December 2013 Monthly Forecast

Posted 27 November 2013
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Status Update

Kenya

On 31 October, Council members held an interactive dialogue with an AU high-level contact group regarding the AU request for the Council to defer for a year the ICC proceedings against President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya. The issue was discussed again by Council members under “any other business” during consultations on 11 November, and consultations on the matter were held on 12 November. A draft resolution (S/2013/660) on a deferral was put to a vote on 15 November by Morocco, Rwanda and Togo but was not adopted, with only seven Council members voting in favour and the remaining eight members abstaining (S/PV.7060).

Mali

On 2 November, the Council issued a press statement on the two French journalists killed in Kidal (SC/11169). Council members recalled how journalists are considered civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law and shall be respected and protected as such. They also called on the Government of Mali to swiftly investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

DRC

On 6 November, Council members were briefed via video-teleconference by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of MONUSCO Martin Kobler, and Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to the Great Lakes Region Mary Robinson in consultations. On 14 November, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2013/17) calling for the swift conclusion and implementation of a final and comprehensive agreement that provides for the disarmament and demobilisation of the March 23 (M23) rebel group and accountability for human rights abusers (S/PV.7058).

DPRK

On 11 November, the chair of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Sylvie Lucas (Luxembourg), briefed Council members in consultations on the work of the Committee. The Committee did not meet in November. (Its last meeting was on 25 October.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 12 November, the Council adopted resolution 2123 reauthorising the EU led multinational stablisation mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a year. Valentin Inzko, the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, briefed (S/PV.7057) the Council prior to its debate of his office’s latest report (S/2013/646). Inzko said the negative trends of political gridlock continued, which he warned could negatively impact the October 2014 national elections. He also welcomed the Council decision to reauthorise the EU led multinational force, in light of continued separatist rhetoric by political leaders of Republika Srpska.

South Sudan (UNMISS)

Council members were briefed on UNMISS on 18 November by Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNMISS Hilde Johnson (S/PV.7062). In presenting the most recent UNMISS report of the Secretary-General (S/2013/651), Johnson said that while great challenges remain, recent events “give reason for cautious optimism” regarding South Sudan’s future. The briefing was followed by consultations.

Israel/Palestine

On 19 November, the Council was briefed by Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, followed by consultations. Feltman reported that ongoing direct talk between the parties were tackling substantive issues but were strained and had suffered a setback with the Israeli announcement of new settlement building.  Feltman said it was the UN’s view that settlement expansion cannot be reconciled with the vision of a two-state solution and without progress soon, the two-state solution may be irreparably damaged (S/PV.7063).

Lebanon

On 19 November, the Council issued a press statement condemning the terrorist attack targeting the Iranian Embassy in Beirut which killed 23 and wounded at least 140 (SC/11180). The statement also stressed respect for Lebanon’s policy of disassociation and for all Lebanese parties to refrain from any involvement in the Syrian crisis. On 26 November, Special Coordinator Derek Plumbly briefed Council members on the Secretary General’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 1701 and on the activities of UNIFIL (S/2013/650). He reported that while UNIFIL’s area of operations remained relatively calm, there had been heightened tension in Lebanon related to the Syrian crisis and that the Lebanese Armed Forces had played a crucial role in maintaining stability. Following consultations, Council members issued a press statement welcoming the International Support Group for Lebanon and its support of Lebanon’s humanitarian and security needs and again stressed the need for all parties to respect the disassociation policy (SC/11191).

Kosovo

On 19 November the Council held its quarterly debate on Kosovo with a briefing by Farid Zarif, the Special Representative and Head of UNMIK (S/PV.7064). Zarif briefed the Council on the latest report of the Secretary-General (S/2013/631) and on recent developments regarding local elections in Kosovo.

UNOCA/LRA

On 20 November, the Council was briefed (S/PV.7065) by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNOCA, Abou Moussa, on the Secretary-General’s report on UNOCA and the implementation of the regional strategy on the Lord’s Resistance Army (S/2013/671). On 25 November, The Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2013/18) condemning the actions of the LRA and requesting that the Secretary-General keep it informed through a single report on UNOCA and the LRA by 15 May 2014.

Iraq

On 25 November, Special Representative Nickolay Mladenov briefed the Council on the UNAMI report (S/2013/661) and on the Iraq/Kuwait missing persons and property report (S/2013/654). He said Iraq was facing serious challenges in maintaining political stability in a deteriorating security situation, adding that there had been almost daily attacks by terrorist and armed groups against civilians and Iraqi security forces. He noted the adverse impact of the Syrian crisis on Iraq. He also reported improving relations between Iraq and Kuwait, reiterating UNAMI’s determination to facilitate the repatriation or return of Kuwaiti missing persons and property (S/PV.7068). Following the briefing and consultations, the Council issued a press statement condemning the recent spate of terrorist attacks in Iraq and expressing support to the government in addressing the country’s security needs (SC/11186).

Guinea-Bissau

Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Jose Ramos-Horta briefed the Council on 26 November about the Secretary-General’s latest reports on the restoration of constitutional order (S/2013/680) and the activities of the UNIOGBIS (S/2013/681). Ramos-Horta told the Council that Guinea-Bissau rescheduled its national elections for 16 March 2014, and the long delayed voter-registration process would take place 1-31 December. He said the increasingly volatile security situation and a deteriorating human rights situation threatened the country’s ability to hold credible elections (S/PV.7070).

Yemen

On 27 November Council members were briefed in consultations by the Special Adviser to the Secreatary-General on Yemen, Jamal Benomar  on the last stages of the National Dialogue Conference and the challenges ahead for the Yemeni transition, including the security threats posed by sectarian violence and terrorist attacks by Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.  Following the briefing, the Council issued a press statement emphasizing the importance of concluding the National Dialogue Conference as soon as possible to move to constitutional drafting and electoral preparations (SC/11195).

Terrorism

At press time, the Council was expecting the semi-annual briefing of the chairs of its counter-terrorism-related committees (S/PV.7071). The briefers were Ambassador Gary Quinlan (Australia), who chairs the 1267/1989 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki (Morocco), who chairs the 1373 Counter-Terrorism Committee, and Ambassador Kim Sook (Republic of Korea), who chairs the 1540 Committee, concerning the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

 

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