Overview
In April, Bahrain will hold the presidency of the Security Council.
Bahrain plans to hold four signature events. One is a high-level open debate on maritime security under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item.
Bahrain also plans to convene the quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” (MEPQ) as a high-level signature event.
Two signature events will be briefings under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations”: one on cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and another on cooperation with the League of Arab States (LAS). Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani is expected to chair both briefings. Bahrain has proposed two separate draft presidential statements in connection with the meetings. The anticipated briefers at the first meeting are Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Mohamed Khaled Khiari and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi. Khiari and LAS Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit are expected to brief at the second meeting.
In April, the Council will hold a briefing on cooperation between the UN and the European Union (EU), also under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations”.
The Council will receive a briefing this month on the implementation of resolution 2730 of 24 May 2024 on the protection of humanitarian and UN personnel.
The Council will also hold its annual briefing with the heads of military components of UN peacekeeping operations.
In addition to the open debate on the MEPQ, other Middle Eastern issues on the programme in April are:
- Yemen, monthly meeting on developments; and
- Syria, monthly meeting on political and humanitarian issues.
The Council plans to address several African issues this month, including:
- Libya, briefing and consultations on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the work of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, as well as renewal of the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Committee and reauthorisation of measures contained in resolution 2146 of 19 March 2014 related to the illicit export of petroleum from Libya;
- Great Lakes region, briefing and consultations on the implementation of the 2013 Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region;
- South Sudan, briefing and consultations on the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), mandate renewal of the mission, and a meeting with UNMISS troop- and police-contributing countries; and
- Western Sahara, consultations on the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
Two issues in the Americas are on the programme in April:
- Colombia, briefing and consultations on developments in the country and the work of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia; and
- Haiti, briefing and consultations on developments in the country, including the work of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH).
Regarding European issues, a briefing is planned on the work of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). There may also be one or more meetings on Ukraine.
Council members are also likely to closely follow developments related to the Middle East crisis, including in Iran and Lebanon, as well as Sudan. Other issues could be raised during the month, depending on developments.