Press Conference on Security Council’s November Work Programme

 

This month’s President of the Security Council, Thomas Mayr-Harting from Austria, today briefed correspondents on November’s programme of work, which will include a debate on protection of civilians in armed conflict chaired by Austria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Mayr-Harting said speakers during that debate ‑‑ to take place on 11 November ‑‑ would include the Secretary-General and possibly the High Commissioner for Human Rights or her designee.  His delegation was preparing a draft resolution that would address thematic matters, including the link between peacekeeping and protection of civilians.

On 25 November, the Council would consider the report of the Peacebuilding Commission, he said.  It had become increasingly clear that peacekeeping and peacebuilding were complementary and did not necessarily need to take place sequentially.  The Chairs of the three “terrorism” Committees (the 1267 Committee on the Taliban and Al-Qaida, the 1373 Committee on Counter-terrorism and the 1540 Committee regarding non-State actors’ acquiring weapons of mass destruction) would brief the Council on 13 November in an open debate.

Turning to African issues, he said that on 5 November, the Council would hear briefings on Guinea-Bissau by Joseph Mutaboba, Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; and Brazil’s representative in his capacity as the Chairman of the Guinea-Bissau specific configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission.  On 9 November, the Council would be briefed on the Great Lakes Region by Special Representative Olusegun Obasanjo.  The issue of Somalia and piracy would be taken up on 18 November.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo sanctions regime would be addressed on 30 November.

Regarding the Asian region, he said the Council would be briefed by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Nepal, Karin Landgren, on 6 November.  Special Representative for Iraq, Ad Melkert, would brief the Council on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on 16 November.  The regular monthly briefing on the situation in the Middle East would take place on 24 November, while the Council would meet in consultations on the report of the Panel of Experts on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 19 November.

Reading a statement on Afghanistan, he said, “The members of the Security Council noted the press release of the Independent Electoral Commission of Afghanistan to forgo the run-off elections and to declare President Karzai elected President of Afghanistan.  Members commended the work of all those involved in the electoral process and paid homage to those who lost their lives.  The members look forward to working with President Karzai and his Administration.  The members wish to be briefed by the Secretary-General on his trip to Afghanistan and the latest developments after he returns.”

Mr. Mayr-Harting added that a draft resolution for mandate extension of the EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina would be taken up on 18 November and that the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko of Austria, would brief on 23 November, during an open debate on the situation there.  If developments warranted, the Council might address the issues of non-proliferation, the situation between Djibouti and Eritrea, the upcoming elections in Côte d’Ivoire and the International Commission of Inquiry regarding the 28 September events in Guinea.

Asked if the “Goldstone report” on the events in Gaza would be taken up by the Council, Mr. Mayr-Harting said that, during consultations on the programme of work this morning, no Council member had asked to include that item in November’s agenda.  The issue might be addressed in a resolution to be considered by the General Assembly Wednesday, 4 November.  It might also come up during the monthly briefing on the Middle East and Member States might also take up the issue during the debate on protection of civilians in armed conflict.  Although he would like the debate to be a “forward-oriented” discussion on improving protection of civilians where United Nations missions were on the ground, any Member States could bring up issues regarding the subject.

Speaking in his national capacity, he said the priority of his country, the European Union and Arab States was to ensure that there would be follow-up to the report at the national level in Israel and by the Palestinian Authority.

No Council member had asked to discuss the security situation in Pakistan, this morning, he told another questioner.  The specific concern now regarding Afghanistan was the security of the United Nations Mission on the ground.  He supported the Secretary-General in going there to send a message of solidarity.  Mr. Ban was also going there at a time when many important developments were taking place, so it would be useful to hear his briefing on his return.

Asked for clarification on his statement on Afghanistan, he said the Council did not in any way mean to commend anybody who had been involved in fraudulent actions during the presidential elections but focused on the people who risked their lives.

Asked about the intention of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) not to cooperate any more with certain Congolese army units that had been involved in human rights violations, he said Under-Secretary-General Alain Le Roy had named those units explicitly during his Council briefing.  He had seen no indication in consultations that anybody wanted to take up the issue.  In his national capacity he added that Austria’s priority for MONUC was the protection of civilians.  In that context, MONUC’s decision was the only possible one, as one could not protect civilians with people who were implicated in abusing them.

Addressing a question whether the Council could take up an African Union proposal that Sudan set up its own Court for crimes in Darfur, he said the issue of accountability was a thorny one.  The Council had dealt with the issue of accountability on what had happened in Darfur in the past and had not been able to come to a consensus.  Efforts to strengthen accountability through efforts undertaken by the country itself, as well as by regional and subregional organizations, were positive.  International jurisdiction applied only in circumstances where a functional jurisdiction at the national or regional level was not ensured.  Anything that could be done to promote the rule of law and accountability in all parts of the world was positive.

The situation in Côte d’Ivoire would be taken up if there were any indications that the agreed timeline for elections could not be maintained, he said in reply to another question.  Signals had been received that it would be difficult to maintain that timeline.

Asked if consensus within the Council was needed to call an open meeting, he said that, apart from rules of procedure to be followed, there was also a strong feeling that maintaining unity within the Council was important.  One could force a vote on procedural matters such as holding a public debate, but such a debate would come to nothing because Council members felt forced.

An example was the situation in Sri Lanka, he said, turning to another question, which was not included in this month’s programme of work.  When the situation came up, there had been an option to force an open debate.  However, the Council had chosen for another format of meeting which had resulted in some important messages to all sides to the conflict, including the Government conducting a legitimate fight against terrorists, that international law had to be respected.  Those messages had been heard.  Those messages would have been impossible, had one not agreed on the special format.

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For information media • not an official record