On Afghanistan, a report on UNAMA is expected late in the month. The Council is likely to be briefed on the report and on the situation following the 20 August elections, possibly by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Kai Eide, in which case an open meeting is likely.
The Council will also receive an interim report on progress toward the November elections in Cote d’Ivoire.
A report on the practical ways to provide support to the AU peacekeeping operations authorised by the Council (as a follow up to the Prodi panel report) may be received in September but is likely to be considered later.
Full forecast
