Status Update
Recent developments on the situations covered in this Forecast are addressed in the relevant briefs. Interesting developments on other issues in the Council during September included:
Iran: On 9 September the Council received a briefing from the Chair of the 1737 Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Yukio Takasu (Japan).
DPRK: On 14 September the Council held consultations on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Sanctions Committee’s panel of experts was originally expected to produce an interim report by 12 September, but the panel has not yet been fully established. The Council agreed that the panel should be allowed an additional sixty days to submit its interim report. The Council also heard that the Committee continues to investigate an alleged shipment of arms from the DPRK to Iran.
Sierra Leone: On 14 September the Executive Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL), Michael von der Schulenburg, presented (S/PV.6187) the latest report of the Secretary-General on Sierra Leone (S/2009/438). The chairman of the Peacebuilding Commission’s (PBC) country-specific configuration on Sierra Leone, Ambassador John McNee of Canada, briefed the Council about the PBC’s work (S/PV.6189). On 15 September the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1886 extending the mandate of UNIPSIL until 30 September 2010.
Liberia: On 15 September the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1885 extending the mandate of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) until 30 September 2010. The Council authorised UNMIL to assist the Liberian government with its preparation for the 2011 general presidential and legislative polls and endorsed the Secretary-General’s recommendation (S/2009/299) to implement the third phase of UNMIL’s drawdown.
Middle East: On 17 September the Security Council received its regular monthly briefing from Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (S/PV.6190). Serry told the Council that President Abbas had signaled his intention to hold elections in January 2010. Also, Serry noted that the Goldstone Report (A/HRC/12/48), commissioned by the Human Rights Council related to the January 2009 Gaza conflict, would be formally presented to that body on 29 September. (SC/9743)
Disarmament: On 24 September the Council held a summit-level meeting, chaired by US President Barack Obama, on the topic of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The Council adopted resolution 1887 at the end of the meeting, which called on countries to sign and ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to refrain from conducting a nuclear test explosion and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Honduras: The Council met (S/2009/487) on 25 September to discuss a letter from the Brazilian ambassador regarding the situation in Honduras (S/PV.6192). President Zelaya of Honduras, who was overthrown in a June 2009 coup, returned to that country on 21 September taking refuge in the Brazilian embassy. In a press statement the Council stressed the importance of international law and the inviolability of the Embassy of Brazil (SC/9749).
Full forecast
