Press Conference by Security Council President on Work Programme for May

 

The Security Council would hold a high-level debate on non-proliferation and devote three closed meetings to address the Syrian crisis in May, the organ’s President for the month said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Oh Joon (Republic of Korea) said that the open thematic debate, to be held on 7 May, would be chaired by Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Yun Byung-se.  Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson would brief on the theme of commemorating the tenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1540 (2004) — a text aimed at preventing the transfer of weapons of mass destruction to non-State actors.  A presidential statement was expected as an outcome.

The Council would also renew mandates of three missions, namely the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) on 22 May, the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), both on 28 May, he said.

Deliberations on country-specific issues included briefings on South Sudan, Burundi and Somalia.  This afternoon, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay and the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, would report on their recent visits to South Sudan.  On 8 May, there would be another consultation on that country.  Briefings on Burundi and Somalia would be held on 14 May and 22 May, respectively.

Other issues pertaining to Africa included a briefing on the Central African region on 12 May and a briefing on International Criminal Court referral for Libya the following day, he said.

On the Middle East, he said, consultations on Syria scheduled for 8, 13, and 29 May would feature presentations, respectively, by Sigrid Kaag, Special Coordinator of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-United Nations Joint Mission; Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations-Arab League Joint Special Representative; and Kang Kyung-wha, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.

On European issues, he noted that debates would be held on Bosnia and Herzegovina on 15 May and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on 27 May.

Potential topics were included in the footnote of the monthly programme, including the Central African Republic, Ukraine and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, he added.

Responding to questions, he said the Council was ready to deal with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea if there was any new provocation regarding non-proliferation.  But the body had no plan to follow up on human rights issues in that country.

On possible changes to the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, he said an agreement could be reached this month or next.

As for International Criminal Court referral, the Council would discuss only cases in Libya.

On topics in the footnote, he said the Council was closely following the situation in the Central African Republic, although it had not scheduled a meeting.  Debate on Ukraine was already happening as he spoke, and he was not sure how many subsequent meetings would be held before the scheduled elections in that country.

Asked about his Government’s position on veto, he said such power should not be expanded beyond the current permanent members.

* *** *

For information media • not an official record