Programme of Work for April 2023
Russia is the president of the Security Council in April. Council members adopted the provisional programme of work for the month earlier today (3 April).
Russia is expected to hold two signature events during its presidency. One will be an open debate on “Risks stemming from violations of the agreements regulating the export of weapons and military equipment”. High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu will brief.
The other will be a ministerial-level open debate, chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on “Effective multilateralism through the defense of the principles of the UN Charter”. Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief.
Several African issues are on the programme this month.
There will be a briefing, followed by consultations, on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and developments in Mali. Special Representative and head of MINUSMA El-Ghassim Wane is the anticipated briefer.
A briefing, followed by consultations, is also planned on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and developments in Libya, as well as on the work of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee. Special Representative and head of UNSMIL Abdoulaye Bathily is expected to brief on UNSMIL via videoconference, while Ambassador Kimihiro Ishikane (Japan) will brief in his capacity as chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee.
Special Envoy Huang Xia and Ambassador Ivan Šimonović (Croatia), the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), are scheduled to brief on the Great Lakes Region. Consultations are scheduled to follow.
Consultations on the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and the situation in Western Sahara are planned for April. The anticipated briefers are Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura and Special Representative Alexander Ivanko.
Several Middle Eastern issues will be discussed in April.
The quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question” will be held at ministerial level. Lavrov is expected to chair the meeting. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland is expected to brief via videoconference.
The monthly briefing and consultations on Yemen are expected to feature briefings by Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya. The head of the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), Major General Michael Beary, is expected to participate during the consultations.
The monthly briefing on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria will include briefings by Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, respectively. Consultations are scheduled to follow.
Regarding issues in the Americas, Colombia and Haiti are both on the programme of work in April. Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu and PBC Chair Šimonović are the expected briefers on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia and developments in Colombia. Consultations will follow.
The Council will also convene a briefing and consultations in April on the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and developments in Haiti. Special Representative Maria Isabel Salvador and Gada Fathi Waly, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), are the scheduled briefers.
With regard to European issues, there will be a briefing on the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and recent developments in Kosovo. Special Representative Caroline Ziadeh is the anticipated briefer.
As in past months, there are likely to be one or more meetings on Ukraine in April.
Other issues could be raised during the month, depending on developments.
