Press Conference by Security Council President on Work Programme for December

The Security Council’s programme of work for December would include a high-level event on Iraq chaired by United States Vice-President Joe Biden, an open debate on resolutions 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009) — both on “women, peace and security” — as well as a briefing by the Chair of the 1737 Committee on Iran sanctions, Ambassador Susan Rice of the United States, Council President for the month, said today at a Headquarters press briefing.

Highlighting key issues on the Council’s December work programme, Ms. Rice said the 15 December high-level meeting on Iraq, to be attended by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, would provide an important opportunity for the international community to recognize the “very real” progress that country had made, both in terms of Government formation and the significant steps taken to terminate its Chapter VII obligations.

The open debate on women, peace and security, scheduled for 20 December, would allow the Council to examine how to combat sexual violence and address emerging situations, Ms. Rice said.  It would feature presentations by Margot Wallström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, and Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

The 10 December briefing by the Chair of the 1737 Committee would cover activities in the last 90 days and progress in establishing the Iran Panel of Experts, she added.

Also on the calendar were 16 December consultations on Sudan, Ms. Rice said, offering an opportunity to discuss the situation in that country in the run-up to January referendums, and featuring a briefing by the Chair of the Sudan Sanctions Committee.  The Council was willing to take up such issues at any point during the month, in light of the evolving situation in the country.

Among other things, the Council would hold its quarterly debate on Afghanistan on 22 December, renew several mission mandates, including for Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus and the Golan Heights, hear an update from the Liberia Sanctions Committee, and — in an unprecedented step — hold an “informal informal” meeting for young people to air their views on the most vital challenges to international peace and security facing their generation.

“I’ve long thought, since I came here, that we have missed the opportunity to hear the voices of what is half the world’s population under the age of 25 in the crucial work we do, in which they have a greater stake than anybody else”, Ms. Rice said.  Young people would be invited to send video and written submissions on what they thought required attention.  A handful would be selected and presented to Council members in a debate open to the public and the press.

Responding to questions about fallout from the Wikileaks revelations and whether the incident was affecting her work at the United Nations, Ms. Rice said that was not the case, reiterating that United States diplomats were undertaking their traditional work with their partners to solve wide-ranging issues at the United Nations.  She had been gratified to hear from colleagues that, while this was an “unpleasant and awkward” experience, they understood the United States was here to work as a partner and colleague.  “That’s the spirit in which we work. That’s the way we work”, she said, adding that recent news had not diminished her office’s ability to carry out its duties everyday.

Taking a question on proposals to increase the strength of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), she said the AMISOM proposal was “a bit more ripe”.  She anticipated its mandate, set to expire in January, would be renewed.  The Council was weighing whether to increase force there from 8,000 to 12,000 troops, and the United States was looking forward to the mandate’s renewal.  Many had requested an earlier renewal, but she could not be certain that would be possible.  She could not share the United States’ position, as it was still being formulated.

On UNMIS, she said there had not been a formal proposal from the Secretariat to the Council to increase force strength by 2,000, however she was aware that was being actively considered.  The latest information she had was that it was a topic being discussed between the United Nations and the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan.  The United States had not taken a position yet, but she hoped to see the United Nations and the African Union best equipped to deal with a potentially volatile situation in the case of Sudan, and clearly volatile one in the case of Somalia.  She would look on any such recommendations with urgency and seriousness and would wish to see the Council take actions that would reinforce security in both places.

Asked about a statement that the Secretary-General and United States Secretary of State had met about “complications” stemming from Wikileaks revelations, she said she had not seen such a statement.  The parties had held a good, constructive meeting on a range of topics.  The Secretary-General had expressed his satisfaction with the discussion, including on the question of Wikileaks, and understood that United States representatives did the work of diplomats and nothing else.

As to what the Wikileaks situation said about need for Government secrecy, she said the United States was among most aggressive champions of openness.  President Barack Obama had spoken on that issue in the General Assembly this year and his Administration had taken many unprecedented steps to increase transparency.  That did not mean there was not a place for private or classified communications, which were an essential element of national security and foreign policy-making around the world.  Her colleagues had condemned the alleged leaking of cables by Wikileaks and others as a “reprehensible act that was completely inexcusable and counterproductive”.

Responding to a query that the Sudanese Government had requested the bids on the ballots be reopened for Sudanese companies, forcing a delay in the holding of referendums on 9 January, she said her understanding was there was no consideration being given by the United Nations for a delay.  Her understanding and expectation was that the registration process was continuing and had largely gone well in the South.  She expected the referendums to be conducted on 9 January.

Asked about shooting of people wanting to speak with [Joint African Union-United Nations Chief Mediator for Darfur] Djibril Bassolé, among other incidents in Sudan, Ms. Rice said the Council had every interest in staying abreast of all kinds of developments that would impact the security situation or the referendums.  As in many other relative “hotspots”, the Secretariat had received reports of events that were of interest or concern to Member States.  Those inputs were received in various forms, including “sit reps” from the United States.  She said she was quite confident that the Council would have ample opportunity to discuss what members felt was necessary or timely.

As to whether a State could request the Department of Peacekeeping Operations to confirm or verify a situation, she said yes, a State could do that, but it should be understood that the Council’s standing interest was that UNAMID and UNMIS, consistent with their mandates, like others with a civilian protection mandate, were being aggressive in preventing, responding to and investigating violence.  To the extent that had not occurred, it was her assumption that there had been an impediment in their ability to do so.  She had underscored the United States expectation that UNAMID, among the Organization’s largest and most robust missions, ought to be very active in fulfilling that aspect of its mandate.

Asked about plans to address “ North Korea”, she said the custom was for non-proliferation to be a standing footnote on the Council’s agenda, providing the opportunity at any stage to discuss [that country], Iran or other issues of pressing proliferation concern.  “We are ready and certainly able to take up either issue at any point as deemed necessary by any member of the Council during the month of December,” she said.

To a question on whether the recent death of an Iranian nuclear scientist might further decrease cooperation from Iran, Ms. Rice said she did not wish to speculate on how Iran might respond to such incidents.  Next week would see a “P-5+1” ( China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States and Germany) meeting in Geneva, which she hoped would provide an opportunity for Iran to discuss a range of issues, most importantly its nuclear programme.  She hoped Iran would attend those discussions in a spirit of seriousness that reflected the importance of such an opportunity.

Asked about a non-governmental organization report recommending that a compromise be reached on the Hariri incident, Ms. Rice said she was not in a position to speculate on hypotheticals.  In her national capacity, she said the United States had been clear that the work of the Tribunal must continue “unobstructed and unabated”.  The United States was very strong in its support for that work, which had been requested by Lebanon and mandated by the Security Council.

She added that the United States attached importance to ending impunity in Lebanon, which was why it had announced an additional contribution to the Tribunal.  The United States also was in consultation with its partners in Lebanon and in the region.  She had not recently met with the Prosecutor, but she would welcome such an opportunity.

Taking a query on what the Council’s inaction on the “North Korea’s” nuclear programme and recent shelling said about its ability to function during key international crises, Ms. Rice responded that resolution 1874 (2009) was a strong, unified and unanimous response to shared concerns about “North Korea’s” nuclear programme.  The Council was discussing steps to strengthen it.  That country’s nuclear programme was at the forefront of the Council’s agenda and being discussed in the region, as well.

Moreover, the 1718 Committee on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea sanctions could play an important initial role in assessing recent news on that topic, she explained.  The Council had discussed a potential press statement this week and while it had not been possible to reach consensus, that did not suggest the Council was unable to fulfil its mandate.  She was confident it would take actions relevant to resolution 1718 (2006), continue to seek to constrain the country’s nuclear programme and work toward denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

Asked about the meeting on Afghanistan, Ms. Rice said the meeting as an important opportunity for the Council to stay abreast of UNAMA and events on the ground.  It would hear a briefing by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Staffan di Mistura.

As to whether the issue of Security Council reform would be discussed, she said the intergovernmental negotiations were ongoing in the General Assembly.  It was not on the Council’s agenda.  During his trip to Asia, however, President Obama had said the United States supported a modest expansion of permanent and non-permanent members, and in that context, supported India and Japan as new permanent members.

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For information media • not an official record