The Security Council’s July Programme of Work
China is the president of the Council this month. There will be two open debates in July. One will focus on the theme of “Enhancing African capacities in the areas of peace and security” and will be held under the agenda item “Peace and Security in Africa.” The second will be the quarterly open debate on the Middle East (Israel/Palestine).
A number of other issues related to the Middle East are on the programme. Council members will receive a briefing in consultations on Syria regarding political developments, as well as one on chemical weapons, including on the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM). A public briefing on humanitarian issues on Syria is also expected, which will be followed by consultations.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Ján Kubiš will brief the Council on the Secretary-General’s report on the mission and the most recent developments. This will be followed by the adoption of a resolution renewing UNAMI’s mandate, which expires on 31 July, for another year.
The Council expects to receive a briefing on Yemen from the Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed. This will be followed by consultations.
Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag will brief Council members in consultations on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1701, which called for a cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
Several African issues will be addressed this month. The Council expects to be briefed by Maman Sambo Sidikou, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), on the Secretary-General’s three-monthly report on the implementation of MONUSCO’s mandate and most recent developments. Consultations will follow the briefing.
South Sudan will be discussed again in July. The Council is expected to hold a briefing, followed by consultations, to consider the Secretary-General’s 30-day assessment of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the deployment and future requirements of the Regional Protection Force (RPF).
The Council will hold a briefing, followed by consultations, on the situation in Burundi. It may further consider whether to renew the authorisation of a UN police component for Burundi, which expires on 29 July but has never been deployed due to resistance from the government.
There will be a briefing, followed by consultations, on the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) by Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNOWAS.
Regarding issues in the Americas, both Colombia and Haiti will be considered during the month. The Council plans to adopt a resolution establishing a second special political mission in Colombia, following a request by the government of Colombia and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP). The Council plans to hold its semi-annual debate on Haiti with Special Representative and head of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) Sandra Honoré expected to brief on recent developments and the latest Secretary-General’s report which is due by 12 July.
Cyprus is the one European issue on the programme this month. Elizabeth Spehar, Special Representative and head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), is expected to brief in consultations on the latest report on the mission. Espen Barth Eide, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, may also brief on key developments in the negotiations between the Cypriot leaders. The Council is further expected to renew the mandate of UNFICYP for another six months, ahead of its 31 July expiry.
At press time, the Council negotiations were continuing on a draft resolution reviewing the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) & Al-Qaida sanctions regime. It is expected to be adopted during the month.
Ukraine and non-proliferation are in the footnotes and could be raised during the course of the month.
Finally, there will be an Arria-formula meeting on enhancing the design process of UN sanctions this week.
