Status Update
UNRCCA (Central Asia)
On 2 February, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNRCCA, Petko Draganov, briefed Council members in consultations. Russia proposed a press statement but Council members failed to reach agreement, mainly due to continuing differences over whether to add new language relating to UNRCCA’s cooperation with regional organisations. They were, however, able to agree on press elements read by the Council President following the consultations, welcoming Draganov’s briefing, reaffirming the importance of conflict prevention tools, acknowledging the role of UNRCCA and encouraging greater cooperation between states in the region, UNRCCA and relevant regional organisations.
Ukraine
On 2 February, the Council held a meeting on the situation in Ukraine, requested by Ukraine itself following the recent spike in fighting in the Donetsk region. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman briefed on the political situation in the country. The Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Ambassador Ertuğrul Apakan, updated the Council on OSCE-related activities and ceasefire violations arising from the recent surge in fighting. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien informed the Council of the grave humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine.
Iraq
On 2 February, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMI, Ján Kubiš, briefed the Council on the latest UNAMI report . A main focus of his briefing was the Mosul military operation and its humanitarian impact. On the political front, Kubiš informed the Council of the latest national reconciliation efforts in Iraq.
Peace and Security in Africa
On 3 February, the Secretary-General briefed Council members in consultations on his participation in the recent AU summit. According to a statement read by the Council President following the consultations, Council members welcomed the Secretary-General’s initiative to brief on his trip and expressed their full support for such an approach.
Counter-Terrorism
On 7 February, the Council was briefed by Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, on UN counter-terrorism efforts in support of member states’ fight against ISIL, followed by consultations. The briefing was based on the Secretary-General’s 2 February strategic-level report requested by resolution 2253 of 17 December 2015. On 13 February, the Council held an open debate on the protection of critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks. Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin of Ukraine chaired the session. Briefings were given by the Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti; Jürgen Stock, the Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organization (via video teleconference); Hamid Ali Rao, Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; Chris Trelawny, Special Adviser on Maritime Security and Facilitation to the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization; and Olli Heinonen, Senior Advisor on Science and Non-proliferation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former Deputy Director-General of the IAEA. Ahead of the debate, Ukraine circulated a concept note . The Council adopted resolution 2341, directing the CTC and CTED to continue as appropriate, within their respective mandates, to examine member states’ efforts to protect critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks. In a 1 February press statement, Council members condemned the attack against a UN monitoring team near the Nigeria-Cameroon border, during which one UN independent contractor, three Nigerian nationals and one Cameroonian national were killed and others injured.
Sudan (Darfur)
On 8 February, the Council adopted resolution 2340, which renewed the mandate of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee Panel of Experts until 12 March 2018.
Libya
On 8 February, Council members received a briefing from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNSMIL, Martin Kobler, followed by consultations. The meeting focused on efforts under way to reach an inclusive and sustainable political settlement in Libya.
Côte d’Ivoire
On 8 February, the Council was briefed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNOCI, Aïchatou Mindaoudou, on the latest developments in the country and the Secretary-General’s 31 January report . Mindaoudou informed the Council about the results of the 2016 constitutional referendum which established the Third Republic. In addition to UNOCI’s drawdown activities, Mindaoudou also addressed the recent mutiny of soldiers in various cities throughout the country.
Guinea-Bissau
On 14 February, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau, Modibo Touré, briefed the Council on the Secretary-General’s latest report and recent developments in Guinea-Bissau. The chair of the PBC’s Guinea-Bissau configuration, Ambassador Mauro Viera (Brazil), also briefed and statements were additionally made by representatives of Guinea-Bissau and Liberia on behalf of ECOWAS. Following consultations, Council members issued press elements expressing their concern over the political impasse in Guinea-Bissau and urging national stakeholders to implement the Conakry agreement and ECOWAS roadmap. On 23 February, the Council adopted resolution 2343 renewing the mandate of UNIOGBIS until 28 February 2018. The resolution, inter alia, fully endorsed the recommendations outlined in the Secretary-General’s report regarding the need for UNIOGBIS to refocus its efforts towards political capacities in support of the Special Representative’s good offices and political facilitation role.
Children and Armed Conflict
The Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict met on 14 February to adopt its conclusions on the Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict in Colombia and for the introduction of the Secretary-General’s report on children and armed conflict in Somalia. The Colombia report was introduced on 9 January, and there were three meetings held to negotiate the conclusions.
Central African Republic
On 15 February, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous briefed the Council on the latest Secretary-General’s report on the situation in the CAR. The chair of the CAR configuration of the PBC, Ambassador Omar Hilale (Morocco) also spoke. In addition, Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko addressed the Council in his capacity as Chair of the CAR 2127 Sanctions Committee. The briefings were followed by consultations. On 17 February the Sanctions Committee met to discuss the Panel of Experts’ latest progress report.
Conflicts in Europe
On 21 February, the Council held an open debate chaired by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin on the maintenance of international peace and security focusing on conflicts in Europe. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, OSCE Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier and Secretary-General of the European External Action Service Helga Schmid briefed. A concept note circulated by Ukraine ahead of the debate argued that emerging conflicts as well as a number of protracted conflicts in the region pose a serious threat to international peace and security and warrant the Council’s attention.
Western Sahara
On 21 February, at the request of Uruguay, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous briefed Council members under “any other business” on the functionality of MINURSO.
Briefing by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office
On 22 February, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz briefed the Council in his capacity as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE. Kurz outlined the main priorities during Austria’s chairmanship which included defusing existing conflicts; fighting radicalisation and violent extremism; and reestablishing trust and confidence. He also addressed the situation in Ukraine and the OSCE’s role in facilitating the implementation of the Minsk agreements.
Human Rights
On 24 February, Senegal, Sweden and Uruguay co-hosted a closed Arria-formula meeting with the heads of human rights components of three UN peace operations: José Maria Aranaz of MONUSCO, Eugene Nindorera of UNMISS and Kirsten Young of UNSOM.
Kosovo
On 27 February, Special Representative Zahir Tanin briefed the Council at its quarterly briefing on Kosovo, presenting the latest UNMIK report. Tanin has noted that there has been heightened tension between Belgrade and Pristina over the course of the past several months. However, on the positive note, the EU facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina resumed. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić and Kosovo’s Ambassador to the US, Vlora Çitaku, also made statements.
