Security Council

The Security Council, concerned at the security vacuum in many parts of the Central African Republic and of reports of continued human rights violations there, today extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacebuilding Office in that country (BINUCA) until 31 January 2013.

Reaffirming its full commitment to the consolidation of peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in that country until 28 February 2013.

Reaffirming that staff retention was essential for the completion of the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Security Council this morning extended the terms of office of four judges of the Trial Chamber until 30 June 2012 or sooner if their trials were completed.

Expressing grave concern about the serious events that had occurred in the area of operations of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on 15 May and 5 June, jeopardizing the long-standing ceasefire between Israel and Syria, the Security Council today renewed the mandate of the Force charged with supervising the ceasefire since 1974 for six months, until 30 June 2012.

“The transition process in Yemen is moving forward with the participation of all sides,” the Special Adviser dealing with the situation in that troubled country said at Headquarters today, adding that the United Nations would continue to support the 10-day old unity Government as it implemented a landmark power-transfer accord that would “hopefully steer the country towards stability and reform”.

Delivering the year’s last scheduled Security Council briefing on the Middle East situation, a senior United Nations official said today that “credible progress in the search for peace between Israel and the Palestinians is more urgent than ever, but remains elusive in a context of tensions on the ground, deep mistrust between the parties, and volatile regional dynamics”.

Welcoming Burundi’s progress towards peace, stability and development, yet noting continuing human rights violations with grave concern, the Security Council decided today to extend the mandate of the United Nations mission in that country for another year.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Vitaly Churkin (Russian Federation):

The international community’s commitment to enduring engagement with Afghanistan through its transition and transformation — voiced at the Bonn Conference on 5 December — was the subject of a presidential statement and a debate in the Security Council today.

On 16 December 2011, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya decided to remove the names of the following entities from its List of Individuals and Entities subject to the travel ban and/or assets freeze: Central Bank of Libya; Libyan Foreign Bank.