Overview
In November, Austria will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
An open debate on protection of civilians in armed conflict (at press time set for 11 November) will mark the tenth anniversary of the Council’s thematic engagement with this subject. Austria’s Foreign Minister Michael Spidelegger is expected to preside.
Several other debates are likely:
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following the six-monthly briefing by the chairmen of the three counter-terrorism committees (the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions or the 1267 Committee; the Counter-Terrorism Committee or the 1373 Committee; and the 1540 Committee on weapons of mass destruction and terrorism);
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on the issue of piracy in Somaliwaters leading to a resolution to renew the Council’s authorisation for states and regional organisations to enter Somalia’s territorial waters to combat piracy;
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following a briefing by the Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko and
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on the annual report of the Peacebuilding Commission.
The Council is also expected to hold formal meetings to adopt resolutions on:
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the renewal of sanctions and the corresponding group of experts on the DRC;
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on the reauthorisation of the EU Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR); and
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the reauthorisation for states and regional organisations to enter Somalia’s territorial waters to combat piracy.
Several briefings in Council meetings are expected including:
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on the Middle East;
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on the UN mission in Iraq, UNAMI;
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by the chair of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) sanctions committee;
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on the UN mission on Nepal (UNMIN); and
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on the peacebuilding support office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS).
A briefing to members of the Council in informal consultations is expected from the Special Envoy on the Great Lakes Region, Olusegun Obasanjo.
Consultations are also expected on:
Also in November, the Council president will present the Council’s annual report to the General Assembly (scheduled for 12 November) and Council members will participate in the annual retreat with the incoming Council delegations, organised by the Mission of Finland.
