Security Council

Given the “warning signs of a fading two-State solution”, the international community must not let the Syrian crisis and other changes in the Middle East divert its attention from a dangerous stagnation of the Israeli-Palestinian situation, the top United Nations political official told the Security Council this morning, ahead of a debate that heard from over 45 speakers.

Affirming “considerable strides” in Haiti’s recovery from the 2010 earthquake, as well as noting continued concern over security and institutional reforms, the Security Council this afternoon extended until 15 October 2013 the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the country, known as MINUSTAH, while reducing deployment levels of uniformed personnel.

With the humanitarian crisis in Mali deteriorating rapidly, the Security Council today adopted a resolution demanding that all armed groups cease human rights abuses and violations of humanitarian law, including targeted attacks against civilians, sexual violence, the recruitment of child soldiers and forced displacements.

Welcoming national assumption of security responsibilities in Afghanistan while acknowledging continued challenges in completing that process, the Security Council this afternoon decided to extend the authorization of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in that country for the twelve months ending 13 October 2013.

The Security Council today commended the Special Court for Sierra Leone’s important contribution to international criminal justice, as well as its role in strengthening stability in West Africa and “bringing an end to impunity”, and also hailed the completion of trial proceedings against former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

On 5 October 2012, the Security Council Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee removed the name of Mr. Yasin Abdullah Ezzedine Qadi from the Al-Qaida Sanctions List after concluding its consideration of the delisting request submitted by this individual through the Ombudsperson established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1904 (2009), and after considering the Comprehensive Report of the Ombudsperson on this delisting request.

The following Security Council statement was issued today by Council President Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala):

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Gert Rosenthal (Guatemala):

On 3 October 2012, the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) approved the amendments specified with underline in the entry below on its Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 1989 (2011) adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

Haiti’s progress was “obvious”, given its strong steps towards recovery in the political, social and security sectors, as well as signs that the country was poised to overcome the steep challenges ahead, the senior United Nations official there told the Security Council today.