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Security Council Report SECURITY COUNCIL REPORT MONTHLY JAN 2012 23 December 2011 This report is available online and can beFORECAST viewed together with research studies and Update Reports at www.securitycouncilreport.org. For daily insights by SCR on evolving Security Council actions please visit or subscribe to our recently launched “What’s In Blue” series at www.whatsinblue.org Overview Contents of This Issue South Africa will preside over the Security Affairs, and on compliance with making UN-AU Strategic Partnership 1 Council in January. President Jacob Zuma required deposits to the compensation In Hindsight: The Working is expected to preside over a high-level fund established under resolution 687 Methods Open Debate 2 debate on the strategic partnership (1991) and the post-Development Fund Sudan/Darfur 5 between the UN and the AU in the area of for Iraq mechanism, most likely by the the maintenance of peace and security. The UN Controller, Maria Eugenia Casar, to South Sudan 7 Secretary-General is likely to brief on his be followed by consultations; Libya 9 report on this matter expected to be pub- n the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur Côte d’Ivoire 12 lished in early January. (UNAMID), probably by the Joint Special UNOWA (West Africa) 14 Representative Ibrahim Gambari, to be An open debate is planned on justice and followed by consultations; Iraq 15 the rule of law, with a possible Arria for- n the UN Office in West Africa UNOWA( ), Yemen 18 mula meeting preceding it. by Special Representative Said Djinnit, to Rule of Law 19 An open debate on the Middle East is be followed by consultations; Status Update since our also expected. n the UN Operation in Côte d’Ivoire December 2011 Forecast 21 (UNOCI), by Special Representative Several other briefings are planned on: Bert Koenders, to be followed by Notable Dates 24 n the Middle East, most likely by Special consultations; Coordinator Robert Serry; n children and armed conflict, by Special Consultations may also be scheduled to n Libya, by Special Representative Ian Representative Radhika Coomaraswami review the force level of the UN Mission in Martin, to be followed by consultations; (in consultations); South Sudan (UNMISS). n Yemen, by Special Adviser Jamal n justice and the rule of law, possibly by Benomar (in consultations); the Secretary-General; and In January, the Council will select two of its n Iraq and progress towards ratification elected members to be part of the Organi- n issues of current concern, as part of the of the Additional Protocol to the Compre- monthly horizon scanning practice (in sational Committee of the Peacebuilding hensive Safeguards Agreement and consultations), by the head of the Depart- Commission for a one-year term and is the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban ment of Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe. expected to announce the bureaux of its Treaty, by the Office for Disarmament subsidiary bodies for the year 2012. UN-AU Strategic Partnership to brief on the UN’s strategic vision for mandated 25 operations in Africa; in 2011 UN-AU cooperation. A likely outcome will alone the Council authorised two complex Expected Council Action be a resolution underlining the importance military actions in Africa—in Côte d’Ivoire In January, the Council is expected to hold of the relationship and stressing the need to by resolution 1975 of 30 March and in Libya an open debate on the strategic partnership create mechanisms for a more effective by resolution 1973 of 17 March. between the UN and the AU with respect to strategic partnership. maintenance of peace and security in Despite some divergences, the UN and the Africa. South African President Jacob Zuma Background and Key Recent AU have made important strides over the is expected to preside and the President of Developments years in building a functioning partnership. the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) in Since 1990, about 44 percent of Council The Council has long recognised that the January 2012 (Kenya) is likely to address meetings have dealt with situations in various forms of conflict prevention and the Council. The Secretary General is likely Africa. From 1990 to 2011, the Council management needs in Africa, including >>page 3 Security Council Report One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, 885 Second Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017 T:1 212 759 9429 F:1 212 759 4038 www.securitycouncilreport.org 1 IN HindsiGht: The Working Methods Open Debate On 30 November 2011, the Council held “a difference in the day-to-day business” outcomes were often predetermined, an open debate on its working methods, of the Council. Five featured prominently: whereas Colombia said a reasonable the fourth such debate on the issue with break should be allowed between (1) The P5’s designation of chairs and 35 delegations participating, including 20 debates and the adoption of outcomes. leading on country-specific resolutions members at large. As president, Ambas- Portugal concluded that the goal of open Several speakers called for review of the sador José Filipe Moraes Cabral debates was to “reflect the relevant practice by which P5 members alone dic- (Portugal) volunteered to speak last, inputs…not speaking first, deciding on tate the chairs of subsidiary bodies. allowing him to sum up the debate. the outcome and then listening to the Switzerland described this as an “anach- wider membership.” Developments since 2006 ronism,” while Mexico said that the Many speakers referred to developments “opacity” was unacceptable. (5) The use of the veto since the Council undertook a more sys- Even though note 507 contains no provi- Several members also questioned the tematic approach to its working methods sions on the veto, three specific measures P5’s lead on country-specific resolutions. in 2006. One of the initial steps was were proposed. deciding that the chair of the Informal India stated that it was difficult to under- Working Group on Documentation and stand why pen-holding should “basically First, P5 members should provide an Other Procedural Questions should be a monopoly of permanent members.” explanation of vote when casting a veto serve on an annual—as opposed to New Zealand said both practices lacked (suggested by Jordan, New Zealand and monthly—basis. Japan chaired the “any obvious justification and should be Spain). The latter described this as an group in 2006, 2009 and 2010, culminat- discontinued.” “obligation of conduct.” ing in two presidential notes (S/2006/507 (2) Sharing of draft resolutions Second, P5 members should refrain from and S/2010/507), cataloguing and updat- Australia echoed many in calling for draft resorting to the veto when there are alle- ing practices and understandings. resolutions and presidential statements to gations of genocide, crimes against Some progress be made available to non-members at an humanity and grave breaches of interna- During November’s debate, Bosnia and early stage. Spain directly linked this to tional law. Jordan related this to the Herzegovina, outgoing chair of the infor- paragraph 44 of note 507, which calls on the obligation to maintain peace and security mal working group, highlighted some of Council to do so “as appropriate” and “as “in conformity with the principles of justice the issues that the group had discussed: soon as such documents are introduced.” and international law.” It said that in such cases, a veto-wielding member voting n streamlining the issues under the Coun- (3) Monthly presidency assessments against measures agreed on by a majority cil’s active consideration; and and the annual report of the Council should “at least explain how n distributing mandate renewals more Speaking for the Non-Aligned Movement, its position is consistent with the Charter.” evenly throughout the year. Egypt welcomed the initiative of some Council members and members at large presidents in preparing an analytical Third, Liechtenstein suggested that when recognised some improvements , including: assessment of the work of the Council an absolute majority had been obtained in under their presidency. This trend should the Council, P5 members be allowed to n increased interaction with troop-con- tributing countries; be institutionalised, it said, and be comple- cast a negative vote without giving it the mented by informal wrap-up sessions at effect of a veto, thereby enabling them to n briefings for non-Council members by presidents after the monthly adoption of the end of each presidency. Others, such take a position on the substance, without the programme of work; and as Japan and Nigeria, linked the improve- blocking adoption of a proposal. ment of monthly assessments to a more n “horizon-scanning” briefings by the substantive and analytical annual report. Next Steps Department of Political Affairs. In concluding the debate, Portugal said “Always room for improvement” (4) Open debates and informal meetings that the Council must intensify its commit- Many delegations called for further imple- Several speakers called on the Council to ment to monitoring implementation of mentation of note 507, describing it as further increase the number of open agreed practices on methods of work and “inconsistent”. Some, including China, debates and public meetings, as well as assess their impact. “There is always said that there was “room for improve- more frequent “Arria-formula” meetings room for improvement”, it noted. (informal, procedurally-flexible gatherings ment” while others underscored the The informal working group is likely to dis- with relevant parties). importance of the Council’s “continuing to cuss the proposed suggestions in the innovate” [France] and being prepared to Mexico called for the speakers list during coming year, and it is expected that prog- “evolve continually” [UK]. The Small Five open debates to be reversed so that Coun- ress will continue to be made on “internal” (S5 – Costa Rica, Jordan, Liechtenstein, cil members would deliver their statements aspects of Council reform, such as distrib- Singapore and Switzerland), called for an at the end, encouraging them to “truly uting mandates more evenly.
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