SECURITY COUNCIL REPORT Monthly MAY 2008 30 April 2008 This report is available online and can beFORECAST viewed together with Update Reports on developments during the month at www.securitycouncilreport.org OVERVIEW FOR MAY CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE In May the UK will have the presidency of Brown in the Council on 16 April, will be Status Update since our the Council. There are no mandates up for the subject of an open debate. Possibly April Forecast ............................... 2 renewal during the month. this will be at the ministerial level and Security Sector Reform ................... 3 chaired by British Foreign Secretary Four important thematic public Council Protection of Civilians ..................... 5 David Miliband. The agenda item for meetings are expected: the debate is likely to be Post-Conflict Sudan/Darfur .................................... 8 n On 6 May, an open debate on Counter- Peacebuilding. But the issue is not so Burundi ........................................... 0 Terrorism, following briefings by the much the work of the Peacebuilding Chairs of the three Council anti-terrorism Bosnia and Herzegovina ............... 2 Commission (PBC). Rather the goal is to committees (1267, CTC and 1540). Nepal ............................................... 4 address the situations not covered by n On 12 May, an open meeting on Security the PBC where the Council is engaged Sierra Leone ................................... 5 Sector Reform is likely. There will be a but does not have the tools to properly Counter-Terrorism: Briefings to series of statements including by Slovakia oversee the effective integration of which sponsored this topic in 2006-2007 the Council .................................. 6 security, humanitarian, development, when it was on the Council. This will be Iraq (Oil-for-Food) .......................... 8 human rights and governance activi- followed by discussion in Informals on a ties in the field. Notable Dates for May ................... 20 possible Council statement. n On 27 May, the six monthly open debate Important Dates over the Horizon ... 20 n On 20 May, a UK national initiative, on Protection of Civilians in Armed foreshadowed by Prime Minister Gordon Conflict is expected. >>page 2 Aide-Memoire Important matters pending for the Council 928) to update the index to Council notes n The Secretary-General has yet to put include: and statements on working methods. This forward proposals for the delineation of n The Secretariat is still to respond to has not been published. the international borders of Lebanon, the Council’s 21 November 2007 letter n The 2005 World Summit requested that especially in the Sheb’a Farms area, in (S/2007/680), requesting monthly updates the Security Council consider reforms for accordance with resolution 1701, and on the process of closing down of UNMOVIC the Military Staff Committee. This has yet respond to the cartographic, legal and as well as a briefing on steps the Secretar- to be addressed. political implications of the alternative path iat is planning to provide for the enhanced n On the DRC, the Council Sanctions Com- suggested by the government of Lebanon physical security of the UNMOVIC mittee has not acted on individual sanctions in its seven-point plan. archives, in particular those containing under resolution 1698 against armed n The Secretariat is yet to report to the Coun- sensitive proliferation information. groups that recruit children, despite cil on Kenya as requested in its 6 February n In its resolution 1327 (2000) on the imple- MONUC reports about the problem con- presidential statement (S/PRST/2008/4). mentation of the report of the Panel on tinuing on a serious scale. Nor has the n In a letter from its president (S/2007/722) United Nations Peace Operations (the Council resumed discussion of the issue of on 7 December 2007 the Council asked the Brahimi report, S/2000/809), the Council natural resources in the DRC, which was Secretary-General to provide an outline of decided to review periodically the imple- raised in its open thematic debate on the the new mandate of the advisor on the mentation of the provisions contained in subject of natural resources and conflict in prevention of genocide and of the impli- the resolution’s annex. No such reviews June 2007 (S/PV.5705). cations of upgrading this position from an have occurred in the past three years. n On West Africa, the Council has yet to Assistant Secretary-General to Under n The Council requested the Secretary- follow up its 16 March 2007 consultations Secretary-General. At press time, it appears General on 29 November 2006 (S/2006/ on cross-border issues. that a response had not been released yet. Security Council Report One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, 885 Second Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10017 T:1 212 759 9429 F:1 212 759 4038 www.securitycouncilreport.org OVERVIEW FOR MAY (continued) A public session on the Middle East, in consultations is expected—perhaps to - please see our April Forecast Report for accordance with normal practice, is be followed by a Council statement. background); expected—probably about the middle of (Please see our April Forecast Report for n Uganda (a briefing from UN Envoy the month. A briefing followed by consulta- background.); Joaquim Chissano on the LRA issue is tions is likely, although the format will n Sudan (at press time discussions were possible - please see our 11 April Update depend on developments. underway informally about the need—in Report for background); and preparation for the Council visiting mis- n Iraq (action on outstanding issues under Open meetings are also likely on: sion to the country at the end of May—to the now terminated “oil for food pro- n Somalia (it seemed at press time that the articulate a clearer strategy on Darfur.); gramme” is possible—most likely in the Council would need to carry over into n Sierra Leone (a briefing is expected); form of a letter to the Secretary-General.) May its discussions on action (two draft n Burundi (a briefing is expected); and resolutions seem to be being considered) In addition consultations are possible on: n Bosnia and Herzegovina (a briefing is to respond to the Secretary-General’s n Lebanon (progress with the Tribunal and expected). “strategic approach” presented on 14 UNIIIC); March. (Please see our April Forecast Action is also possible on: n “Terms of Reference” for the Council Report for background.); n Nepal ( in the light of developments in the visiting mission to Sudan and the n Lebanon (similarly it seemed that a post election situation); neighbouring region in late May and response to the Secretary General’s n Ethiopia/Eritrea (major decisions on the early June will need to be decided; and report under resolution 1559 would need future of the force may need to be taken n Myanmar (in the aftermath of the referen- to be deferred till May and discussion in dum on the new constitution). Status Update since our April Forecast Recent developments on the situations cov- (S/PRST/2008/8) regarding implementation Putin’s call for closer relations between ered in this Forecast are addressed in the of resolution 1701. Russia and Abkhazia and South Ossetia and relevant briefs. Interesting developments in n Haiti: On 8 April the Council heard a briefing at the request of Georgia (S/2008/257). the Council on other issues included: (S/PV.5862) by the Special Representative n Western Sahara: The Council received the n The Democratic Republic of the Congo: of the Secretary-General in Haiti, Hédi latest report on Western Sahara on 14 April On 31 March the Council adopted resolu- Annabi, following the latest report on UN (S/2008/251). The Secretary-General noted tion 1807 extending the sanctions regime Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) that “the momentum can only be attained on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (S/2008/ 202). The Council adopted a press by trying to find a way out of the current (DRC) until 31 December. Additional statement (SC/9293) welcoming progress political impasse through realism and a provision was made for the imposition of while deploring recent violence and attacks spirit of compromise from both parties.” sanctions on those who commit acts against MINUSTAH. It also expressed Prior to Council consultations on 21 April, of violence against women in the context concern at the humanitarian situation and the Personal Envoy Peter van Walsum of armed conflict in the DRC. The encouraged international donors to provide circulated to all Council members his per- resolution also clarified that the arms emergency relief. sonal and non-official assessment of the embargo applied only to illegal armed n Chad/Central African Republic: On 9 situation regarding the ongoing talks groups and also that the related notifica- April the Council held consultations on between Morocco and the Polisario— tion system required only the states of Chad and the Central African Republic apparently dissenting to some extent from origin for arms imports to notify the Secu- (CAR). Discussions included a briefing by the Secretary-General’s report. He argued rity Council Sanctions Committee on the Assistant Secretary-General Edmond that the parties had effectively exhausted DRC. The restrictions applying to air traffic Mulet on progress with the deployment of the current discussions and now needed were retained. the UN Mission in the CAR and Chad and clear guidance from the Council. At press n DPRK (North Korea): Ambassador Marcello the EU Force. In a press statement, mem- time, the Council was discussing a draft Spatafora of Italy, Chairman of the Sanctions bers expressed concern with the situation resolution renewing the MINURSO man- Committee on the Democratic People’s in eastern Chad and north-eastern CAR, date, submitted by the Group of Friends Republic of Korea, briefed the Council on encouraged the governments of both (France, Russia, Spain, the UK and the US).