PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

At a Headquarters press conference this afternoon, the current President of the Security Council, Mihnea Ioan Motoc (Romania), unveiled a programme of work for October that would touch on issues ranging from the pending elections in Liberia to the Secretary-General’s upcoming report on the situation in Kosovo.

Discussing the programme adopted by members today, Mr. Motoc said the Council would hold a public meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations on 17 October.  On 27 October, it would hold an open debate on the theme of women, peace and security, marking the fifth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000).

He said issues expected to be considered by the Council in October included the results of the 11 October elections in Liberia, and the constitutional referendum to be held in Iraq on 15 October.  On 24 October, Kai Eide, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on the Comprehensive Review of Kosovo, would present his report to the Council.  That meeting might also include the periodic update on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Other upcoming issues would include the findings of the International Independent Investigation Commission on Lebanon; an update by the Secretariat on resolution 1559 (on withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon); and the final outcome of the September elections held in Afghanistan.  The Council might also look at the issues of children in armed conflict and resolution 1625, which focused on conflict prevention in general, with a specific focus on Africa.

He added that there would be a need for the Council to look into the possibility of elections in Côte d’Ivoire.  Meanwhile, the Secretariat was expected to brief the Council, sometime in the next several days, on the situation of violence in the Darfur region of the Sudan.  In addition, the Council’s monthly briefing on the Middle East would be held on 20 October. 

Also, he noted that the mandates of a number of United Nations missions would be up for renewal, including the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC).

Mr. Motoc informed correspondents that, prior to the press conference, the Council issued two presidential statements -- one condemning the terrorist attacks in Bali, Indonesia, and the other expressing concern over the presence of foreign armed groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Responding to a question on security in Somalia, Mr. Motoc said it was important to get the institutional and political process back on track, according to the reconciliation framework that had been agreed upon among Somali factions, and saluted by the Council some time ago.  That should bring more stability to the country.  The contribution of regional organizations, such as the African Union, could also be discussed.  He also expressed the Council’s serious concern over the killing by gunmen of a United Nations security officer outside his home in southern Somalia on Monday night.

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For information media • not an official record