Press Conference by Security Council President on Work Programme for October

 

The Security Council’s programme of work for October would include a mission to Uganda and Sudan, as well as two public debates — the first, at the ministerial level, on women and peace and security to mark the tenth anniversary of the first Council resolution on that subject, and the second on the Middle East — Ruhakana Rugunda (Uganda), Council President for the month, said today at Headquarters.

Speaking at a press conference to announce the Council’s work programme for October, Mr. Rugunda said the mission would visit Uganda and Sudan this week and its terms of reference were being finalized.  On 13 October, the Council would adopt a resolution on extending the mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.  It would also consider the Secretary-General’s reports on post-conflict peacebuilding and on women and peacebuilding.

Resolutions on mandate extensions for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the Panel of Experts on Sudan Sanctions would be adopted on 14 October, Mr. Rugunda said, noting that, on that day, the Council would also hear briefings by representatives of the United Kingdom, United States and Uganda, who would head the mission to Africa.  On 15 October, the Council would hear a briefing on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), and adopt a resolution on Côte d’Ivoire.

The monthly meeting on the Middle East would take place on 18 October, in the format of an open debate, he said, adding that, on 19 October, the Council would review the progress made by the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).  The next day, members would hear a briefing on the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT).

He said that another briefing, on Somalia, would be heard on 21 October, followed by a private meeting, intended to build on the 23 September mini-summit held on the sidelines of the General Assembly’s general debate.  On 25 October, the Council would hear a briefing on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS).

Several foreign ministers had indicated their intention to attend the ministerial-level meeting on women and peace and security, he said, adding that the Council’s consideration would cover measures to improve coordination within the United Nations system, as well as between the Organization, Member States, civil society and other stakeholders, in efforts to build on resolution 1325 (2000), adopted in October 2000.

Mr. Rugunda said Council members would meet in consultations to consider the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of resolution 1559 (2004) regarding Lebanon.  Another event taking place during the month would be a briefing by the President of the International Court of Justice.

In response to questions about the mission to Africa, the President said it had not requested a meeting with President Omer Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan, and neither had he asked for one.  The Council would address his request if he did seek a meeting, he added, pointing out the existence of other forums handling the question of the International Criminal Court indictment against President Bashir.

Responding to a question about the mission’s terms of reference, he emphasized that the Council’s primary responsibility was promoting international peace and security, adding that countries in the Great Lakes region had encountered challenges in that regard.  The mission was intended to assess such in their interactions with Government officials, civil society representatives and other stakeholders.

Asked about a “plan B” in case the referendum on the future of Southern Sudan did not take place, he replied that he did not know of one.

Speaking in his national capacity, he said his country supported the deferment of the indictment under the provisions of the Rome Statute, a position not shared by all Council members.  Given the lack of consensus, the Council had not taken a formal position on the matter.

Addressing questions about Somalia, he said the mission did not intend to “micro manage” questions relating to discrepancies between the remuneration of United Nations and African Union peacekeepers.

Reverting to his national capacity, he said the African position was that the international community should focus on pacifying the mainland, which pirates used as a “springboard”.  Pacification would “break the backbone” of piracy.

Asked what was new about that position, he explained that the international community had not fully accepted that pacification was a necessary priority in combating piracy.

Questioned as to whether African States, including his own, would contribute more troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), he said Uganda and Africa as a whole stood ready to supply the authorized extra deployments if the international community provided the required support, particularly equipment.  Although the Council had the overall responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, that responsibility was a collective one, he stressed, calling on all Member States to do more in support of efforts to provide a more robust response in Somalia, and praising the “commendable work” being done by the European Union in that regard.

In response to a question about the report on the “mapping exercise” relating to human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1993 to 2003, he the report was fraught with gross mistakes, and the countries concerned should have been consulted during the two years in which it had been compiled.  Human rights violations had been committed by former “genociders” and members of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) present in the country during the reporting period, he stressed.

Asked about statements by Somalia’s Al-Shabaab rebel group that it wished to eliminate all non-Muslims in Uganda and Kenya, Mr. Rugunda said there was nothing new about that Al-Qaida ideology, which not only threatened African countries, but the whole world.

Replying to another question, he said Timor-Leste was a good example of successful United Nations efforts, adding that the Council’s consideration of that country later in the month would focus on monitoring the progress made and scaling back the United Nations presence, thereby giving national authorities greater responsibility, particularly in the area of security.

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For information media • not an official record