Security Council

Deploring the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine on 17 July and voicing concern that armed groups had impeded access to the crash site, the Security Council this afternoon called for an independent international investigation and an immediate halt to military activities in the area.

In a meeting today to address the devastating impacts of the violence engulfing Gaza — claiming civilian lives and threatening an already troubled region — the United Nations senior political official told the Security Council the attacks and retaliations were frustrating hopes of any de-escalation.

Speakers at the Security Council this morning expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life that resulted from the downing of a commercial airliner over eastern Ukraine yesterday, calling for a credible investigation into the tragic incident and urging accelerated political efforts to end the country’s crisis.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Eugène-Richard Gasana (Rwanda):

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Eugène-Richard Gasana (Rwanda):

Fighting between rival brigades in Libya’s capital and airport represented a sharp escalation that had forced withdrawal of United Nations staff and was threatening the country’s political transition, the world Organization’s top envoy to the country told the Security Council this morning.

On 17 January 2014, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004) concerning the Democratic Republic of the Congo considered the final report of the Group of Experts on the DRC (S/2014/42), which is available on the Committee’s website.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Eugène-Richard Gasana (Rwanda):

The Security Council, considering the report of the Peacebuilding Commission’s seventh session, heard that building peace in post-conflict countries was a complex and challenging process, requiring national ownership and leadership, and strengthened responses to early warning signs of relapse.

Deploring the fact that previous demands for aid access in Syria had not been heeded, the Security Council today authorized — for 180 days — relief delivery “across conflict lines” and through additional border crossings, as well as the expeditious deployment of a monitoring mechanism to assure compliance.