Security Council’s February Programme of Work
Ukraine is the president of the Security Council in February. This afternoon, Council members agreed on the programme of work for the month.
During Ukraine’s presidency, there will be two open debates, one at ministerial level on conflicts in Europe and another focused on the protection of critical infrastructure against terrorist acts. Pavlo Klimkin, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, will chair both debates. Briefers at the debate on conflicts in Europe are expected to include Secretary-General António Guterres and representatives of the EU and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Briefers at the debate on the protection of critical infrastructure against terrorist acts will include Chef de Cabinet Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Deputy Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Hamid Ali Rao, International Maritime Organization Special Adviser to the Secretary-General Chris Trelawny, and a representative of the private sector. The Council is expected to adopt a resolution to promote greater cooperation in addressing the threat of terrorism to critical infrastructure.
Council members will discuss the last strategic-level report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed to international peace and security by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The meeting will feature a briefing by Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman.
In addition to the open debate on conflicts in Europe, a number of other European issues are expected to be discussed this month. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Chairperson-in-Office Sebastian Kurz will provide the annual briefing to the Council on the OSCE’s work. On Ukraine, Under-Secretary-General Feltman and Chief Monitor of the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine Ertuğrul Apakan are expected to brief, along with the Director of OCHA’s Coordination and Response Division, John Ging. Regarding Kosovo, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Zahir Tanin will provide the quarterly briefing on the Secretary-General’s most recent UNMIK report.
Several African issues will be discussed in February. Early in the month, Secretary-General Guterres will brief members in consultations on his activities at the recently concluded AU Summit in Addis Ababa.
The Council will adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee.
A briefing is expected on the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) by Modibo Touré, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Guinea-Bissau. The mandate of UNIOGBIS, which expires on 28 February, will also be renewed this month.
Libya will be discussed in February, with Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya Martin Kobler expected to brief the Council. The briefing will be followed by consultations.
This month will also feature a discussion in the Council of the latest and final report of UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), as the mission is expected to end its operations when its mandate expires on 30 June. Aïchatou Mindaoudou, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNOCI, will brief in the open chamber, while consultations will follow.
The Central African Republic is on the agenda. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, and the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission’s Central African Republic configuration, Ambassador Omar Hilale of Morocco, will brief the Council. The Chair of the Central African Republic Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko of Ukraine, will brief as well. Consultations will take place after these briefings.
Several Middle East issues will be a focus of attention this month. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ján Kubiš will brief the Council on the latest Secretary-General’s report on the activities of UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). His briefing, which will be followed by consultations, is likely to address the security and humanitarian impact of the government’s military campaign to retake Mosul from ISIL.
On Syria, the regular monthly briefings on the political, humanitarian and chemical weapons tracks are anticipated. The political process will be discussed in consultations, with a briefing to members expected to be provided by Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Staffan de Mistura. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’ Brien will provide a briefing, followed by consultations, on humanitarian issues. On chemical weapons, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Kim Won-soo and Head of the Joint Investigative Mechanism Virginia Gamba will brief members in consultations on the reports of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the Joint Investigative Mechanism.
The regular monthly meeting on Israel/Palestine is expected in the middle of the month. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov is expected to brief the Council, with consultations scheduled afterwards.
Regarding Yemen, the Council is scheduled to adopt a resolution renewing the 2140 Yemen sanctions regime and the mandate of the 2140 Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts. Current sanctions measures expire on 26 February, while the Panel’s mandate expires on 27 March.
Two issues related to Asia are on the programme. First, the annual briefing of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) is anticipated early in the month. This briefing is expected to be provided in consultations by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UNRCCA Petko Draganov. Second, consultations on the 1718 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sanctions Committee are anticipated. This will feature a briefing on the Committee’s work by Ambassador Sebastian Cardi of Italy, who chairs the Committee.
A wrap-up session has been scheduled at the end of the month.
Members will follow closely several issues that could require the Council’s attention during the course of the month, including Burundi, the Gambia, South Sudan and Western Sahara, among others.
