Security Council

Deeply outraged by the use of chemical weapons on 21 August in a Damascus suburb, as concluded by a United Nations investigation team, the Security Council this evening endorsed the expeditious destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons programme, with inspections to begin by 1 October, and agreed that in the event of non-compliance, it would impose “Chapter VII” measures.

Yemen’s political transition was at a critical juncture, with the country facing several serious political, economic, humanitarian and security challenges, the Security Council heard today.

The following Security Council press statement was issued on 27 September by Council President Gary Quinlan (Australia):

Expressing grave concern that the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons continued to cause significant loss of life around the world, senior ministers in the Security Council reminded Governments today of their obligation to comply fully and effectively with Council-mandated arms embargoes.

On 24 September 2013, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) deleted the entry specified below from its List (the 1988 List) of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2082 (2012) adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Gary Quinlan (Australia):

On 19 September 2013, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) approved the deletion (de-listing) of the entry specified below from the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. The assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2083 (2012) therefore no longer apply to the following entry:

Despite serious challenges ahead of presidential and provincial elections planned for 2014, Afghanistan had significantly advanced its political and security transitions that aimed to secure the country’s return to normalcy following decades of entrenched conflict, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative told the Security Council this morning, ahead of an open debate.

Sierra Leone’s development plan for 2013-2018 was facing a funding gap of more than $2 billion, but the United Nations exit strategy remained on course to meet the March 2014 deadline, the Security Council heard today.

Commending the people and Government of Liberia on their enduring commitment to peace and initiation of reforms, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the country for one year, until 30 September 2014, while authorizing implementation of the second phase of reduction of the Mission’s military component by 1,129 personnel by that date.