United Nations operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should be drawn down gradually, in consultation with the Government and without reversing gains in stability and civilian protection achieved so far, the Head of United Nations peacekeeping told the Security Council today.
The Security Council today extended its arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on the Central African Republic until 29 January 2016 and the mandate of the Expert Panel assisting the Sanctions Committee through 29 February 2016.
Faced with “the worst hostilities in eastern Ukraine since a ceasefire” and accusations of increased Russian support to separatists, the top United Nations political official told the Security Council this afternoon that all actors must urgently work to implement the Minsk agreements of September 2014.
Marking the drawdown of the United Nations Office in Burundi at the end of 2014, the Head of the Organization’s political affairs department, in a detailed summary to the Security Council today, underscored the progress made in that country’s peacebuilding over the past decade, as well as the remaining challenges regarding upcoming elections, democracy and development.
During a day-long debate featuring nearly eighty speakers and presided over by the President of Chile, the Security Council today urged a common United Nations approach to inclusive development as a key for preventing conflict and enabling sustainable peace.
Condemning in the strongest terms the escalation of attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram in Nigeria and concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis and large-scale displacement of Nigerians, the Security Council demanded that the terrorist group “immediately and unequivocally” cease all hostilities, and without condition, release all hostages, including the 276 girls abducted in April.
The Disarmament Commission, in an organizational meeting this morning, elected the Chair for its 2015 substantive session and reviewed its agenda at the start of a new three-year cycle, which would be held from 6 to 24 April.
The General Assembly today set out a road map for the process of intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda, adopting without a vote a draft decision on that matter.
Ahead of an all-day debate on the Middle East today, a top United Nations political official called on Israelis and Palestinians to end a cycle of actions and rhetoric that were pulling them further away from negotiations for a lasting two-State solution to their conflict.
Recognizing peacebuilding as an important element of United Nations efforts in countries emerging from conflict, the Security Council today both underlined the primary responsibility of national Governments and other stakeholders towards such successful peacebuilding, and emphasized the importance of inclusivity in advancing relevant processes to ensure that the needs of all segments of society were being taken into account.
