Monthly Report on the work of the Security Council work June 2001

Overview of Security Council work in June 2001

Reappointment of the Secretary-General, Security Council 27 June.

Presidential Statement on HIV/AIDS 27 June.

Letter from the Security Council to the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians 22 June.

Norwegian priorities – current matters

Conflict prevention and peace-building

The Secretary-General’s report on the prevention of armed conflict was dealt with in an public meeting of the Security Council on 21 June. The report lists 10 principles as being fundamental in order to shift the UN in the direction of a "culture of prevention". Important recommendations in the report are periodic reporting to the Security Council on emerging conflicts, new mechanisms for dealing with conflict prevention and increasing the use of fact-finding missions. Many of the members of the Security Council, including Norway, touched on the need for closer cooperation within the UN system on these important tasks. In our intervention, we also mentioned the need for the increased use of personnel for preventive purposes, measures to prevent the spread of small arms, the need for closer cooperation with regional organizations and the international community’s lack of willingness to give priority to resources in this area.

In connection with the General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in June, Norway took the initiative for, and was in charge of drafting, a statement by the President concerning HIV/AIDS and peacekeeping operations. The Security Council was able to agree on a resolution for further intensifying efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and the negative effect of this catastrophe on security and stability in the areas where the disease was most widespread.

Afghanistan: The expert panel’s report on the establishment of mechanisms for monitoring the sanctions against the Taliban (weapons embargo, closure of a terrorist camp) were discussed in the Security Council in an announced private meeting on 5 June. Agreement was reached on a Colombian proposal, supported by Norway, to continue the debate so that neighbouring countries could have an opportunity to make their views on the report known to the Security Council.

There was general support for the committee’s plans to establish a mechanism that was primarily based on the neighbouring countries’ efforts to control the situation, with international support in the form of resources and small-scale missions of experts. Ambassador Kolby also said that it was necessary to view the Afghanistan mechanism in connection with the discussion on establishing a permanent mechanism for monitoring UN sanctions.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: In a meeting on 15 June, the members of the Security Council broadly supported the extension of the mandate of the UN mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH), and the appurtenant multinational Stabilization Force (SFOR). In his intervention, Ambassador Ole Petter Kolby stated that Norway will continue to support the international peacebuidling efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, Norway also stressed that the primary responsibility for progress in the reform processes that are necessary for developing a democratic society rests with the local leaders.

Kosovo: A mission from the Security Council, headed by the Council’s president and with all 15 member countries represented, travelled to Kosovo and Belgrade on 15-18 June. The visit to Belgrade indicated the Security Council’s desire for closer cooperation with the new democratic leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and implementation of Security Council Resolution 1244. Among other things, steps must be taken to facilitate the participation of Kosovo Serbs in the provincial elections in Kosovo on 17 November. This requires that the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) implements measures to enhance the security of Serbs in Kosovo and facilitate the return to the province of those Serbs who have moved away. The authorities in Belgrade must help to strengthen the Kosovo Serbs’ cooperation with UNMIK and the military, multinational force in Kosovo (KFOR).

Peacekeeping operations

The Security Council’s working group on peacekeeping operations launched its first report, in which the main focus is on how relations between the Security Council, the Secretariat and troop-contributing countries can be improved. The working group recommends inter alia strengthening education, logistics and equipment among troop-contributing countries.

The Security Council also adopted a resolution, based on the working group’s report, containing clear recommendations as to how relations with the troop-contributing countries can be strengthened and improved. The Security Council stressed the importance of bilateral and international cooperation in relation to education, logistics and equipment. It also underlined the importance of a coherent approach in order to improve the efficiency of peacekeeping operations, from the planning stage to phasing-out strategies.

Africa

At the public meeting on DR Congo, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for children and armed conflict gave a briefing on the dismal situation in the country. There is widespread exploitation of children in relation to labour, prostitution and military activities. The Council was also given a very positive assessment of the progress of the peace process by the foreign minister of DR Congo. However, the foreign minister called for a stronger, more extensive mandate for the UN operation (MONUC). The importance of effective disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and rehabilitation programmes (DDRR programmes was stressed, among others by Norway. In mid-June the Council adopted SC resolution 1355, which extended the UN operation by a year.

The Security Council is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Burundi. This is a result of the fact that Burundian (and Rwandan) Hutu rebels, who have had their base in DR Congo, are moving eastward as progress is being made in the Congo conflict. This demonstrates the close connection between the conflicts in the Great Lakes region. The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern about the situation at a public meeting at the beginning of the month. At the end of the month the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement which confirms this concern. The humanitarian situation in Burundi is described by the UN as alarming.

On 28 June, the Security Council held a public meeting on the situation in Sierra Leone. Despite the fact that the disarmament process has been successful so far, there is concerned that the process may lose momentum in the near future because of lack of resources. The head of UNAMSIL indicated that there is now a prospect of peace in Sierra Leone (provided that the DDRR process is not mismanaged). UNAMSIL puts and emphasis on confidence-building measures and the distrust between the various groups seems to be diminishing. Norway called attention to our contribution to the DDRR effort in Sierra Leone. A further USD 500 000 was pledged to the DDRR Fund on condition that the other countries also made a commitment. Norway also pointed out that our participation in UNAMSIL was being increased by an additional police officer. The importance of the DDRR effort was also stressed by Sierra Leone.

On 29 June it was decided that MINURSO’s mandate in Western Sahara should be extended for an additional five months pending further talks between the parties and the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, James Baker. The latter is the architect of a Framework Plan designed to involve the parties in realistic negotiations on the difficult underlying political problems. Norway expressed support for the Secretary-General’s efforts. The lack of progress in the implementation of the Peace Plan was deplored. It was noted that progress in the negotiations on the Framework Plan was contingent on all relevant factors, including the Peace Plan and the Polisario Front’s most recent proposal, being taken into account.

Human rights and humanitarian issues

Norway headed the work of drafting a letter from the Security Council to the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The process of drafting the letter demonstrated that this is a difficult issue to get certain of the Security Council members to agree on. Nonetheless, Norway negotiated a result that will provide a good basis for the Secretariat and the Council’s future efforts in connection with the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

The measures proposed in the letter include enhancing cooperation between the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and drawing up a check-list for the protection of civilians that can be used by the Security Council when dealing with mandates for peace-keeping operations. At Norway’s request, the Secretary-General was also asked to present a new report by November 2002 in order to ensure that the issue does not disappear from the Security Council agenda.

Consideration of Iraq issues

In June the Security Council continued consultations on a British draft resolution that outlined extensive reforms in UN sanctions against Iraq. If the proposal had been adopted, it would have eased the flow of goods to the country, and thus facilitated efforts to meet the Iraqi people’s humanitarian needs. With a view to preventing Iraq from once more posing a threat to peace in the region, the proposal also entailed tighter control of Iraqi imports of military goods and related products.

The proposal eventually gained broad-based support among the members of the Security Council, but when the time-limit for adopting the amendments approached, it became clear that it would not be possible to reach consensus among all of the permanent members of the Council on the elements of the reform. Therefore the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1360 (2001) on 3 July. The resolution entails that the oil-for-food programme will be extended in its present form by five months. During this period, the Security Council will continue its efforts to develop and adopt reforms in the sanctions against Iraq.

The import of a number of types of goods is essential in order to improve living conditions in Iraq. Norway has therefore made an active effort to reduce the number of contract applications placed on hold. During the six months Norway has held the chairmanship of the Sanctions Committee, there has been a marked decline in the percentage of new applications placed on hold. In spite of the fact that the number of applications in the medicine sector doubled in the month of June, the number of applications placed on hold in this sector declined from 12 to 8 per cent during the same period. On 1 June the US authorities released applications that had been placed on hold of a total value of some NOK 800 million. This entailed a considerable reduction in the total number of such applications.

Re-election of the UN Secretary-General

At a private meeting on 27 June, the Security Council unanimously renominated Kofi Annan for a new term as UN Secretary-General (1 January 2002-31 December 2006). He was formally re-elected in the General Assembly on 29 June.