December 2007 Monthly Forecast

• Burundi

  The Council is expected to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB), which expires on 31 December. Read more

• Overview

  In December Italy will have the presidency of the Council. The newly elected Council members Burkina Faso, Croatia, Costa Rica, Libya and Vietnam will attend informal consultations and meetings of the subsidiary bodies as guest observers in preparation for taking... Read more

• Iraq/Kuwait

  On 11 December the Council will likely be briefed by Yuli Vorontsov, the Secretary-General’s High-Level Coordinator for Iraq’s compliance with obligations on Iraq/Kuwait missing persons and return of property. The next report under resolution 1284, which requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council on Iraq’s compliance, is due by 5 December. A press statement is expected. Read more

• Lebanon

  At press time Council action on Lebanon was very hard to predict because of the failure of the Lebanese parties to elect a president to replace Emile Lahoud who left office on 24 November. A further complicating factor was the delay in holding consultations on resolution 1701. Political developments in Lebanon could lead to all these matters being taken up in December. Read more

• Guinea-Bissau

  The Council is expected to receive a letter from the Secretary-General advising that he intends to extend the mandate of the UN Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS), which expires on 31 December. The Council is likely to respond to the Secretary-General with a letter approved under the “silence procedure.”  Read more

• Kosovo

  On 10 December the Secretary-General will receive the Kosovo Contact Group’s report on the negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade, led by the Troika (the EU represented by Germany, US and Russia). The Secretary-General is expected to transmit the report to the Council. It is unclear if there will be any briefing. Read more

• Iran

  At press time it was unclear whether the E3+3 (France, Germany and the UK plus China, Russia and the US) would introduce a draft resolution with further sanctions against Iran in December. A meeting between the E3+3 political directors to discuss the way forward was expected to take place on 1 December. Read more

• Democratic Republic of the Congo

  The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), which expires on 31 December. The Secretary-General’s latest report on MONUC, received on 14 November, recommends renewal at current levels at least until after the 2008 local elections. Read more

• Sierra Leone

  The mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) expires on 31 December. Informal consultations are likely to consider the long overdue Secretary-General’s report requested by resolution 1734 to be submitted “closer to the election date” (possibly to now be furnished by mid-December) based on a comprehensive assessment, to help the Council in defining UNIOSIL’s exit strategy. Read more

• Liberia

  The Council is likely to renew the sanctions regime (arms and travel embargo and assets freeze) imposed by resolutions 1521 and 1731, due to expire on 20 December. The Liberia Sanctions Committee is expected to receive the report of the Panel of Experts by 6 December. Read more

• International Criminal Tribunals

  The Council will receive briefings from the presidents and prosecutors of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and Rwanda (ICTR) on the semi-annual progress reports on the respective completion strategies for each Tribunal. Read more

• Aide Memoire

  Important matters pending before the Council include: The 2005 World Summit requested the Security Council to consider reforms relating to the Military Staff Committee. This has yet to be addressed. The Secretary-General’s report on security sector reform, requested in February... Read more

• Central African Republic

  The Council is expected to discuss the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) in consultations in early December. Members will likely have in mind the UN Mission in the CAR and Chad (MINURCAT) and the EU protection force. Read more

• Somalia

  The Council is expected to continue to follow security and political developments in Somalia closely. An expert-level meeting with the Secretariat on planning for a future UN political, humanitarian and peacekeeping strategy and assistance to the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is scheduled for 30 November. Read more

• Iraq/Oil for Food

  The Iraq oil-for-food programme will finally be terminated on 31 December, according to resolution 1483. No further Council action is required. However, the Council will receive recommendations from the Secretary-General on mechanisms to deal with residual issues. The Council is likely to respond to the proposals in a letter. Read more

• Cyprus

  The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), due to expire on 15 December, for six months. A report from the Secretary-General is due by 3 December. Read more

• UNDOF (Golan)

  The Council is expected to extend for six months the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, which is due to expire on 31 December (UNDOF was established in 1974). Read more

• United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA)

  The Council is expected to receive a letter from the Secretary-General advising his intention to extend the mandate of the UN Office in West Africa (UNOWA), due to expire on 31 December (perhaps for another three years). The Council is unlikely to meet on this issue. Read more

• Sudan/Darfur

  Council activity on Darfur in December is expected to include briefings by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and by Under Secretary-General John Holmes on the humanitarian situation in early December; possible consultations on the deployment of the UN-AU Mission in Darfur; the AU Mission in the Sudan expires on 31 December, by which time transfer to UNAMID is required under resolution 1769; ... Read more

• Status Update

  Status Update of Security Council Activity in November 2007. Read more

• Notable Dates

  Notable dates for December 2007. Read more