Security Council: No name

Children and armed conflict, justice and the rule of law, and the situation in Sudan were among the major areas to be considered by the Security Council during Mexico’s presidency in June, Claude Heller, that country’s Permanent Representative, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, the Security Council expressed deep regret at the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation early on Monday in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza, and condemned those acts which had killed at least 10 civilians and wounded many more.

Extending the mandate of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) until 30 June 2010 today, the Security Council also decided that from 1 July it would bear the title “United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)”, in view of the new phase reached in the country.

The Security Council today decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) until 30 June 2010, in its current configuration pending consideration of recommendations for its revision.

Intercultural dialogue was crucial in preventing and ending conflicts, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council today as he opened a meeting on that subject, with Prime Minister Saad Hariri of Lebanon presiding.

The Security Council decided today to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) until 31 December 2010, and called upon the Secretary-General to complete the withdrawal of all components of the Mission by that date.

While serious dangers still threatened Iraq, the successful legislative elections provided an opportunity to further strengthen the country’s sovereignty and reconciliation, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative told the Security Council this morning.

The High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina told the Security Council today that the country had made great strides in international relations in the 18 years since its admission to the United Nations, but internal divisions had stalled domestic reforms.

Approaching full deployment, and with the peace process progressing slowly, the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) was now focused on carrying out its protection mandate despite the challenges, Ibrahim Gambari, Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative, told the Security Council today.

The Security Council had carried out an intense but useful mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 13 to 15 May, its leader said in a briefing to colleagues today. Gérard Araud of France said the mission had discussed with President Joseph Kabila, other Congolese leaders and members of civil society, means by which to achieve the common objective of restoring State sovereignty over the national territory and restoring stability.