Security Council: Meetings Coverage

The Security Council today renewed the mandate of the United Nations force that monitors the Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights, for a period of six months, until 30 June 2018.

Partnership and resources were key to ensuring that every peacekeeping mission was supported by properly‑trained, well‑equipped and motivated troops and police, a senior peacekeeping official told the Council today as it discussed how best to fill critical capability gaps.

After four decades of conflict in Afghanistan, a convincing peace process was still not assured, the top United Nations official for that country told the Security Council today, calling on the Taliban to express a clear willingness to begin negotiations.

The Security Council today reaffirmed its commitment to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations in addressing conflict at all stages, from prevention and settlement of disputes to post‑conflict peacebuilding, employing a context‑specific response and utilizing the full range of tools available.

Expressing grave concern over risks posed by foreign terrorist fighters returning from conflict zones, the Security Council today urged Member States to strengthen their efforts to stem the threat through measures on border control, criminal justice, information‑sharing and counter‑extremism.

The Security Council today renewed the mandate of the Counter‑Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the expert body that supports the Council’s counter-terrorism architecture until December 2021.

Prevention and development must be at the centre of all efforts to address both the quantitative and qualitative changes that were emerging in threats around the world, the Secretary‑General of the United Nations told the Security Council today, as some 60 Member States participated in an all‑day debate tackling complex contemporary challenges to international peace and security.

The head of United Nations political affairs urged the Security Council today to maintain strong support for the agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme, asking its signatories to work out their respective concerns, as it remained vital for international stability.

Disappointed with the outcome of the just‑concluded eighth round of talks in Geneva, the Secretary‑General’s Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council today that the agenda had not moved forward and that the opportunity for real negotiations had been missed.

The Security Council today renewed the authorization for cross‑border and cross‑conflict‑line humanitarian access to Syria for a further 12 months, until 10 January 2019.