PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

 

Briefing correspondents on the Security Council’s programme of work for the month of November at a Headquarters press conference today, Jorge Voto-Bernales, Peru’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Council President for the month, said the Council would be sending a special mission to Afghanistan to assess the situation on the ground in that country.

The special mission, which would comprise all of the Council’s members except for China, Peru and the three African members, would leave New York on 10 November, arrive in Afghanistan on 12 November and return to Headquarters on 17 November, he said.  Japan’s representative would brief the Council on the special mission to Afghanistan on Wednesday, 22 November.

Prior to today’s consultations on the programme of work, he said he had started his presidency yesterday, by presiding over the Council’s meeting to adopt by consensus an important resolution on Côte d’Ivoire.

Also today, he noted, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno, had briefed the Council on last Sunday’s run-off elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Reacting to the report, Council members had congratulated the people of that country, hailing also the success of the run-off elections, which had been held in an essentially peaceful environment.

He added that Council members had noted the high turnout, and had praised the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) for its work.  Members had also stressed the importance of the two candidates honouring their commitment to the declaration of intent to accept the results of the vote.  The Council had renewed its commitment to assist the country in its reconstruction.  France’s delegation had offered to facilitate a draft presidential statement, in which the Council would send a formal message to the country.

On 14 November, the Council would hold consultations on the prevention of armed conflicts, during which it would consider a report by Juan E. Méndez, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, he said.  On 21 November, the Council would hold its usual debate on the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in the Middle East.

The Council also planned to hold an open debate on the issue of children and armed conflict on Tuesday, 28 November, he said.  The Secretary-General’s report on that subject should be available on 20 November.  Peru’s Minister for Foreign Affairs would attend the debate to underscore the importance Peru attached to the topic.  France would convene an Arria formula meeting to ensure broad civil society participation in that debate. 

Asked if he expected the Council to discuss Iran this month, he said some topics raised during consultations this morning had been included in the footnote to the work programme.  One of those topics related to the issue of non-proliferation.  He had been talking with the Council’s permanent members, which were presently discussing the topic.  According to the information he had been given, non-permanent Council members would probably be briefed next week on the status of those conversations.  After that, given the need for transparency, the elected members of the Council would be periodically briefed on developments from conversations.

Regarding the status of the European Union force for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, specifically whether there had been a request to extend it beyond 21 November, he said the matter had not been raised during the discussion on the work programme.

As for whether he expected the Middle East debate to include discussion of the three Israeli hostages and efforts to secure their release, he noted that, while the matter had been raised during last month’s public debate, he could not anticipate what this month’s report would contain.

Noting that resolution 1718 (2006) on the Democratic Republic of the Korea had called on Member States to report within 30 days on steps they had taken to implement the resolution, a correspondent asked how the Council would handle that report.

Responding, he said the Sanctions Committee was working on the matter and would report to the Council in due time.

Asked to elaborate on the consultations to be held on 14 November on the prevention of armed conflicts, he noted that the Council would receive a report from Mr. Méndez.  The Special Adviser had begun his work in August 2004.  His appointment had been part of a five-point action plan against genocide, outlined by the Secretary-General during the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide.  The Council would receive a preliminary report in the coming days on essential issues to be dealt with during the consultations, and it would receive a full report for discussion by 14 November.

When asked for a reaction to the news of Panama’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Council, he said he was pleased with the consensus reached by the Latin American and Caribbean Group on the issue.

Was he saying that Panama had been officially endorsed by the entire Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries? a correspondent asked.

Responding, he said he was probably anticipating his own wish that the Group reach consensus early this morning.  The Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries had received the proposal, but was still examining the matter in its consultations.

Asked whether he expected follow-up action on the issue of Côte d’Ivoire, he said there had been a request for a report on the resolution’s implementation and the ongoing political process there.  No date had been set, however.

As for whether the issue of an international tribunal into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri had been raised, he said the Secretary-General’s Office had informed Council members that that there would be a report on the matter shortly.  He expected the issue to come up at some point this month.

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For information media • not an official record