Security Council

The upcoming fortieth anniversary of the accord that formed the backbone of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) should serve as a catalyst to re-energize the 57-member body, Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs told the Security Council today, as he sketched out the priorities for his country’s Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2013.

The following press statement was issued today by Security Council President Kodjo Menan (Togo):

The Security Council’s role in new efforts to forge peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was crucial to stopping one of the longest, most appalling human rights crises, said the Secretary-General’s newly appointed Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, pressing delegates to seize a “moment of renewed opportunity” to resolve the underlying causes and infuse hope into a new United Nations-mediated peace accord for the country and region.

The following press statement was issued today by Security Council President Kodjo Menan (Togo):

On 1 May 2013, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) concerning Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities decided to remove the name of the individual below from the Al-Qaida Sanctions List after concluding its consideration of a delisting request submitted through the Office of the Ombudsperson established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1904 (2009).

Acting on the recommendations of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Security Council today decided to establish the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) by 3 June for an initial period of 12 months, providing the United Nations “good offices” functions — and a range of strategic policy advice — in support of the Federal Government’s peace and reconciliation process.

The Security Council would focus on African issues in May, including a debate on the fight against terrorism in the continent, Kodjo Menan, Permanent Representative of Togo to the United Nations, said today, as he assumed the Council presidency for this month.

The situation in Darfur was “very troubling”, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous told the Security Council today, and while there had been “mildly encouraging” developments in the process to achieve peace in Sudan’s restive western region, a fully inclusive political settlement had yet to be reached and resolving the protracted conflict required joint efforts to persuade belligerent parties to lay down their weapons and join negotiations.

The following press statement was issued today by Security Council President Eugène-Richard Gasana (Rwanda):

The following press statement was issued today by Security Council President Eugène-Richard Gasana (Rwanda):