During its two years on the Security Council, Austria had chaired three key subsidiary bodies, established an unprecedented ombudsman office for those wishing to be taken off the Consolidated List of individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaida and the Taliban, and perhaps most importantly, overseen the Council’s adoption of resolution 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Susana Malcorra today outlined key developments and challenges facing the Department of Field Support — including the implementation of a standardized global field support strategy and continued work on electoral processes in several nations.

The Secretary-General has made clear that any attack on UN forces in Cote d’Ivoire will be an attack on the international community and those responsible will be held accountable. Any actions obstructing UN operations are similarly unacceptable. The UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) will fulfil its mandate, documenting any human rights violations or attacks on UN peacekeepers.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says that some 55,000 Southern Sudanese who had been living in the northern part of the country have returned home ahead of the January referenda. But the new arrivals are straining a fragile humanitarian situation in South Sudan.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, briefed the Security Council today on developments in that country. He said that all sides, including the Taliban, realize that there is no military solution, and he described United Nations support for reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan.

During its participation in the Security Council over the last two years, Mexico had focused on strengthening the role of conflict prevention and resolution; the promotion and protection of human rights and international humanitarian law; and enhancing transparency of the Council, the country’s Permanent Representative, Claude Heller, said today at Headquarters.

The United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) reports that severe violations of human rights and acts of intimidation continue to be noted in many neighbourhoods of Abidjan and in the west of the country. These acts include identifying dwellings by marking them with distinctive signs. As the violence goes on, the number of dead, wounded and missing persons is increasing rapidly.

Ruhakana Rugunda, Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations, called today for a greater focus by the Security Council on preventive diplomacy and peacebuilding as he surveyed a range of situations in Africa.

The Secretary-General condemns the assassination today of the Governor of Punjab Province in Pakistan, Salman Taseer, a prominent leader whose death is a heavy loss for Pakistan. The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the family of Mr. Taseer and to the Government and people of Pakistan.

The UN mission in Côte d’Ivoire, UNOCI, is calling for the immediate cessation of the negative campaign carried out by Laurent Gbagbo’s camp via Radio Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI). The mission says that RTI has continually broadcast images of two injured persons presented as victims of shootings by a UNOCI patrol in Abobo.