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 November included:
Guinea-Bissau:On 5 November the Council was briefed (S/PV.6212 and S/PV.6213) by the Representative of the Secretary-General in Guinea-Bissau and Head of UNOGBIS, Joseph Mutaboba, on the latest report of the Secretary-General on UNOGBIS (S/2009/552). The Council subsequently adopted a presidential statement welcoming the ongoing planning for the transition of UNOGBIS to an Integrated Peacebuilding Office (UNIOGBIS) on 1 January 2010 (S/PRST/2009/29).
Nepal:On 6 November the Council was briefed by the Representative of the Secretary-General, Karin Landgren (S/PV.6214). She introduced the Secretary-General’s report (S/2009/553) covering implementation of resolution 1879 and progress in creating conditions conducive to the completion of UNMIN’s activities by the end of its current mandate on 23 January 2010. Landgren said that overall, the peace process had faced a “protracted deadlock, with the added risk of confrontation” and that in the weeks remaining in UNMIN’s mandate the parties needed to invest “goodwill, realism and rigour” in their pursuit of sustainable peace in Nepal. She also suggested a review of progress of the implementation of the major peace agreements. The Deputy Permanent Representative of Nepal, Madhuban Raman Acharya said that it was Nepal’s intention to conclude the tasks of UNMIN as soon as possible within its mandate. Following the briefing Council members discussed the issues in informal consultations.
Lebanon: On 10 November, members of the Council met in informal consultations to discuss the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1701 (S/2009/566). UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams and Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet briefed. In remarks to the press the Council president welcomed the formation of the Lebanese government and expressed support for UNIFIL and the Special Coordinator. Council members were unable to reach agreement on a reference to resolution 1701, and it was dropped from the remarks.
Protection of Civilians: On 11 November the Council held an open debate chaired by Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger marking the tenth anniversary of the Council’s engagement on protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/PV.6216 and resumption 1). The Council adopted resolution 1894, which focused on compliance with international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law as well as relevant Council decisions, humanitarian access and UN peacekeeping. The resolution requests the Secretary-General to develop an operational concept for the protection of civilians in peacekeeping missions, as well as guidance to missions for the reporting on protection in order to improve the Council’s ability to monitor implementation of protection mandates. Both the Secretary-General and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes spoke at the meeting. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-wha Kang delivered a statement on behalf of the High Commissioner, Navanethem Pillay. Forty-seven member states participated in the debate in addition to Council members.
Somalia: On 16 November Council members held informal consultations to review the Somalia sanctions regime and received a briefing from the chairman of the Somalia Sanctions Committee, Mexican Ambassador Claude Heller. In a press statement (SC/9790) following the meeting the Council noted that the targeted sanctions imposed by resolution 1844 should remain in place. On 18 November the Council held a debate to discuss the latest report from the Secretary-General on piracy off the coast of Somalia (S/2009/590, requested by resolution 1846 ) and heard a briefing by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah (S/PV.6221). In resolution 1897, adopted on 30 November, the Council renewed the anti-piracy measures of resolutions 1846 and 1851 , which would have expired on 2 December.
Uganda/LRA: On 17 November, members of the Council met in informal consultations to discuss the Great Lakes region and Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) attacks on civilians in the DRC, Central African Republic and Sudan. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe briefed. The Council issued a press statement (SC/9791) expressing concerns at the direct and serious threat the activities of the LRA pose to the civilian population, humanitarian operations and regional stability. The statement also encouraged close collaboration in sharing information related to LRA by missions in the region namely MONUC (DRC), UNMIS (Sudan) and MINURCAT (Central African Republic), while ensuring protection of civilians in the area. It also commended the countries in the region in their increased efforts to address the threat posed by the LRA and encouraged them to share information with UN operations in the region to ensure the protection of civilians, in particular women and children.
Madagascar: On 17 November, in agreed remarks to the press, the Council president welcomed the power-sharing agreement reached by Madagascar’s current and former leaders and encouraged the rapid formation of the government.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: On 18 November the Council adopted resolution 1895 reauthorising the presence in Bosnia of EUFOR for another 12 months. The Council heard a briefing on 23 November by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko, based on his report (S/2009/588) to the Council of 12 November (S/PV.6222). Bosnia and Herzegovina, represented by Nikola Špirić, Chairman of its Council of Ministers, and Serbia, represented by Permanent Representative Feodor Starčevič, also spoke at the meeting.
DPRK (North Korea): On 19 November Council members heard the ninety-day report of the 1718 Committee on sanctions related to the DPRK. In agreed remarks to the press, the Council president welcomed the commencement of the work of the Committee’s Panel of Experts and noted with interest the interim report of the Panel submitted the week before.
Middle East: On 24 November the Council received its monthly briefing on the Middle East from Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Haile Menkerios (S/PV.6223). Menkerios said the peace process had reached an impasse. He drew attention to the recent announcement by Israel to expand the Gilo settlement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s statement that he would not seek reelection in the upcoming elections (which have now been postponed from January 2010 to an unspecified date). He expressed concern over the continued blockade of Gaza and that no satisfactory response had been received regarding the UN’s reconstruction proposal submitted in May, though Israel indicated willingness to facilitate water and sanitation projects (SC/9796). Following the briefing Council members met for informal consultations.
The Peacebuilding Commission: On 25 November the Council held a debate (S/PV.6224) to review the report (S/2009/444) of the Peacebuilding Commission.
