PRESS BRIEFING BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Presenting the Council’s monthly work programme at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon, President of the Security Council for April,
Adolfo Aguilar Zinser (Mexico) stressed that it was essential to keep the Council deeply involved in the subject of Iraq, as well as other issues pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security. 

The work programme had been elaborated following consultations with Council members and the Secretary General, he said.  In particular, the agenda item on Afghanistan had been added to the programme today at a request made during consultations.  Initially, the Secretary-General’s representatives in the field had said that monthly briefings on Afghanistan had resulted in a diminished interest in the matter, and it had been decided that the issue would be considered on a bimonthly basis in order to better prepare the material and reduce travel.

The second topic to be included –- a far more sensitive one –- was the situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, he continued.  It would be introduced under the heading of a letter sent by the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in which he reports on the status of relations between the Agency and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The topic would be tackled on 9 April, one day before the date when North Korea would be dispensed from its obligations under the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), from which it had withdrawn.
In preparations for the meeting, the President of the Council would consult with its members.  It was important to make sure that the results of the meeting were constructive in terms of finding a solution to that serious problem of international scope and relevance.  Based on the consultations, the Council had unanimously decided to ensure that its decision on the matter was supported by all its members. 

Continuing, he informed the correspondents that Mexico had taken the initiative of scheduling two meetings.  The first of them was to be held on
11 April with participation of regional organizations, including the Organization of African Unity, the Arab League, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).  Once confirmed, the list of participants would be provided to the press.  The objective of the meeting would be to look at the collective security agenda from the regional perspective, in the light of the new challenges.  Presiding over the meeting would be Mexico’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who would also offer a working lunch to the members of the Council. 

The second meeting scheduled at Mexico’s initiative would be held away from Headquarters on 29 April, at the Council of the Americas.  It was
co-sponsored by Mexico’s delegation to the United Nations and the International Peace Academy.  It would address the part played by civil society organization in conflict and their connection with the United Nations.  That was Mexico’s contribution to the discussions at the Security Council.  The Mexican delegation would also invite the press to a popular art exhibit at the visitors’ lobby on 10 April.

Turning to the subject of Iraq, he said that there were still deep differences of opinion within the Council.  It was not clear how or when the war would end, and upon consulting with the members of the Council, it had been decided that the short-term focus should be on humanitarian assistance to Iraq.  That was not yet reflected in the work programme, because the agreement was that the humanitarian agenda would be developed as time went by, and as the situation evolved.  However, the Council would hold regular consultations on the matter, at least once a week. 

Two meetings had already been scheduled on Iraq, he said.  Tomorrow, the Council would be discussing the future of the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM), which had been withdrawn by the Secretary-General in the light of security concerns.  Also, Deputy Secretary-General
Louise Fréchette would present her assessment of the humanitarian situation in the country.  Next Tuesday, the Council would hold consultations on the
“oil-for-food programme”.  In the light of recent events, the Council would see what the status of the programme was, and the Executive Director of the Office of the Iraq Programme, Benon Sevan, would brief the Council on the subject of compensation funds and how funds would be applied in the light of the resolution that made the oil-for-food programme operational again.  That issue had been raised during the first round of consultations today.  Several Council members had also asked for other aspects of the situation to be addressed, including the future of inspections. 

Possibilities would also be explored in connection with the topics of humanitarian access and political and diplomatic measures to bring an end to hostilities, he continued.  “I will not pretend that this is not an extremely difficult topic”, he said, for the divisions were still extremely clear-cut.  Also important was the subject of the post-conflict rebuilding of Iraq, which was already being discussed in the background.  For the moment, no consultations had been scheduled on that issue, however.

Asked about the issue of the Middle East on the Council agenda, Mr. Zinser said that an open meeting on the Middle East would be held on 16 April, followed by consultations.  He was in touch with the Council members and the members of the Quartet, and he hoped that the “road map” for peace would be ready by the time of the meeting.  Based on the road map, the Council should be able to find the part it had to play to bring peace to the Middle East.  He felt that it was the central aspect of the Council’s activities. 

A correspondent asked if the United States, as an occupying power, would have any authority in managing the Iraqi oil industry, from the point of view of the Security Council.  Mr. Zinser replied that, within the Council, irrespective of the different interpretations of sovereignty, there was an agreement, at least in principle, that whatever solution emerged concerning the rebuilding of Iraq, it must be based on respect for the territorial integrity of the country, as well as Iraq’s sovereignty over its natural resources, including oil.  How that was to be achieved and accommodated with the presence of the military coalition remained a tremendous challenge for the United Nations.  The Council was discussing the issue.  

Asked what had happened during the consultations today on the compensation funds, he said that the subject had been raised by Germany and supported by

Russia and France.  Further discussion of the issue had been postponed till
8 April, when Mr. Sevan would be able to answer the questions raised by the members of the Council.  All he could say at this point was that the delegations held widely different views on the matter. 

Responding to a question regarding Mexico’s philosophy regarding the role of the United Nations in post-conflict Iraq, he said he would try to present his views as President of the Security Council.  The United Nations definitely had a very important part to play in the post-war process.  While the opinions differed regarding the role of the United Nations, they still ranged from “important” to “fundamental”.  The United Nations should play not a subsidiary, but a substantive role in the post-war Iraq, acting in its own capacity.

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