Security Council

Recognizing the important role that the African Union played in the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council today called on that intergovernmental organization to develop a long-term capacity-building road map, in consultation with the United Nations, and pledged to consider all options to strengthen funding for African Union-led peacekeeping operations.

A stable and steady approach on the part of the international community was required to ensure the long-term stability of Timor-Leste, Atul Khare, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, told the Security Council this morning.

The following Security Council press statement on the issue of missing Kuwaiti and third country nationals, and the repatriation of Kuwaiti property, was read out today by Council President Le Luong Minh (Viet Nam):

On 22 October 2009, the Security Council Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee approved the deletion (de-listing) of the four entries specified below from its Consolidated List. The Committee approved these de-listings following its review of the four names, as called for in paragraph 25 of Security Council resolution 1822 (2008).

Despite challenges, the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) had continued to build confidence through a series of high-profile operations to deter criminality and provide a security umbrella for the protection of civilians and various processes under way on the ground, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet told the Security Council today.

The following Security Council press statement on the terrorist attack in Iran was read out today by Council President Le Luong Minh (Viet Nam):

Now that there was a real prospect of ending the violence plaguing the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, efforts to ensure the lasting security of the population there must be pursued to a successful conclusion, Alan Doss, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, told the Security Council this morning.

The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) continued to play a vital facilitation role, despite the political realities in that province, Lamberto Zannier, the Head of the Mission and the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, told the Security Council today.

Citing “worrying developments” that had heightened tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the past month, Under-Secretary-General of Political Affairs B. Lynn Pascoe told the Security Council today that now, more than ever, it was vital that politics were made credible, “and those who try to undermine politics by changing facts on the ground or resorting to violence are not allowed to set the agenda”.

Stressing its continuing commitment to peace throughout Sudan, including the still-violent Western Darfur region, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts that helps monitor the arms embargo and sanctions on those who impede peace in the country, for the year ending 15 October 2010.