Overview

Argentina will preside over the Security Council in August.

A high-level open debate on the cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organisations is planned, with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina expected to preside. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as representatives of the AU, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the League of Arab States and the Union of South American Nations are expected to brief.

An open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict is also planned. The Secretary-General, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay (by video-conference) and the International Committee of the Red Cross Director for International Law and Cooperation, Philip Spoerri, will brief the Council.

Debates are expected on:

• developments in Haiti and the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), preceded by a briefing by the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of MINUSTAH, Sandra Honoré; and
• developments in Kosovo and the Secretary-General’s report on the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), with a briefing by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNMIK, Farid Zarif (by video-conference).

Briefings, followed by consultations, are likely on:

• the situation in the Middle East, by Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Political Affairs Oscar Fernández-Taranco; and
• the work of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in the Central African Republic (BINUCA), by Babacar Gaye, the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General who arrived in Bangui on 9 July; the human rights situation in the country by Ivan Simonovic, the head of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and the humanitarian aspects of the situation by Valarie Amos, the head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (Consideration of BINUCA had originally been expected in July; see our July Forecast for details.)

Briefings in consultations are likely on:

• Sudan and South Sudan issues, twice, on the first occasion most likely by Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping, Edmond Mulet, and on the second one by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan and South Sudan, Haile Menkerios;
• the Secretary-General’s report on and the work of the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei, by Mulet;
• developments related to the work of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), most likely by Mulet;
• the work of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Sanctions Committee by its chair, Ambassador Sylvie Lucas (Luxembourg); and
• the work of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, by its chair Ambassador María Cristina Perceval (Argentina).

A formal session will be needed to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of UNIFIL.

At the end of the month Argentina is planning a wrap-up session to be held in a private meeting under the agenda item “Implementation of the Note S/2010/507” that addresses a range of Council working methods issues.

Throughout the month, Council members will be following closely the developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Syria and meetings on these issues may be scheduled.