Polish envoy sets forth UNSC work program for May

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) NEW YORK, May 3 (KUNA) -- Representative of Poland to the United Nations Joanna Wronecka said the major themes on the agenda of the UN Security Council in May include strengthening the principles of international law and the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
A ministerial-level open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict is scheduled for May 22, Ms. Wronecka, the Council President for May, said at a press briefing here on Thursday.
A briefing on the Council's recent mission to Myanmar and Bangladesh is planned for May 14, she said, noting that the Council will also conduct three meetings on the situation in Syria throughout the month. The Council will discuss the political and humanitarian situations on May 16 and May 29, respectively, and address chemical weapons in consultations on May 7, she continued.
The annual briefing by senior military commanders of three peacekeeping operations was scheduled for May 9.
Force commanders of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), African Union-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) will all be present, Wronecka went on.
Also during May, the Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) on May 14, and that of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on May 29, in addition to renewing sanctions on South Sudan.
The Council President said that a number of briefings related to Libya also appeared on the programme, including one by the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Prosecutor, on May 9.
Discussions on the work of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Libya sanctions regime are slated for May 21.
On May 15, the Council would receive its annual briefing by the Chairs of the three counter-terrorism subsidiary bodies: the 1267/1989/2253 Committee, the 1373 Committee and the 1540 Committee, she pointed out.
She said the Council would hold a debate on Bosnia and Herzegovina on 8 May, and hear its quarterly briefing on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on May 14.
A number of other briefings related to United Nations activities in Africa were also planned, she continued. They would include the work of UNMISS and the South Sudan sanctions regime on May 8, UNAMID on May 10, the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) on May 15 and the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) on May 16.
Later in the month, the Council will hear briefings on the activities of the joint force of the Group of Five for the Sahel on 23 May, and on the political situation in Burundi on May 24.
The Council President said that additional briefings is scheduled for 28 May, on the situation in Ukraine, and on the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI).
The sanctions on Democratic People's Republic of Korea will be discussed in consultations on May 30, she added.
Asked what action the Council was expected to take following its recent mission to Bangladesh and Myanmar, during which time members spoke with refugees, high-level political and military authorities, UN representatives and members of civil society, Ms. Wronecka said the members were united and committed to alleviating the suffering they had witnessed.
She added that she expected a presidential statement to be adopted and that discussions on additional steps were ongoing.
On May 17, President Andrzej Duda, of Poland, is expected to preside over an open debate on the Security Council's role in upholding international law, she said at a press briefing.
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