Security Council: Meetings Coverage

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.

Despite the stagnation in the Middle East peace process, the two-State solution remained the “best available and most realistic option” and all Member States had a responsibility to consider their actions and language in light of that goal, Jeffrey Feltman, the new Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told the Security Council today.

Assurances that the new Government of Serbia would fully implement previous agreements with Kosovo leaders was a welcome sign that the international community should exploit in order to help settle unresolved issues, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative told the Security Council today.

Warning that the situation in Mali was taking “one alarming turn after another”, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefed the Security Council today on a raft of grave developments there — including a deepening humanitarian emergency and mounting evidence that the country’s vast northern region was being overrun by a volatile mix of armed groups — and encouraged the 15-nation body to “seriously consider” imposing sanctions on those fanning the flames of the crisis.

Deeply concerned by the recent up-tick in violence and insecurity in parts of Darfur, and clashes between Sudanese Government forces and armed groups, the Security Council today extended for one year the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, and approved the Secretary-General’s recommendation to reconfigure the mission so that its personnel focused on areas of the region “with the highest security threats”.

Describing the divergent positions of Guinea-Bissau’s international partners on the transitional process emerging in the country following the 12 April military coup d'état, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative there today appealed to the Security Council to call on them to forge a unified strategy for restoring legitimate order.

The Security Council today, in line with the Secretary-General’s recommendation to reduce the strength of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) by the equivalent of one battalion, adjusted the military component to 8,837 personnel, comprising 8,645 troops and staff officers and 192 military observers, and extended the mandate for another year, until 31 July 2013.