Security Council’s November Programme of Work
Council members agreed on their provisional programme of work this afternoon. The UK, as president of the Security Council in November, has chosen to focus on conflict prevention, peace operations and Somalia. On conflict prevention there will be an open debate on peaceful societies and conflict prevention with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expected to brief. The debate will be at the level of development ministers and the UK Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening, will preside.
A briefing is expected on the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) as well as piracy issues off the coast of Somalia, by Ban and his Special Representative and head of UNSOM, Nicholas Kay. UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond will preside, and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to participate. The Council is also scheduled to adopt a resolution renewing anti-piracy measures.
There will be two peace operations related meetings in November. In mid-November Council members will have their second annual briefing on the work of the police components of peace operations, by Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous and senior police officers from the UN Mission in Liberia, the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and the UN Mission in South Sudan. There will also be a briefing, on the implementation of recommendations from the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, most likely by the Secretary-General.
An adoption is scheduled for the renewal of the authorisation of the EU-led multinational stabilisation force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR ALTHEA) next week. The biannual debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina will be held following this adoption. High Representative Valentin Inzko is expected to brief on recent developments and his office’s latest report to the Council.
Another European issue on the programme of work is Kosovo. There will be a briefing on recent developments in the country and the latest Secretary-General’s report by Zahir Tanin, the recently appointed Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. Serbia and Kosovo are likely to participate at high-level.
Besides the briefing on Somalia, African issues on the programme of work this month include consultations on Sudan/South Sudan and the UN Interim Security Force in Abyei, with briefings by Special Envoy Haile Menkerios and Ladsous, respectively. There will be Sudan sanctions consultations with a briefing by Ambassador Rafael Dario Ramirez Carreño (Venezuela).
In addition, there will be a briefing on Libya-related work of the ICC, by its Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, as well as a briefing by Bernardino León, the Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). A briefing is expected on the implementation of the UN integrated strategy for the Sahel, by Special Envoy Hiroute Guebre Sellassie, with a presidential statement possibly being adopted following the meeting.
The regular monthly briefings on the chemical weapons and humanitarian tracks in Syria by Acting High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Kim Won-soo and OCHA’s head, Stephen O’Brien, respectively, are also on the programme of work. The regular briefing and consultations on the Middle East are also on the programme of work, with Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov briefing.
Council members will pay attention to Iraq this month. Next week Special Representative Ján Kubiš will brief on the Secretary-General’s report on the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), followed by consultations. Another Middle East issue on the programme in September is Lebanon. Council members will be meeting in consultations for a briefing by Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag on the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1701 regarding a cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006.
Council members will hold their regular annual private meeting with the president of the International Court of Justice, Ronny Abraham (who succeeded Peter Tomka in this post in February 2015).
Throughout the month members will be following closely developments in Burundi, Central African Republic, Ukraine, Western Sahara and Yemen, and additional meetings may be scheduled. There may also be traction on two draft resolutions: on indiscriminate attacks in Syria and on Israel/Palestine. Additionally, it is possible that Council members may have initial discussions on a joint letter from the Security Council and General Assembly presidents outlining the selection process for the next Secretary-General and inviting nominations.
Later this week, the 15 current Council members and the incoming five (Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay) will participate in the annual “Hitting the Ground Running” workshop outside of New York City, organised by the Mission of Finland.
