The United States' Presidency
January 2000
Overview
The January United States Presidency started the Council's work for this new millennium, as the Secretary-General noted in his opening remarks to the Council at its meeting on 6 January. The Council's challenging schedule for the month included open briefings by the esteemed former President of South Africa, the Vice-President of the United States, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees — in all, 10 formal meetings, 8 informal consultations, and 3 consultations with troop contributors. The month culminated in the open debates of 24 and 26 January on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (with seven African Heads of State and numerous ministers of interested States in attendance), and finally the "wrap-up" session of 31 January, with the President of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba. Throughout the month, the Council and the United Nations Secretariat worked to make Security Council procedure serve the policy aims of the Council more effectively, including restructuring the Council table to accommodate seven Heads of State and re-opening the upper galleries to the public during the Council's formal sessions.
Africa
With the cooperation and active support of other Council delegations, the United States Presidency declared January the "month of Africa". The Council discussed African issues at six open Council meetings and four informal consultations of its members. Two presidential statements were issued, on refugees and the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A resolution on Burundi was adopted.
AIDS in Africa
On 10 January, the Council held an open debate to discuss the devastating impact of AIDS in Africa and its consequences for regional peace and security. This meeting gave the Council an opportunity to examine definitions of security in the light of an epidemic that kills more Africans each year than all the conflicts in that region combined. The Vice-President of the United States, Al Gore, opened the meeting. The Secretary-General spoke on the subject, as did James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank; Peter Piot, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, and Mark Malloch Brown, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. Council members and interested non- members focused their remarks on the question what member States, and the international community as a whole, can do to address the devastating impact of AIDS in Africa. Dr. Libertine Amathila, Minister for Health and Social Services, spoke on behalf of Namibia.
The situation of refugees
On 13 January, the Council hosted an open briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, focusing on the situation of refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa. The Council took the opportunity to discuss not only refugees in Africa, but also the plight of internally displaced persons on that continent. The High Commissioner underscored the connection between resolving conflicts and finding lasting solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons, as well as the crucial requirement for humanitarian access to needy populations. The Council adopted a presidential statement in which, inter alia, it recognized that internally displaced persons do not receive sufficient protection and assistance, and that special difficulties impede the delivery of aid to them. Attention was drawn to the need to consider internally displaced persons and refugees as equal victims of conflict and displacement.
Angola
The open briefing of 18 January on Angola focused on the political, military and humanitarian situation in Angola and on the need to strengthen the three sets of sanctions against UNITA. The Government of Angola was represented by the Vice- Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jorge Chikoty. The Permanent Representative of Canada, Robert Fowler, showed excerpts from interviews with former UNITA personnel, who gave details of alleged sanctions- busting by UNITA and stated that the two United Nations aircraft downed over Angola in 1998/1999 were hit by UNITA-fired surface-to-air missiles.
Burundi
The members of the Council held informal consultations on Burundi on 18 January. On 19 January, the Council held an open briefing with the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, recently named facilitator of the Burundi peace process. Council members expressed the view that Mr. Mandela's appointment was a major step towards resolving the conflict. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Burundi also addressed the Council. The Council adopted resolution 1286 (2000), by which it warmly welcomed Mr. Mandela's appointment as facilitator and expressed concern about the ongoing violence and humanitarian situation in Burundi.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Beginning on 24 January, the Council launched a range of formal and informal discussions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The attendees included the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Laurent-Désiré Kabila; the President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos; the President of Mozambique, Joaquim Alberto Chissano; the President of Rwanda, Pasteur Bizimungu; the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; the President of Zambia, Frederick J. T. Chiluba; the President of Zimbabwe, Robert G. Mugabe; the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Namibia and South Africa, Theo-Ben Gurirab and Nkosazana C. Dlamini- Zuma; the Secretary-General of OAU, Salim Ahmed Salim; and the OAU facilitator, the former President of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire. The session resulted in a reaffirmation of support for the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement by all the States of the region, and a presidential statement that committed the Council to the implementation of phase II of the Secretary- General's concept of operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sierra Leone
The members of the Council held informal consultations on Sierra Leone on 12 January to discuss a draft resolution to enlarge the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). Subsequently, the Council adopted, on 7 February, a resolution to enlarge UNAMSIL from 6,000 to 11,100 United Nations personnel.
Europe
Croatia
On 11 January, the members of the Council met in informal consultations to discuss the United Nations Mission of Observers in Prevlaka (UNMOP). On 13 January, the Council formally extended the Mission for six months.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
On 12 January, the members of the Council met in informal consultations to discuss the Secretary- General's report of 17 December on the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH). The Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hédi Annabi, briefed members of the Council. His briefing focused on the lack of progress made by the Bosnian Joint Presidency in complying with the commitments made in the New York Declaration of November 1999. Members of the Council authorized the President to make a statement to the press noting the lack of progress, especially with regard to the State Border Service, and urging the members of the Bosnian Joint Presidency to comply with the November Declaration, in connection with their appearance in the Security Council.
Georgia
On 28 January, the members of the Council met to discuss the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG). The Council voted unanimously on 31 January to extend the Mission's mandate for another six months.
Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The members of the Council held informal consultations on 11 January. The Under-Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations, Bernard Miyet, briefed members of the Council on recent developments related to resolution 1244 (1999). He described the establishment by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) of a Joint Interim Administrative Structure to enhance consultations with local political forces. The Principal Deputy Special Representative, Jock Covey, was also present and provided brief comments to the members of the Council concerning the situation on the ground.
Asia and the Middle East
Iraq
The members of the Council held informal consultations on 14, 18 and 24 January to discuss the appointment of an executive chairman for the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). By resolution 1284 (1999) the Secretary-General was mandated to appoint, after consultation with and subject to the approval of the Security Council, an Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC. The Secretary-General nominated Rolf Ekeus as Executive Chairman. On 18 January, the Security Council President reported to Council members that the Presidency had received letters from three delegations objecting to the nomination of Mr. Ekeus and one letter supporting him but calling for consensus. Following informal consultations on 24 January, a consensus formed on the nomination of Hans Blix as Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC. The President conveyed the sense of the Council to the Secretary-General. On 27 January the Secretary- General informed the Council of his intention to nominate Mr. Blix, and the Council approved the nomination later that day.
East Timor
On 14 January, Council members met in informal consultations on East Timor. The Assistant Secretary- General for Peacekeeping Operations briefed the members of the Council, focusing on the relationship of UNTAET with the East Timorese and with the Government of Indonesia.
Lebanon
On 28 January, the members of the Council held informal consultations to discuss the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Council voted unanimously on 31 January to extend the Force's mandate for six months, until 31 July 2000, adopting resolution 1288 (2000) and its accompanying presidential statement. This renewal of UNIFIL differed from past renewals in its inclusion of language concerning United Nations efforts to sensitize peacekeeping personnel regarding HIV/AIDS and also added a reference to the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.
Admission of new Members
The members of the Council met in informal consultations on 28 January to discuss the application of Tuvalu for membership in the United Nations. At a formal meeting that same day, the Council referred the application to the Committee on the Admission of New Members, which met on 28 January and again on 31 January. At its meeting on 31 January, the Committee decided to recommend to the Security Council the adoption of a draft resolution, by which the Council in turn recommended to the General Assembly that Tuvalu be admitted to membership in the United Nations. The representative of China on the Committee stated that China was unable to associate itself with the recommendation of the Committee.
