Press Conference

Debates on international judicial cooperation, the sanctions regime surrounding nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, and human trafficking would be the major topics to be addressed this month by the Security Council, Román Oyarzun Marchesi (Spain), Council President for December, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Open debates on “water, peace and security” and asymmetrical threats to peacekeeping would be highlighted by the Security Council this month, along with a range of items of ongoing concern, Fodé Seck (Senegal), Council President for November, told correspondents at Headquarters this afternoon.

The Security Council would focus on Africa, the Middle East and the selection of the next Secretary-General, Vitaly Churkin (Russian Federation), Council President for October, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Following is a transcript of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s press conference, held in New York today:

The Security Council would hold a high-level briefing on the situation in Syria on 21 September, coinciding with the general debate of the seventy-first session of the General Assembly, Gerard van Bohemen (New Zealand), Council President for September, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

The Security Council would focus on Africa, the Middle East and a number of thematic issues, said Ramlan Bin Ibrahim (Malaysia), its President for the month of August, at a Headquarters press conference today.

The Security Council would focus on Africa and peacebuilding, the Middle East, working methods and selection of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, Koro Bessho (Japan), its President for July, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Peacekeeping reform would be among the top priorities of the Security Council’s work in June, François Delattre (France), its President for that month, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

The Security Council would hold two open debates this month, the first on the issue of counter-terrorism and the other concerning cooperation on peace and security matters between the United Nations and the African Union, Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta (Egypt), the 15-member organ’s President for May, said at a Headquarters press conference.

The situations in Syria, Yemen and the broader Middle East would be among the Security Council’s priorities in April, Liu Jieyi (China), its President for the month, said at a Headquarters press conference today.