Overview
In May, Greece will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
As a signature event of its presidency, Greece is expected to convene a high-level open debate on maritime security under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to chair the meeting. The anticipated briefers are UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and representatives from a UN agency and the private shipping industry are expected to brief the Council.
In May, the Security Council will hold its annual debate on the protection of civilians. The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher, UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and a civil society representative.
The Security Council and the General Assembly will hold an election in May to fill the vacancy in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following the resignation of Judge Nawaf Salam (Lebanon) on 14 January.
African issues on the programme in May are:
- South Sudan, renewal of the 2206 South Sudan sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee, as well as the mandate renewal of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which was last renewed in April until 9 May; and
- Libya, briefing by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the court’s Libya-related activities, reauthorisation of measures under resolution 2292 to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya, and an informal interactive dialogue (IID) on the implementation of resolution 2292.
Middle Eastern issues on the programme include:
- Syria, meeting on the political and humanitarian tracks;
- Yemen, monthly meeting on developments;
- Lebanon, consultations on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1559; and
- “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”, the monthly meeting, with the possibility of additional meetings depending on developments in Gaza and Israel.
Regarding European issues, the semi-annual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina is expected to take place in May. As in previous months, there may also be one or more meetings on Ukraine this month.
In terms of Asian issues, Council members are expected to receive a briefing in consultations on the work of the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee.
Other issues could also be discussed during the month, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, depending on developments.
