Fresh from its first peaceful transfer of power from one elected leader to another, Afghanistan had made “significant” progress on its path towards a stable future, the United Nations top official in the Central Asian country told the Security Council today, encouraging the new unity Government to appoint a merit-based Cabinet, address budgetary pressures and launch its “ambitious” new programme of governance reforms.
The Security Council this morning renewed the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), which has supervised the ceasefire between Israel and Syria since 1974, for an additional next sixth months, until 30 June 2015.
Affirming that despite severe challenges in Syria the United Nations and its partners were delivering life-saving aid there, the Security Council this morning renewed for twelve months its authorization for those actors to use routes across conflict lines as well as specified border crossings.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Mahamat Zene Cherif (Chad):
The Security Council today heard a briefing by the Chair of its Libya Sanctions Committee, detailing steps taken to prevent the illegal diversion of arms, adjust its sanctions list and facilitate access to the strife-ridden North African country by the Panel of Experts which monitors those measures.
Commending the African Union for its growing role in peace and security in its region, the Security Council today stressed the importance of building a stronger and more cohesive partnership between it and the United Nations in conflict prevention and resolution, rapid response to emerging crises, protection of children and peacebuilding.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Mahamat Zene Cherif (Chad):
After a “dramatic year” that saw both hope for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and a devastating war in Gaza, it was critical for the Security Council to work towards an effective framework for progress, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told that body this morning.
In the 10 months since the adoption of resolution 2139 (2013), calls by the Security Council for the parties to conflict in Syria to end all violations of international humanitarian and human rights law had gone unheard, a top United Nations relief official told the 15-member body today, stressing that an estimated 200,000 people had been killed amid worsening violence.
Marking the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of conflict in South Sudan, which has killed tens of thousands, the Security Council today demanded that the clashing leaders in the young country fully implement agreements to end the hostilities, and reiterated its intention to consider measures against those impeding the peace process.
