Security Council

With the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia making progress building its institutions and reaching out to armed groups, it was important to redouble efforts for stability in light of the remaining enormous challenges, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General told the Security Council this morning.

The Security Council this morning decided to extend the current mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) for just two weeks, until 26 May, while options for a revised mandate are thoroughly considered.

The Security Council this morning renewed the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) until 15 September 2010, in line with a request from the Government of the Himalayan country, stressing that arrangements should immediately be made for withdrawal of the mission by that date.

On 11 May 2010, the Security Council Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee approved the addition of the two entries specified below to its Consolidated List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 1904 (2009) adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

Participants in an open debate in the Security Council today stressed the continued need for a unified, global fight against terrorism and welcomed efforts to make the Council’s three counter-terrorism committees more effective, coordinated and transparent, following briefings by their Chairpersons.

The following Security Council press statement on Burundi was read out today by Council President Nawaf Salam ( Lebanon):

Continued international support was crucial for Burundi as it faced multiple election processes this year and socio-economic challenges following the critical democratic transition, Charles Petrie, Executive Representative of the Secretary-General, told the Security Council today.

The following Security Council press statement on the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) was read out today by Council President Nawaf Salam (Lebanon):

With Nepal’s Maoists blocking the streets of Kathmandu in the fifth day of their general strike, the top United Nations official in that country warned the Security Council about the implications of the opposition party’s face-off with the Government, saying that the peace process “is at a delicate and critical moment” and the protests threatened to derail the four-year effort to hammer out a power-sharing agreement.

Security Council members welcomed the European Union’s wide-ranging work with the United Nations on peace and security, as well as the potential for even stronger cooperation due to the new Lisbon Treaty arrangements, following a briefing by the first occupant of the Union’s consolidated security directorship.