What's In Blue

Posted Tue 5 Jul 2011

The Security Council’s July Programme of Work

Council members adopted the July programme of work today (Tuesday, 5 July). The political coordinators had met last Friday (1 July) to finalise the programme. This month Germany has the presidency and it looks like issues related to Sudan and South Sudan will continue to be a key focus. The Council is likely to adopt at least three resolutions and one presidential statement on Sudan during the month.

The Council is expected to finalise and adopt the mandate of a new mission for South Sudan ahead of its 9 July independence. (The mandate of the current UN mission in Sudan expires on 9 July.) Then on 13 July German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle is expected to preside over a high-level debate on the challenges and opportunities presented by South Sudan’s independence. The Council is also expected that day to vote on South Sudan’s UN membership (with a GA vote expected the next day). The Council is also likely to issue a presidential statement on South Sudan’s independence. At the end of the month, on 27 July the Council expects to have consultations on the setup and framework of the newly created UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Darfur is also on the Council’s agenda this month with the Council expected to renew UNAMID’s mandate on 28 July, ahead of its 31 July expiry. On 22 July a briefing by UNAMID head, Ibrahim Gambari is expected on the latest developments, including the Darfur-based political process. This will be followed by Council consultations on UNAMID.

Among other African issues on July’s programme of work are Cote d’Ivoire and the LRA. The UN mission in Cote d’Ivoire, UNOCI, comes up for renewal this month and the Council is expected to renew the mission for 12 months before its expiry on 31 July. In July Council members are also expected to receive a briefing on the LRA from the Secretariat on the Secretariat’s recent joint mission to the region. A presidential statement is a possible outcome.

Germany has chosen to hold two thematic open debates: on children and armed conflict and on climate change.

On 12 July the German foreign minister will preside over an open debate on children and armed conflict. Germany last week circulated a draft resolution which is likely to be adopted following the debate. The resolution seeks to include conducting attacks on schools and hospitals as an additional trigger for inclusion on the Secretary-General’s “name and shame” list in his annual report on children and armed conflict.

The open debate on climate change is expected to focus on the impact of climate change on the maintenance of peace and security with particular emphasis on the rising sea level and its impact on coastal and small island states as well as on the threats to food security due to climate change and its effects on peace and security. Council members are currently discussing possible outcomes from this debate.

The Council is also expected to continue to pay attention to events in the Arab world in July. Libya continues to be high on the agenda with a briefing by the UN Special Envoy to Libya, Abdul Elah al-Khatib on 11 July and the Council’s regular monthly briefing by DPA head, B. Lynn Pascoe, scheduled for the end of July.

It appears that discussions on a draft resolution on Syria will also continue this month. The Council is also expected to discuss Syria during a briefing by the IAEA. The IAEA has reported Syria to the Security Council over allegations it was building an undeclared nuclear reactor and it appears the Council will now take up this issue.

There will also be the regular Middle East open debate which is held every three months as well as a briefing and consultations on Lebanon and the implementation of resolution 1701.

On the agenda for July are also a number of other regular briefings. The Council will hear from UNAMA head, Staffan de Mistura on 6 July and hold a debate on the transition process taking place in Afghanistan. Also scheduled are two briefings with a regional focus – one on the UN Office in West Africa (UNOWA) and another on the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA). There will also be the monthly “horizon scanning” briefing from DPA on emerging issues of concern on 14 July.

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