Security Council: Meetings Coverage

The kinds of stress factors tearing at Mali’s social and political fabric reflected the deep-seated fragilities stretching across the broader Sahel region, and it was critical for the international community to commit to dealing effectively with the underlying structural causes of that vulnerability, the Security Council was told today.

The top United Nations official dealing with the Middle East peace process told the Security Council today that the financial and economic crises currently crippling the Palestinian Authority were a “sobering manifestation” of the risk that the ongoing political stalemate between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the ongoing occupation, posed to the very viability of the two-State solution.

Commending Liberia for its successful elections in 2011 and encouraging its efforts to further national reconciliation and economic recovery, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) for one year, until 30 September 2013, reducing its military strength in three phases and authorizing the Secretary-General to implement the first phase of that reduction — 1,900 personnel — between October 2012 and September 2013.

Strongly condemning last night’s attack that killed the United States Ambassador to Libya, the top United Nations political official warned the Security Council today that the horrific event was evidence of a persistent security vacuum and a sobering reminder of the many serious challenges that must be confronted by all those committed to supporting the North African country’s transformation.

The Security Council, welcoming the preparations in Sierra Leone for the presidential, parliamentary and local elections on 17 November, and underlining their importance as a “key benchmark” for peace consolidation in the West African country, extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office there until 31 March 2013 to, along with its other key tasks, assist the Government in the run-up to that potentially transformational event.

With Liberia on the verge of becoming “a true success story”, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council this afternoon that the Organization’s peacekeeping mission in the country must walk a delicate balance: applauding achievements and pulling back its support, while continuing to complement the Government’s efforts in security sector reform, national reconciliation, border control and other areas crucial to ensuring lasting peace.

Given the complexity in Sierra Leone of holding presidential, parliamentary and local council elections on the same date, in November, their successful conduct would demonstrate the maturity of the country’s political leadership and institutions, as well as the consolidation of its democratic process, the Security Council was told this morning in a briefing on the situation.

The Security Council today condemned and called for an immediate halt to aerial bombardments, harbouring or otherwise supporting rebel groups, cross-border military movements and other violations of its resolution 2046 (2012) on the part of Sudan and South Sudan.

Condemning in the strongest terms attacks against personnel of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and reiterating its calls for the rapid finalization of that country’s investigation into three 2011 attacks on the mission, the Security Council today extended its mandate for one year, until 31 August 2013.