The Security Council this morning welcomed what it called “extraordinary efforts” by States to stem the flow of foreign terrorist fighters to and from conflict zones, while urging stepped-up work on the issue due to growing recruitment by extremist groups, from more than 100 countries.
Strongly condemning continued fighting, human rights abuses and attacks on the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, the Security Council this afternoon extended the Mission’s mandate for six months, sharpening its focus on protection of civilians, without changing force structure or numbers of troops and police.
Syria’s descent into “deeper depths of despair” over the past four years had surpassed what even the most pessimistic observers thought possible, the top United Nations humanitarian official told the Security Council today, urging the 15-member body to set aside its political differences and prevent the abandonment of Syrians to further hopelessness.
Strongly condemning impunity for attacks on journalists, which had greatly increased globally, the Security Council, during an all-day open debate today, called on parties to conflict and all Member States to create a safe environment “in law and practice” for media professionals to do their important work.
The Security Council this morning renewed the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) for just over 10 weeks, until 7 August, pending consideration of a review of regional and international efforts in the country.
As Serbia and Kosovo strove to overcome the legacy of hostility and conflict by working together on subjects of common concern, they should avoid procrastination on implementing the remaining steps of the April 2013 agreement or allowing older issues to shackle opportunities to open new ground, the top United Nations official there told the Security Council today.
The Security Council this morning adopted a text urging stronger cooperation in stemming the “illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse” of small arms and light weapons, underlining the suffering they caused to civilians, although six members abstained, citing insufficient attention to keeping arms from all non-State actors.
With the Middle East facing a complicated and vicious tide of terror and extremism, it was even more critical for Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate a two-State solution and end actions that imperilled it, the incoming Special Coordinator for peace in the region told the Security Council this afternoon.
Following the end of a political crisis that had gripped Somalia for four months, the process of building a federal State had regained momentum, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General told the Security Council today, stressing that overcoming the prevailing environment of mistrust, accumulated over 25 years, deserved sustained support.
To end the worsening suffering in South Sudan, the international community must find a way to help its people bring about urgently needed peace, eliminate drivers of conflict and resume development, the Special Representative for the country told the Security Council this afternoon.
