Despite the overall negative trajectory that had characterized the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict for far too long, there were reasons for cautious optimism, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs told the Security Council today as the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, was addressed in an all‑day debate that heard from more than forty speakers.
The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attacks that took place in Paktia, Ghazni and Kabul on 17 October, which resulted in more than 70 people killed and over 200 wounded, for which the Taliban has claimed responsibility.
On 17 October 2017, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan enacted the amendments specified with strikethrough and underline in the entry below on its Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the travel ban and assets freeze set out in paragraph 3 of Security Council resolution 1591 (2005) adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.
With regional forces being deployed in South Sudan to strengthen civilian protection, that country’s leaders still bore direct responsibility to end the bloodshed through efforts to reinvigorate the political process, the United Nations peacekeeping chief stressed to the Security Council today.
As the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) completed its mandate on 15 October, the Security Council welcomed the notable progress made by Haiti towards stability and democracy.
On 29 September 2017, the Procurement Working Group of the Joint Commission transmitted to the Security Council updated versions of documents offering practical information on the procurement channel, established by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and endorsed by resolution 2231 (2015), for the review of proposals by States seeking to engage in certain transfers of nuclear or dual-use goods, technology, and/or related services to the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President François Delattre (France):
Sounding the alarm on famine exacerbated by conflict, Secretary-General António Guterres urged the international community to step up efforts to end violence, ensure humanitarian assistance and foster long-term development in South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen and other areas of instability-rooted starvation.
The United Nations peacekeeping operation in Haiti would close on 15 October and be replaced the following day by a smaller successor mission to help the Government consolidate stability, implement institutional reforms and enhance the rule of law, human rights and governance, the United Nations top official in the country told the Security Council this morning.
The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today urged international and regional stakeholders to help the country avert worsening instability by advancing progress on elections and other stalled components of the recent political agreement.
