Press Conference

Priorities of Japan’s December presidency of the Security Council would include non‑proliferation, small arms and current challenges to maintaining peace and security, the country’s Permanent Representative said this afternoon.

Refugees, trafficking in persons and other effects of current conflicts would be a thematic focus of the Security Council in November, Sebastiano Cardi (Italy), Council President for the month, said at a press briefing today at Headquarters.

Three priorities — the terrorist threat in the Sahel, peacekeeping and the ongoing crises in Myanmar and the Middle East — would be the focus of the Security Council’s work in the coming weeks, François Delattre (France), Council President for the month, said at a press briefing today at Headquarters.

Following is a transcript of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ press conference, held in New York today:

The Security Council on 20 September would hold a high-level open debate on United Nations peacekeeping reform to consider recommendations contained in the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, Tekeda Alemu (Ethiopia), Council President for the month, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

The Security Council would consider peacekeeping operations — with a focus on peacebuilding and sustaining peace — during an open debate to be held on 29 August, Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta (Egypt), its President for August, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

The Security Council would consider questions spanning four continents this month, and its work would include action on peacekeeping and political mandates, as well as holding two open debates and a briefing on Syria, on the heels of peace talks expected to resume tomorrow, Liu Jieyi (China), its President for July, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Following is a transcript of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ press conference, held in New York today:

The Security Council would consider, for the first time, a comprehensive approach to mine action, among a range of priority themes expected to dominate its work this month, Sacha Sergio Llorentty Solíz (Bolivia), its President for June, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

The protection of civilians in armed conflict would be the central theme of the Security Council’s work in the coming month, Elbio Rosselli (Uruguay), its President for May, said at a Headquarters press conference today.