Day: January 4, 2023

Overview?

In January 2023, Japan will hold the presidency of the Security Council.??

Japan plans to organise two signature events during the month. The first signature event is?a ministerial-level open debate on “The promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security: the rule of law among nations”. Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa is expected to chair the meeting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Joan E. Donoghue, and Professor Dapo Akande of the University of Oxford are expected to brief.

The second signature event is an open debate on “Peacebuilding and sustaining peace: Investment in people to enhance resilience against complex challenges”. Japan plans to invite a high-level UN official, the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, and representatives of international/regional organisations or civil society organisations to brief.

African issues on the programme of work in January are:??

Mali, briefing and consultations on the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA);? ?

Sudan, the semi-annual briefing of ICC Prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan on the ICC’s Darfur-related activities; and?

West Africa and the Sahel, briefing and consultations on the UN Office on West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), as well as renewal of the mandate of UNOWAS.

Middle East issues on the programme include:??

Syria, monthly meetings on political/humanitarian developments and on the chemical weapons file, as well as the renewal of the Syria cross-border aid mechanism;

Yemen, the monthly meeting on developments; and

“The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question”, the quarterly open debate.

In terms of issues in the Americas, the Council is expected to hold briefings and consultations on Haiti and Colombia.

Consultations are anticipated on the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), the one Asian issue expected to be on the programme in January.

Cyprus is expected to be on the programme of work in January. A meeting is planned with troop-contributing countries of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), and consultations are scheduled on the mission’s work. In late January, the Council will renew the mandate of UNFICYP.

One or more meetings on Ukraine can be anticipated in January as well.

Other issues could be raised in January depending on developments.

Source: Security Council Report

Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland got a formal welcome into the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, taking the two-year seats they won unopposed in June.

In a tradition that Kazakhstan started in 2018, the five countries’ ambassadors installed their national flags Tuesday alongside those of other members outside the council chambers.

Mozambican Ambassador Pedro Comissário Afonso of Mozambique called it “a historic date” and Swiss Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl said she felt “a deep sense of humility and responsibility” as their countries marked their first-ever terms on U.N.’s most powerful body. Malta joined for a second time, Ecuador a fourth and Japan a record 12th.

China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are permanent, veto-wielding members of the group. Its 10 other members are elected by the 193-nation General Assembly for staggered, two-year terms. They’re allocated by global regions.

To many countries, winning a council seat is considered a signature diplomatic accomplishment that can raise a nation’s global profile and afford small countries a bigger voice than they might otherwise have in the major international peace and security issues of the day.

The council deploys peacekeeping missions, can approve sanctions and speaks out — sometimes — on conflicts and flashpoints, while also surveying such thematic issues as terrorism and arms control. While many matters are perennials on the agenda, council members also can use the platform to spotlight emerging concerns or topics of particular interest to them.

Countries often campaign for the council for years. Some 60 nations have never had a seat since the group’s formation in 1946.

The five latest members are replacing India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway. Their terms ended December 31.

The other current two-year members are Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and United Arab Emirates.

Source: Voice of America

UNITED NATIONS— Five countries — Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland — on Tuesday began to assume responsibilities as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Their two-year term officially started on Jan 1, but the first business day of the Security Council for 2023 after the New Year holiday break is Tuesday, Jan 3.

A flag installation ceremony was held to mark the start of their responsibilities. The ceremony was initiated by Kazakhstan in 2018.

Kazakhstan’s permanent representative Akan Rakhmetullin, who presided over the ceremony, voiced confidence that the five new council members will bring much depth and focus to the pressing issues of global peace and security.

“As we begin a new year, it is clear that the global situation continues to be marked by numerous challenges and crisis, from ongoing conflicts and humanitarian calamities to the negative impacts of climate change and the pandemic,” Rakhmetullin said.

Addressing these acute issues requires cooperation and solidarity as well as the commitment of all UN member states, he said.

The permanent representatives of the five new council members made short speeches before they installed their respective national flags outside the Security Council Chamber.

The five countries replaced India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway.

The 15-member Security Council has five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly. Five non-permanent members are replaced every year.

Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates are in the middle of their two-year term as non-permanent members.

Source: Nam news Network