Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

Security Council: Meetings Coverage

SC/10540

Ireland’s Foreign Minister, Chair of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Briefs Security Council on Priorities for 2012

Outlining the priorities for the 2012 term as the Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade stressed today that his country would be a loyal steward of the regional organization’s concept of a “common, comprehensive and indivisible security” and work to enhance its cooperation with the United Nations.

SC/10539

Thorough Re-Examination, Greater International Cohesion Needed in Kosovo, despite Fragile Calm, Security Council Told

Fragile calm had been restored in Kosovo following the 2011 clashes over crossing points and other issues, but real political progress demanded a thorough re-examination and better cohesion among all international efforts as the European Union stepped forward in a leadership role, a senior United Nations peacekeeping official told the Security Council today.
SC/10538

Dialogue, Stabilization, Civilian Protection Priorities, Special Representative Says in Briefing to Security Council on Democratic Republic of Congo

Dialogue among all parties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as stabilization programmes and continuing efforts to protect civilians, were priorities in the vast central African country as tensions and uncertainties following recent national elections were being resolved, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative told the Security Council today.
SC/10536

Security Council Fails to Adopt Draft Resolution on Syria as Russian Federation, China Veto Text Supporting Arab League’s Proposed Peace Plan

The Russian Federation and China vetoed today a Security Council draft resolution that would have demanded that all parties in Syria — both Government forces and armed opposition groups — stop all violence and reprisals, ending days of intense negotiations in New York as diplomats laboured to bring a halt to the deadly 10-month crackdown on anti-Government protests in the Middle Eastern country.

SC/10534

Security Council Members Diverge over Path towards Implementation of Draft Resolution Backing Arab League Proposal on Resolving Crisis in Syria

High-level officials from the United States, the United Kingdom, France and other Member States converged on the Security Council today to press for the adoption of a draft resolution that would support a plan by the League of Arab States to stem the bloodshed in Syria, and which calls on the country’s President to step aside as part of a democratic transition process.
SC/10533

Spiking Arms Proliferation, Organized Crime, Terrorism Part of Fallout from Libyan Crisis Afflicting Sahel, Security Council Told

A spike in weapons proliferation, organized crime and terrorism — compounded by a massive influx of migrants returning from Libya — was exerting pressure on already-struggling countries across the Sahel region, the Security Council heard today as the senior United Nations political official briefed members on peace and security in Africa.
SC/10531

Côte d’Ivoire Making ‘Remarkable Progress’ in Restoring Normalcy Following Last Year’s Post-Election Violence, Top Official Tells Security Council

The international community must continue supporting the security and recovery priorities already identified by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire, as “remarkable progress” was being made towards restoring normalcy since the end of the violent post-election crisis last year, the Secretary-General’s representative told the Security Council this morning.
SC/10528

Libyan Interim Authorities Need Space to Address ‘Internal Priorities’, Secretary-General’s Special Representative Tells Security Council

Faced with growing public frustration, armed clashes, diverse brigades, tight electoral schedules and proliferation of weapons, the Libyan authorities must be given “the space to address internal priorities” of the moment rather than the longer-term planning requested by international actors, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in the country told the Security Council today.
SC/10524

Security Council Presidential Statement Reaffirms Opposition to Exempting Perpetrators of Most Heinous Crimes from Punishment

Emphasizing the importance of the rule of law as one of the key elements of conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, the Security Council today pledged its commitment to upholding international law, and reaffirmed its strong opposition to exempting from punishment those responsible for committing serious violations of humanitarian and human rights norms.