What's In Blue

Programme of Work for July 2021

France is the president of the Security Council in July. The Council adopted its provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (1 July). It appears that meetings will be held in person during the month.

As its signature event, France has chosen to hold a ministerial-level briefing on “preserving humanitarian space” under the protection of civilians in armed conflict agenda item. Jean-Yves Le Drian, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will chair the meeting. The expected briefers are Secretary-General António Guterres; Robert Mardini, the Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross; and Lucile Grosjean, Delegate Director of Advocacy at Action Against Hunger.

This month, the regular meeting on Libya will be held as a ministerial-level briefing, with Le Drian expected to chair. Special Envoy to Libya and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Ján Kubiš will brief. The chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee, Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti (India), may also present the periodic report on the committee’s activities.

Several Middle Eastern issues are on the programme this month. The Council is scheduled to vote on a draft resolution renewing the authorisation for the cross-border humanitarian assistance delivery mechanism in Syria, which expires on 10 July. The monthly meetings on the political, humanitarian and chemical weapons tracks in Syria are also expected to take place in July.

Council members are expected to vote on a resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA). The Council will also convene for its monthly meeting on Yemen in closed consultations. Briefings are expected from a representative from the Department for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Ramesh Rajasingham, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator; and head of UNMHA General Abhijit Guha.

There will be a briefing in consultations on the implementation of resolution 1701, which in 2006 called for a cessation of hostilities between the Shi’a militant group Hezbollah and Israel. The anticipated briefers are Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Force Commander Major General Stefano Del Col.

The Council will convene for its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief.

The Council will also address several African issues in July.

Council members expect to hear a briefing on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from the Special Representative and head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita. A civil society representative may also brief.

The Security Council will hold its biannual briefing on West Africa and the Sahel in July. The Special Representative and head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat Saleh Annadif, is expected to brief. A civil society representative may also be invited to brief.

On Sudan, there will be a briefing on the drawdown and closure of the AU/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), as requested in resolution 2559 of 22 December 2020. Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare is the anticipated briefer.

The Council is also expected to hold its first public meeting on developments related to the Tigray region of Ethiopia in July.

Council members are expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the 2127 Central African Republic sanctions regime and its panel of experts.

The Council is also scheduled to renew the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) ahead of its 31 July expiry. Earlier in the month, Council members will receive a briefing in consultations from Special Representative and head of UNFICYP Elizabeth Spehar.

The Council will convene for its quarterly meeting on Colombia in July. Special Representative and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu will brief on recent developments and the Secretary-General’s latest 90-day report on the mission.  A civil society representative may also brief.

The semi-annual meeting on the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) is also set to take place this month. Special Representative and head of the UNRCCA, Natalia Gherman, is expected to brief in closed consultations on the centre’s activities.

Council members will also be following developments on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Myanmar. They may choose to convene meetings on these and other issues.

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