Security Council: Press Conference


A high-level debate on the root causes of the conflict in the Middle East and North Africa would be the Security Council’s signature event over the next month, Vassily A. Nebenzia (Russian Federation), Council President for June, said today, as he laid out the organ’s monthly programme of work at a Headquarters press conference.

Strengthening the principles of international law and the protection of civilians in armed conflict would be two of the major themes that the Security Council would address in the coming month, Joanna Wronecka (Poland), Council President for May, said today as she laid out the organ’s monthly programme of work at a Headquarters press briefing.

Security Council visits to Myanmar and Iraq had been approved by the respective Governments and were in the process of being formalized, said Gustavo Meza-Cuadra (Peru), Council President for the month, as he laid out the 15-member organ’s programme of work for April at a press briefing at Headquarters today.

The Security Council would organize several of its March meetings to correspond with important international events, including International Women’s Day and World Water Day, said Karel J.G. van Oosterom (Netherlands), Council President for the month, as he presented his delegation’s priorities during a Headquarters press briefing today.

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, would attend the Security Council’s meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the question of Palestine, on 20 February, Mansour Ayyad Sh. A. Alotaibi (Kuwait), Council President for the month, said at a press briefing at Headquarters today.

Three priorities — the terrorist threat in the Sahel, peacekeeping and the ongoing crises in Myanmar and the Middle East — would be the focus of the Security Council’s work in the coming weeks, François Delattre (France), Council President for the month, said at a press briefing today at Headquarters.

The Security Council on 20 September would hold a high-level open debate on United Nations peacekeeping reform to consider recommendations contained in the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, Tekeda Alemu (Ethiopia), Council President for the month, said at a Headquarters press conference today.