The Chinese Presidency

Introduction

Under the presidency of Ambassador Wang Yingfan, Permanent Representative of China, the Security Council in May dealt with quite a number of challenging and urgent issues and reviewed the reports of the Council's mission on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999), the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Eritrea and Ethiopia. The members of the Council paid particular attention to a serious deterioration of the situation in Sierra Leone and the eruption of conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia.

During the month, the Council adopted six resolutions in formal meetings, extending the mandates of UNDOF and MINURSO, and expanding the strength of UNAMSIL. The Council held open meetings on Sierra Leone, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and East Timor, as well as the reports of the Security Council mission on the implementation of resolution 1244 (1999) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition to 16 meetings, the President also convened 29 informal consultations of the whole and issued a number of statements to the press on behalf of Council members. Four meetings with troop contributors were held in the month. The President briefed the President of the General Assembly and Chairmen of the regional groups on the programme of work of the Council. The Presidency also briefed member States not members of the Council on days on which informal consultations were held.

Africa

Central African Republic

On 10 May, members of the Council were briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahima Fall, on recent developments in the Central African Republic and on the initial functioning of the United Nations Peace-building Support Office there. In a statement made by the President to the press, the Council members welcomed the organization of a special meeting on security and development in the Central African Republic in New York, on 15 and 16 May 2000, and called upon all Member States to contribute funds, human resources and equipment to implement the proposals presented by the Government of the Central African Republic at that meeting (see below).

Eritrea and Ethiopia

On 7 May, the Council members held an urgent consultation on the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia. After consulting the Governments of both countries and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the Council decided to authorize its mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to visit Eritrea and Ethiopia during the week of 8 May. Council members also reached agreement on the terms of reference of the mission, annexed to the letter from the President to the Secretary-General on this matter (S/2000/392).

On 11 May, the Council members heard a briefing by the mission on its visit to Eritrea and Ethiopia. The report of the mission (S/2000/413), to which a draft resolution was annexed, was circulated during the consultation.

On 12 May, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast, briefed the Council in an emergency consultation on the outbreak of new fighting between the two countries. A draft resolution was circulated and later adopted (as resolution 1297 (2000)), in which the Council demands that both parties immediately cease all military action and refrain from the further use of force, and reconvene, without preconditions, the substantive peace talks under OAU auspices as soon as possible. On 15 May, the Council members were briefed in an informal consultation by the Under-Secretary- General on the latest development of the war. Council members expressed their grave concern at the consultation of military action on both sides and discussed the next steps the Council would take. A draft resolution was circulated during the consultation. On 17 May, after intense consultations, the Council adopted resolution 1298 (2000), by which it imposed an arms embargo against Eritrea and Ethiopia. The Council also decided that the embargo was established for 12 months; at the end of this period, the Council will decide whether to extend it for a further period with the same conditions.

From 23 to 25 May, the Council held consultations on a daily basis. The Under-Secretary- General briefed the Council members on the latest development of the fighting. The President made several statements to the press, in which Council members urged both parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire and to reconvene the proximity talks as soon as possible under the auspices of OAU. The Council members also endorsed the de-escalation proposals in the OAU communiqué, urged both sides to implement them and welcomed the willingness of both parties to send delegations to Algiers for the resumption of the proximity talks.

On 30 May, the Under-Secretary-General briefed the Council on the latest developments in the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia. In a statement made by the President to the press, the Council members welcomed the resumption of the proximity talks at Algiers and expressed their strong support for the efforts made by OAU to find a peaceful solution of the conflict (see below).

Sierra Leone

On 2 May, the Council members held an emergency consultation on the situation in Sierra Leone. The Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hédi Annabi, briefed the Council on a series of recent incidents in Sierra Leone. In a statement to the press by the President, Council members condemned in the strongest terms the hostile and destructive actions of RUF against UNAMSIL and demanded that RUF release detained United Nations and other international personnel immediately. Council members also called on Foday Sankoh to give instructions to his followers to end these attacks, withdraw immediately and fulfil his obligations under the Lomé Agreement (see below).

From 3 to 10 May, Council members were briefed by the Secretariat on a daily basis on the situation in Sierra Leone. On 3 May, the President made a statement to the press, in which Council members reiterated their grave concern at the deterioration of the situation, expressed deep regret at the loss of lives and expressed condolences to the bereaved families (see below). On 4 May, the Council adopted a presidential statement following consultations among members (S/PRST/2000/14).

On 11 May, in response to several requests, the Council members held an emergency public meeting on the situation of Sierra Leone. The Secretary-General was present at the meeting and made a statement, in which he emphasized the need to provide sufficient resources to UNAMSIL.

On 15 May, the Council members held a consultation on the situation in Sierra Leone. The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Bernard Miyet, briefed the Council on his visit to the country and told the Council that a number of UNAMSIL detainees had been released.

On 16 May, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations briefed the Council members, indicating that the Government had caught Mr. Sankoh. He also appealed to the Council to adopt a resolution increasing the number of UNAMSIL military personnel to 13,000.

On 18 May, the Assistant Secretary-General briefed the Council members again, informing the Council that the meeting of ECOWAS Defence Ministers and Chiefs of Staff had suggested sending 3,000 ECOMOG soldiers to Sierra Leone.

On 19 May, the Council adopted resolution 1299 (2000), by which it increased the number of UNAMSIL military personnel to 13,000.

On 24 May, the Assistant Secretary-General introduced the Secretary-General's report dated 19 May (S/2000/455) and briefed the Council members on the latest developments. Council members had a first round of deliberations on the report and expressed their intention to discuss the recommendations in the report further and take action on them shortly. The President made a statement to the press after the consultation, in which Council members, inter alia, stressed that the priority continued to be the release of United Nations peacekeepers detained by RUF, and expressed their deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Sierra Leone; Council members also reminded all States of their obligations to implement the arms embargo against RUF and expressed their willingness to consider further measures to strengthen the sanctions regime (see below).

On 30 May, the Assistant Secretary-General briefed the Council members on the release of more UNAMSIL personnel detained by RUF and the decisions of the ECOWAS Summit held at Abuja on 28 May.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

On 5 May, the Council members were briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations on the fighting between Ugandan and Rwandan forces in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Immediately after the informal consultations the Council issued a presidential statement (S/PRST/2000/15), in which it condemned the renewed military hostilities between Rwandan and Ugandan troops in Kisangani and demanded that the hostilities cease immediately.

On 9 May, the Assistant Secretary-General informed the Council members of the agreement between Uganda and Rwanda on their withdrawal from Kisangani and the demilitarization plan. In a statement made by the President to the press, Council members expressed their support for that agreement (see below).

On 12 May, the Council members were briefed by its mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

On 17 May, the Council held an open debate on the report of its mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in the region from 2 to 8 May. Members commended the mission's efforts and called for a rapid phase II deployment of the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a view to maintaining the current momentum. They also supported a proposal by France to invite members of the Political Committee to come to New York and have a meeting with the Council in mid-June.

On 25 May, after a briefing by the Assistant Secretary-General on ceasefire violations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the President made a statement to the press in which Council members deplored the violation of the ceasefire by one of the rebel movements, MLC, and called for immediate compliance with the ceasefire (see below).

Somalia

On 23 May, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs briefed the Council members on the situation in Somalia. In the statement made by the President to the press, members of the Council expressed their support for the Djibouti peace initiative on Somalia and called on the international community to provide both political and financial support to Djibouti (see below).

Western Sahara

The Council members received the report of the Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara (S/2000/461) and heard a briefing by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. The members welcomed the report. The Council, after a very intense discussion, adopted resolution 1301 (2000) by 12 votes in favour to 1 against, with 2 abstentions. The mandate of MINURSO was extended for another three months.

Middle East

Situation in the Middle East

The Council members, on 22 May, received the report of the Secretary-General concerning the situation in the Middle East (S/2000/460) and, on the same day, heard a briefing on the issue by the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy. The Council next day issued a presidential statement (S/PRST/2000/18), by which, inter alia, it endorsed the report, welcomed the Secretary-General's intention to take all necessary measures to enable UNIFIL to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, and called on all parties concerned to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General and to exercise utmost restraint.

United Nations Disengagement Observer Force

On 31 May, the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1300 (2000) by which it renewed the mandate of UNDOF for another six months. A complementary statement was also adopted (S/PRST/2000/19).

Asia

Georgia

On 4 May, Council members discussed the report of the Secretary-General on Georgia and heard a briefing by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. Subsequently, the Council held a formal meeting on 11 May and adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2000/16) in which it reiterated its support for the peace process and encouraged parties concerned to continue their efforts.

Tajikistan

On 12 May, the Council held an open debate on the latest report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT). The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ivo Petrov, briefed the Council on the latest developments in Tajikistan. Following the debate, the Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2000/17) in which it welcomed the success achieved in the Tajik peace process and the important role played by the United Nations. On 26 May, the Secretary-General addressed a letter to the President to inform the Council about a United Nations Peace-building Support Office to be established in Tajikistan after the mandate of UNMOT expired on 15 May.

Afghanistan

On 4 May, members of the Council were briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Danilo Türk, on the situation in Afghanistan. He noted that the two warring factions appeared to be making preparations for major offensives. In a statement by the President to the press following the informal consultations, Council members expressed their grave concern at reports of preparations by the parties for a new offensive; they are gravely concerned that the Taliban is still pursuing a military victory in Afghanistan with outside support (see below).

East Timor

On 25 May, the Council held an open briefing by the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. Members of the Council paid tribute to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and UNTAET. They noted with satisfaction the positive evolution of the situation in East Timor and discussed the difficulties that UNTAET is facing.

Europe

Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

On 1 May, the Council members were briefed by its mission on the implementation of Council resolution 1244 (1999). On 11 May, the Council held an open meeting on the report of the mission. Members of the Council endorsed the findings in the report and focused their discussion on the implementation of Council resolution 1244 (1999).

Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 9 May, the High Representative for the implementation of the Peace Agreement on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Wolfgang Petritsch, presented his report in an open meeting of the Council. The Council took the opportunity to discuss the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the various aspects of the work of the High Representative.