Overview

The UK will hold the presidency of the Council in August. An open debate on the role of the Security Council in conflict prevention, with briefings by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, is planned. A high-level debate is envisaged on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to be presided by the UK Minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, with Special Representative Martin Kobler and exiting Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region Mary Robinson as likely briefers. A debate on Kosovo is expected, with a briefing by Special Representative Farid Zarif, by video teleconference (VTC). Also in August, the Council is planning a visiting mission to Europe and Africa.

Briefings are expected on:

• the protection of humanitarian workers in armed conflict, to mark World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, with Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson (or Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos) and ICRC President Peter Maurer as likely briefers; and
• the Council visiting mission, by the leaders of the trip’s different segments. 

Briefings, followed by consultations, are expected on:

• the Middle East;
• progress in delivering humanitarian aid across Syria’s borders and conflict lines following the adoption of resolutions 2139 and 2165, by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs;
• developments in Burundi, by Special Representative Parfait Onanga-Anyanga and the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission’s Burundi configuration (Switzerland);
• the situation in South Sudan, by the Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO);
• the situation in Sudan and the work of AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), likely by Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas;
• developments in Libya by Special Representative Tarek Mitri; and
• the situation in the Central African Republic by Special Representative Babacar Gaye. 

Briefings in consultations are likely on:

• the implementation of resolution 2118 regarding the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons, by Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-UN Joint Mission (by VTC);
• Sudan-South Sudan issues by Special Envoy Haile Menkerios, and the work of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei, by DPKO;
• the work of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee by its chair, Ambassador María Cristina Perceval (Argentina);
• the work of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), by DPKO;
• developments in Guinea-Bissau, by the Special Representative Miguel Trovoada;
• the situation in Yemen, by Special Adviser Jamal Benomar;
• the work of the 1533 DRC Sanctions Committee by its chair, Jordan; and
• the work of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Sanctions Committee by its chair, Ambassador Sylvie Lucas (Luxembourg). 

Formal sessions will be needed to adopt resolutions renewing the mandates of UNIFIL and UNAMID.

Throughout the month members will be following closely events in Ukraine, Iraq, as well as in Gaza and Israel and additional meetings may be scheduled.