Status Update
Iraq: On 11 September, Council members issued a press statement (SC/10757) and condemned the wave of terrorist attacks across Iraq on 8 and 9 September. The members of the Security Council “reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.”
Libya: On 12 September, Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, presented to the Council the latest Secretary-General’s report (S/2012/675) on UNSMIL (S/PV.6832). Feltman also drew the attention to the death of four Americans killed in Benghazi on 11 September, including the US Ambassador to Libya, John Christopher Stevens. Deputy Permanent Representative Ibrahim Dabbashi (Libya) also addressed the Council and said that the attack, “carried out by extremists”, had been strongly condemned by Libya and in no way represented the Libyan people or the Islamic faith. Council members reaffirmed that “such acts are unjustifiable regardless of their motivations, whenever and by whomsoever committed”, in a press statement released on 12 September (SC/10761).
Sierra Leone: On 12 September, the Council adopted resolution 2065 extending UNIPSIL’s mandate until 31 March 2013. This followed a briefing (S/PV.6829) from Jens Anders Toyberg-Frandzen (Denmark), the Executive Representative of the Secretary-General in Sierra Leone and head of UNIPSIL, on the Secretary-General’s latest report (S/2012/679). Ambassador Guillermo Rishchynski (Canada), the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission’s configuration for Sierra Leone, and Ambassador Shekou M. Touray (Sierra Leone) also addressed the Council. The resolution authorised UNIPSIL to assist the government and people of Sierra Leone through elections in November and to perform a number of post-election tasks, including “the preparation of a transition plan and exit strategy” following the elections.
Attacks Against Diplomatic Premises: On 14 September, the Council released a press statement (SC/10764), condemning the violent attacks against embassies and consular premises of UN members in multiple locations on 13 and 14 September. The Council called on all authorities to protect diplomatic and consular property and personnel, in accordance with their international obligations. On 12 September, the Council issued a similar press statement (SC/10761), condemning the attacks on the US diplomatic posts in Benghazi and Cairo, and underlining the need to bring the perpetrators of these acts to justice.
Liberia: On 17 September, the Council adopted resolution 2066 extending the mandate of UNMIL for one year. The resolution authorised the reduction of the mission’s military strength in three phases, with the first phase of that reduction—1,900 personnel—to happen between October 2012 and September 2013. The resolution was adopted after the Council received a briefing (S/PV.6830) from Karin Landgren (Sweden), the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Liberia and head of UNMIL, on the latest UNMIL report (S/2012/641).
Yemen: On 18 September, Special Adviser on Yemen Jamal Benomar briefed Council members in consultations on the recent developments in Yemen. Benomar’s briefing focused on the ongoing challenges to the transition process as well as other political, humanitarian and security issues. Benomar also updated the Council on the national dialogue conference as well as security reforms. Earlier in the month, on 13 September, Council members issued a press statement condemning the 11 September terrorist attack in Sana’a (SC/10762). On 27 September, a high-level “Friends of Yemen” meeting took place on the margins of the General Assembly.
Guinea-Bissau: On 18 September, the Council held closed consultations on the latest Secretary-General’s UNIOGBIS report (S/2012/554). There was no Council action after the consultations.
Children and Armed Conflict: On 19 September, the Council held an open debate (S.PV/6838 and resumption 1) on children and armed conflict. Ahead of the debate it adopted resolution 2068 by a vote of 11 in favour, none against and four abstentions (Azerbaijan, China, Pakistan and Russia). Through the resolution the Council expressed deep concern about perpetrators who persisted in committing violations against children, called on member states to bring them to justice through national judicial systems, and where applicable, international mechanisms, and reiterated its readiness to adopt targeted and graduated measures against them. The Council also called on the Working Group to consider, within the year, a broad range of options for increasing pressure on these persistent perpetrators and asked the Special Representative on Children and Armed Conflict to brief on the delisting process. The new Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, peacekeeping head Hervé Ladsous, Executive Director of UNICEF Anthony Lake and the President of the International Centre for Transitional Justice, David Tolbert, briefed the Council during the debate.
Iran: On 20 September, Ambassador Néstor Osorio (Colombia) presented his regular quarterly report as chair of the 1737 Iran Sanctions Committee (S/PV.6839). Nearly all Council members in their statements referred to the recent report of the IAEA and the resolution of its Board of Governors adopted on 13 September. (The resolution expressed “serious concern regarding the continued enrichment and heavy water-related activities in Iran” and emphasised a “peaceful resolution of the international community’s concerns”.) Several members reiterated the importance of resolving the issues related to Iran’s nuclear programme through dialogue and diplomacy. Some members, including those from the EU and the US, stressed that Iran needed to abide by relevant IAEA and Council resolutions and negotiate a settlement, but that talks would not continue indefinitely if progress were not made. Other members noted that Iran had both rights and responsibilities that it needed to live up to. Calls were also made by the P3 for the Committee to implement the recommendations in the Panel of Experts’ recent report (S/2012/395), including adding named Iranian companies to the sanctions list. Concerns were raised about Iran’s documented links to the Syrian government.
Mali/Sahel: On 21 September, Council members issued a press statement (SC/10772) taking note of the progress made in developing an integrated strategy for the Sahel, pursuant to resolution 2056. On Mali, the statement noted the request by the interim government for ECOWAS assistance and took note of that organisation’s ongoing strategic planning efforts. The statement also stressed the need for ECOWAS to coordinate with the interim government, regional and international organisations, other Sahel countries and bilateral partners to prepare detailed options regarding the deployment of a regional force in Mali. The press statement followed a briefing by Jeffrey Feltman (S/PV.6836), head of the Department of Political Affairs, to the Council on 17 September. Ambassador Youssoufou Bamba (Côte d’Ivoire) also made a statement on behalf of ECOWAS at the briefing.
Middle East: On 26 September, the Secretaries-General of the UN and the Arab League briefed the Council at a high-level meeting on the Middle East (S/PV.6841). Germany, as president of the Council in September, circulated a concept paper (S/2012/686) on 6 September focusing on ways to enhance cooperation on issues that are on the agendas of both the Council and the Arab League. After the meeting, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2012/20) that welcomed the intensifying cooperation between the UN and Arab League in the wake of regional transformations, reiterated the Council’s commitment to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace, welcomed the appointment of the UN-Arab League Joint Special Representative for Syria and asked Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to report on ways to strengthen cooperation between the two organisations.
DRC: On 27 September, a high-level meeting on the DRC took place on the margins of the General Assembly. On 18 September, Council members were briefed in consultations by head of peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous on his recent trip to the region. Ladsous updated the Council on regional efforts to address the crisis in North Kivu caused by the mutiny of the M23 rebel group.
