Press Conference by Security Council President on Programme of Work for January
The Security Council President this month announced at a press conference at Headquarters that the Council’s work plan in January will include a high-level signature event on combating terrorism in Africa and a ministerial meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue.
Algeria’s Amar Bendjama, who holds the rotating chairmanship of the 15-nation body, said: “This is an honor but also a huge responsibility, as international peace and security continue to face many challenges. “We hope that the Algerian presidency will be efficient, open and transparent,” he added.
He welcomed the five newly elected members, namely Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia, wishing them a productive and successful two-year term. He also congratulated the outgoing elected members, namely Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland, for their contribution.
The work program for January includes meetings on issues in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Regarding African issues, the Security Council will hold a briefing on January 27 to hear a statement from the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on the Darfur issue. On January 15, the Security Council will meet to discuss updating the Libyan sanctions regime.
On the Middle East issue, the Security Council will also hold monthly meetings on Yemen and Syria. “The Security Council will closely monitor the situation in Syria and the broader implications of recent developments there,” Mr Benjama said.
A briefing on cooperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States (LAS) will be held on January 23. The January work program also includes Cyprus and the extension of the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping force stationed there. As for the Americas agenda item, the Council will meet on the situation in Colombia and Haiti.
The high-level signature event on counter-terrorism in Africa scheduled for January 21 will be chaired by Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Ataf.
The quarterly public debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue, will be elevated to ministerial level, he said, adding that Attaf would chair the meeting.
“We will continue to highlight the suffering of Palestine,” he said, adding: “This remains one of Algeria’s absolute priorities.”
In response to questions, including one about the “hypocrisy of many countries” that hold back from calling what is happening in Gaza a genocide, he said the conversation goes beyond labels. Massacres, indiscriminate killings, destroyed hospitals. “Our view is that we should save Palestinian lives,” he said.
Responding to a question from Syria on whether the Security Council would take any action on delisting Tahrir al-Sham and whether he would be willing to facilitate that, Bendjama said it would be up to the Council members. He also added that the responsibility for rebuilding the country and government rests with the Syrian people.
Asked whether action would be taken to protect the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), he expressed hope that the Council would work together to ensure that the agency could continue to work on behalf of the United Nations and to the benefit of the Palestinian people. “UNRWA’s work is irreplaceable,” he went on to stress.
Asked about the deeply worrying situation in neighboring Libya, he said Algeria was “deeply concerned about the protracted nature of the crisis and its increasing complexity”. Algeria has been committed to supporting a peaceful solution to the Libyan-led process without foreign and external interference.
Regarding the issue of Western Sahara, he said that this is a very important issue for Algeria, the greater African continent and the United Nations. “This is a decolonization issue,” he added.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the United Nations (UN).
