Overview
Turkey will hold the presidency of the Security Council in September. As in each year, many world leaders will be in New York for the general debate at the General Assembly set to begin on the morning of 23 September. Turkey, taking advantage of their presence, has proposed that in the afternoon of 23 September the Council should hold a summit-level debate onthe Council’s role in maintaining international peace and security.Turkish President Abdullah Gul is planning to preside. Later in the month, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is likely to chair a Council debate on counter-terrorism.
In early September members of the Council will participate in a retreat in Alpbach, Austria focused on conflict and post conflict issues related to the implementation of Council’s resolution on women and peace and security (1325) adopted ten years ago.
Three mandates expire in September and are likely to be renewed for: the operation in Liberia; the office in Sierra Leone; and the mission in Nepal. The adoptions will be in formal sessions.
The Council is also set on 9 September to hold jointly with the General Assembly an election to fill a vacancy on the International Court of Justice.
The Council will likely receive several briefings on:
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Nepal, by Head of UNMIN Karin Landgren, to be followed by consultations;
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Liberia, by UNMIL’s head, Ellen Loj, also to be followed by consultations;
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Iran’s sanctions by the chair of the sanctions committee;
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Sierra Leone, most likely by Head of UNIPSIL Michael von der Schulenburg, to be followed by consultations;
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the Middle East, to be followed by consultations; and
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the work of the Sudan Sanctions Committee in consultations.
Debates are planned also on country-specific issues on:
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Somalia with an expected participation of the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Augustine Mahiga; and
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Afghanistan with the participation of Head of UNAMA Staffan de Mistura.
A debate on Haiti also seemed at press time to be a possibility of interest to some Council members.
