Overview
Japan will have the presidency of the Council in April. It will be a busy month, with several important events planned.
Three open debates were expected at press time: on post conflict peacebuilding; on Council working methods; and on the Middle East (on the occasion of the monthly briefing). The open debate on peacebuilding will be chaired by Japan’s Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada. Other member states’ foreign ministers have been invited to participate. A debate on Haiti also seemed likely.
Also in April, in the week of 19 April, the Council will be travelling to Africa with a primary focus on the DRC. The itinerary will include the DRC, Rwanda and Uganda.
The Council is due to receive in April Secretary-General’s reports on small arms and on Kosovo, and the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the assassination of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto. At press time it was unclear whether the reports would be taken up in the course of the month.
There are likely to be several briefings on:
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the Development Fund for Iraq, most likely by the UN controller;
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the Secretary-General’s report on MONUC, probably by the Special Representative for the Secretary-General, Alan Doss;
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women, and peace and security by the Special Adviser on Gender Issues, Rachel Mayanja;
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sexual violence in conflict by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Margot Wallström; and
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the Council trip to Africa by Permanent Representatives leading on the different parts of the trip.
Some briefings are expected in consultations on:
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UN support for AU peacekeeping;
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the developments related to the request by the Government of Chad to withdraw the operation there, MINURCAT;
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Cote d’Ivoire, by the chairperson of the Sanctions Committee; and
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Lebanon, by Special Envoy for the implementation of resolution 1559 Terje Rød-Larsen.
Consultations are also likely to be held on:
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Sudan, prior to the renewal of the peacekeeping operation there, UNMIS;
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Western Sahara, before the renewal of MINURSO; and
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the Development Fund for Iraq.
Formal sessions to adopt resolutions are expected on:
