Security Council Press Statement on Adoption of Revised Presidential Note 507 (S/2017/507)

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta (Egypt):

On 30 August 2017, the Security Council adopted a note by the President concerning the improvement of the working methods of the Council.  The note is the product of intensive work on the part of the Security Council’s Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions over the past several months.  It builds on previous Council efforts to document its working methods, enhance its efficiency and transparency as well as interaction and dialogue with non-Council members and bodies by updating presidential note 507, last revised in 2010 (document S/2010/507).  The members of the Security Council have been actively engaged in these efforts, and the open debate in July 2016 on this issue made an important contribution to the revision of note 507.

The members of the Security Council have committed themselves to implementing the measures set out in the note.  The note contains, among others, the following revisions:

• The revised note incorporates, while avoiding duplications, the Council’s agreements in 13 other presidential notes on the working methods of the Council adopted after issuance of note 507 in July 2010, including the most recent note S/2016/619 concerning preparation of newly elected members as well as selection process and preparation of Chairs of subsidiary bodies. The structure of the note is also re-adjusted for user-friendliness.
• On the monthly programme of work, incoming presidencies are encouraged to discuss it with other Council members well in advance of their respective presidencies.
• On informal consultations, the note refers to additional measures, such as encouraging briefers to be succinct and direct, making more effective use of “other matters” to raise issues of concern, or encouraging presidencies to suggest elements to the press at the end of consultations.
• On drafting process of outcome documents of the Council, the note refers to co-penholders, encouraging at least one round of discussions with all members of the Council, providing reasonably sufficient time for consideration under silence procedure, and making the documents focused, succinct and action-oriented.
• On dialogue with non-Council members and bodies, the note refers for the first time to the importance of annual joint consultative meetings and informal dialogues with the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, as well as consideration of joint missions of the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union to conflict situations in Africa.
• On Security Council missions, the note refers to additional elements concerning their value, as well as aspects related to preparation, itinerary, and follow-up.

The members of the Security Council will continue to consider ways to improve the working methods of the Council in its regular work, including through the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions.