June 2008 Monthly Forecast

• Non-Proliferation: Weapons of Mass Destruction

  The 1540 Committee on weapons of mass destruction is reviewing a 71-page draft report that was due on 27 April. During the May briefing by the chairs of the three counter-terrorism committees, the 1540 Committee Chairman, Ambassador Jorge Urbina of Costa Rica, said the report would be ready “as soon as possible” or by 31 July at the latest. Read more

• Overview

  In June, the US will have the presidency of the Council. At time of writing, no agreement on any thematic meeting of the Council had been reached. However, it seems that the possibility of a topic related to violence against... 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 completion strategies for each tribunal on 4 June. Read more

• Cyprus

  The mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) expires on 15 June. A report from the Secretary-General is due by 1 June. The Council will be interested in his assessment of progress in the discussions that are preparing the ground for the resumption of full-fledged negotiations between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides. At this stage, the Council is expected to renew UNFICYP’s mandate without any change.  Read more

• UNDOF (Golan)

  The mandate of the UN Disengagement Force in the Golan Heights (UNDOF) expires on 30 June, and a report by the Secretary-General is due in June. Read more

• Sudan/Chad

  In early June, a Council mission will visit Sudan and Chad. Discussions are likely to include:the north-south Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA);the recent violence, prospects for a cessation of hostilities and a peace process in Darfur;deployment of the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID); and Chad-Sudan relations and the conflicts in both countries. Read more

• United Nations Office for West Africa

  The semi-annual report of the UN Office in West Africa (UNOWA) is expected in June. The mandate expires on 31 December 2010. Read more

• Chad/CAR

  A Council mission will visit Chad and Sudan in early June. Topics for discussion include: the countries’ security and political situation; Chad-Sudan relations; and the deployment of the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and of the EU Force (EUFOR, the European military force deployed pursuant a Security Council authorisation under resolution 1778). Read more

• Liberia

  The Liberia Sanctions Committee is expected to receive the report of its Panel of Experts by 1 June, to assist in deliberations on the sanctions regime (arms embargo, assets freeze and travel embargo) imposed between 2003 and 2007 by resolutions 1521, 1731 and 1792. The Panel’s mandate expires on 20 June and a resolution authorising extension is likely. Read more

• Iran

  Issues relating to Iran’s nuclear programme will be in the minds of Council members during June following the release on 26 May of the most recent report from the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohammed ElBaradei. Read more

• Notable Dates

  Notable dates for June 2008. Read more

• Iraq/Multi-National Force

  The Council is expected to review in June the mandates of the Multi-National Force in Iraq (MNF-I), the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) and the International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB, the audit oversight body for the DFI). Read more

• Guinea-Bissau

  The Council expects to receive the Secretary-General’s quarterly report on the UN Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS). A Council statement is possible. The mandate of UNOGBIS expires on 31 December. Read more

• Iraq/Kuwait

  In early June, the next report is due from the Secretary-General on Iraq’s compliance with resolution 1284 on the repatriation of Kuwaiti and third-country nationals or their remains, and the return of property following the first Gulf War. The Council will likely hold consultations and hear a briefing by the new High-level Coordinator Gennady Tarasov of Russia. Read more

• Counter-Terrorism: Al-Qaida and Taliban

  The Council is expected to renew the mandate of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which analyses the implementation of embargoes imposed on Al-Qaida and the Taliban, and assists the 1267 Committee. The Council may adopt changes in how its list of individuals and entities under sanctions is compiled and may discuss proposals to improve the process for delisting individuals. (Four European nations have raised concerns about lack of due process before the resolution is adopted.) The Council may also consider recommendations in a report by the Monitoring Team. Read more

• Lebanon

  The Council is expected to renew for another six months the mandate of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) of the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and others. This expires on 15 June. The Council received a letter from the Lebanese government on 16 May expressing the hope that the Council would extend the mandate until 31 December. Read more

• Aide Memoire

  Important matters pending for the Council include: The Secretariat is still to respond to the Council’s 21 November 2007 letter (S/2007/680), requesting monthly updates on the process of closing down of UNMOVIC as well as a briefing on steps the... Read more

• Status Update

  Status Update of Security Council Activity in May 2008. Read more