PRESS BRIEFING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

France's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Security Council President for the month of January, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, briefed correspondents this afternoon on the Council's provisional programme of work for the month.

Iraq continued to hold a special place in the Council's agenda, he stated, with two briefings by Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei already scheduled for 9 and 27 January.  During the first meeting, Mr. Blix would provide an update on Iraq's declaration.  The second meeting was being held in accordance with the terms of resolution 1441 (2002), which stipulated that the Council would be informed of developments 60 days after its adoption.

Africa would continue to figure prominently in the Council's discussions, he added.  On Ethiopia/Eritrea, the Council would examine, during consultations on 7 January, the latest report of the Secretariat proposing a timetable for the border-demarcation operations between the two countries.  During consultations on 8 January on the Central African Republic, the Council will be briefed by Special Representative Lamine Cisse on the implementation of the international observer force and the activities of the United Nations Office.

On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he said the Council would hear a report on the development of the situation in the eastern part of the country on 13 January.  It would also have to take a decision during the month about the future of the Panel on the illegal exploitation of natural resources. 

In addition, in a letter to the Secretary-General on 29 November 2002, the Council requested him to submit recommendations on a revised mandate for the United Nations Office in Liberia (UNOL) by 15 January, so that it could regularly brief the Council on the general situation in the country, the preparation of future elections and the human rights situation.  The consultations on 17 January would enable the Council to examine the Secretary-General's recommendations on that important issue.

On Burundi, he said the Secretariat would report on the latest developments on 22 January following Special Representative Dinka's meetings in the region in the first two weeks of January and the meeting of the African Union.  Consultations would also be held on 10 January to examine the Secretariat's latest report on United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL).  The question of Côte d'Ivoire, he added, would be taken up in consultations during the second half of January.

Two thematic open meetings were also planned for the month, he said.  On 21 January, a public debate would be held on the Counter-Terrorism Committee.  Roughly one year after the adoption of resolution 1373 (2001), the time had come to produce a political assessment of actions undertaken.  Also, related to the fight against terrorism, the Council will hold consultations on 15 January on the follow-up of resolution 1390 of 16 January 2002 on the sanctions against Al Qaeda. 

The Council had decided, he continued, that the measures set out in paragraphs one and two of that resolution should be reviewed one year later to decide whether to continue or improve them.  The other thematic meeting, on children and armed conflict, would be held on 14 January, he added.

In addition, he said, the Council would hold two open sessions to hear a briefing by the Secretariat on the situation in the Middle East and on Afghanistan.  The first would be held on 16 January and followed by consultations.  The Council would examine the results of the last meeting of the Quartet and the development of the situation on the ground.  During the second meeting, to be held on 24 January, Lakhdar Brahimi would present his latest report on Afghanistan, following which the Council would hold consultations. 

Furthermore, the Council would have to renew in January the mandates of three peacekeeping operations –- UNIFIL in Lebanon, UNOMIG in Georgia and MINURSO in Western Sahara, which expire at the end of the month.  He also noted that the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, James Baker, was due to go to the region in a few days and would present his report to the Council. 

Updates on the programme of work, he added, could be found on the web site of the French presidency of the Security Council:  www.un.int/france.

Asked whether the Security Council would take up the issue of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mr. La Sabliere replied that the Council had not been seized with that issue, but could be, theoretically.  It was currently being dealt with by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors

As to what the Council was expecting to hear during the two meetings on Iraq, he said that Mr. Blix would determine what he wanted to report during the meeting on 9 January, which would be on the Iraqi declaration.  The scope of the meeting on the twenty-seventh was found in resolution 1441, which stated that the Council would be informed by Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei 60 days after the start of inspections.

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