Press Conference

In September, the Security Council would focus on a range of issues, from the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the political climate in Lebanon to the broad settlement of conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation said today at a Headquarters press conference.

Ebola, security sector reform, and the role of regional organizations in addressing global challenges would be top priorities of the Security Council in August, said the Permanent Representative of Nigeria, President of the body for the month, at a Headquarters press conference today.

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the press conference on the outcome document of the post-2015 development agenda, in New York today:

Debates on the Middle East and security challenges in small island developing States would be the highlights of the New Zealand presidency of the Security Council in July, a month that would also see several briefings and mandate renewals.

Debates on children and armed conflict and on peacebuilding would be the highlights of the Malaysian presidency of the Security Council in June, a month that would also see several briefings and mandate renewals.

The Security Council in May would consider the growing threats faced by journalists around the world in addition to focusing on foreign terrorist fighters, small arms and a raft of ongoing situations of concern, the Permanent Representative of Lithuania, President of the body for the month, said this afternoon.

Amid the crisis in Yemen, the ongoing situation in Syria and other urgent threats to peace and security, the Jordanian presidency of the Security Council would focus on a range of issues, holding three open debates and hearing top officials brief on pressing matters.

In March, the French presidency of the Security Council would focus on a broad range of issues, from peace and security on the African continent to efforts to bring about a political solution to the crisis in Syria, the Permanent Representative of the country said this afternoon.

China’s presidency of the Security Council during the “very busy” month of February was guided by the principles of objectivity, impartiality, efficiency and transparency, the country’s Permanent Representative said at a Headquarters briefing this afternoon.

Recommitment to the United Nations’ central role in international cooperation to maintain peace, along with work on a range of global situations now of concern, would be the focus of China’s February presidency of the Security Council, the country’s Permanent Representative said this afternoon.