Security Council: Meetings Coverage

Reporting mixed progress in achieving the goals of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), its top official urged the Security Council this morning to support a “holistic” approach to ending the conflict and to promote the participation of all parties in the peace process.

While noting efforts by the Government of Guinea-Bissau to achieve stability, the Security Council expressed serious concern this morning about the continuing growth of drug trafficking and organized crime, which threatened peace and security in the country and the wider subregion.

Detailing the conduct of ongoing “proximity talks” for Middle East peace, a top United Nations official called today on Israelis and Palestinians to remove the obstacles to direct negotiations, as he opened a day-long Security Council debate in which some 37 speakers participated.

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe today commended recent steps by the Governments of Eritrea and Djibouti to negotiate a settlement, with Qatar acting as mediator, to the border dispute between them, which erupted into conflict in March 2008.

The Security Council today renewed its commitment to preventive diplomacy, pointing to a need to build capability and cooperation at the national, regional and international levels for that purpose, and encouraging the Secretary-General to bring to its attention any matter that might threaten peace.

Firm national action on security sector and other reforms, as well as sustained international attention to the Government’s performance and regional issues, could help overcome threats to stability in Guinea-Bissau, the senior United Nations official in that country said in a briefing to the Security Council today.

Amid daunting difficulties and persistent challenges, West Africa had made “significant progress” in crisis prevention and peacebuilding over the past six months, due to the will of its people and the cooperation of regional institutions, a top United Nations official told the Security Council today.

Despite progress, crucial elements still needed to be put in place for an Iraqi national mechanism to replace the fund that funnels the country’s export revenues towards development needs and international obligations, Jun Yamazaki, United Nations Controller, told the Security Council this morning.

The Security Council today condemned the attack which led to the sinking of the Republic of Korea naval ship "Cheonan" off the coast of the Korean peninsula on 26 March, with the loss of 46 lives.

Opening a day-long debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict today, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council that it must broaden its focus to both causative and normative factors in order to address a “huge common challenge”, as non-combatants remained targeted around the world.