The United Kingdom Presidency

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Introduction

Under the presidency of Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Security Council dealt with a number of difficult and sensitive issues in December, in particular concerning Africa and Iraq. Mr Peter Hain, the British Foreign Office Minister responsible for Africa, presided over two meetings of the Council: a briefing on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a debate on practical ways to address the problems of Africa. During December the Council adopted five resolutions and held ten meetings, and its members met in informal consultations on thirteen occasions. Two troop contributor meetings were held.

As part of its commitment to improving the transparency of the workings of the Security Council, the United Kingdom Presidency held one debate (on Africa) and three briefings (on Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and East Timor) in public meetings and one briefing (on Kosovo) at a private meeting of the Council. The President addressed the news media after each session of informal consultations of the members and was authorised to make 13 statements to the press on specific issues on behalf of Council members (these statements are annexed to this assessment). Immediately after informal consultations, the Presidency gave briefings for countries not members of the Security Council. Through its website, the Presidency published the Council's programme of work and the President's statements to the press on a daily basis.

Middle East

Iraq

Negotiations on a new way forward on Iraq had begun earlier in the year following the issue of the reports of the expert panels under the chairmanship of Ambassador Celso Amorim (S/1999/356), which addressed the three principal aspects of the Iraq issue, namely disarmament, the humanitarian programme and the Kuwaiti missing persons and property. These negotiations intensified during December, both in a series of informal consultations and in private contacts, and culminated on 17 December with the adoption of resolution 1284 (1999), sponsored by the United Kingdom, by eleven votes in favour with four abstentions. Resolution 1284 (1999) sets out a new, comprehensive approach to Iraq based on Iraq's obligations under the existing Council resolutions.

The resolution establishes a new body, the United Nations Monitoring Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), to pursue compliance with Iraq's disarmament obligations under previous resolutions; provides for the suspension of sanctions once certain conditions are met; lifts the ceiling on Iraq's oil exports to increase the revenues available to the oil-for-food programme and simplifies the approval procedures for humanitarian goods; and provides for the appointment of a Special Coordinator to pursue Iraqi compliance with its obligations to account for all missing Kuwaiti persons and property. In statements at the adoption (S.PV.4084) all Council members affirmed that the resolution had now to be fully implemented.

Oil for Food

The Council adopted two resolutions concerning the implementation of the oil for food humanitarian programme in Iraq. On 3 December, resolution 1280 (1999) was adopted extending the programme for one week. The resolution was adopted with eleven votes in favour and three abstentions. One Council member did not participate in the vote. On 10 December, the Council adopted unanimously resolution 1281 (1999) which extended the programme for a further six months.

Africa

Open debate

On 15 December, the Security Council debated "The United Nation's Partnership with Africa" in a public meeting. The Presidency had sought Member States' cooperation in making this an innovative, interactive meeting, asking them to focus on three specific questions:

how can we improve coordination and cooperation between the Security Council, the Organisation of African Unity and key sub-regional organisations, including coordination of joint activity on specific issues?

how can we meet the needs of African peacekeeping more effectively and more quickly?

what additional instruments can we as a Council bring to bear to help solve and where possible, prevent conflicts in Africa? To allow time for discussion, the Presidency sought to keep interventions to under five minutes.

This proved to be a useful meeting. Council members and most other participants focused on the three key questions and kept their interventions commendably brief. Unfortunately some speakers were less disciplined and the opportunity to achieve a genuine discussion was more limited than the Presidency had hoped. Nevertheless, the President, on a personal basis, was able to draw some constructive conclusions from the discussion which were circulated to the membership and are attached to this report.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

The Security Council heard a briefing by Under-Secretary-General Miyet in a public meeting on the DRC on 16 December, in which Ambassador Holbrooke of the United States also briefed on his recent trip to the region. On 21 December, Council members were briefed on the latest developments in the DRC by Assistant Secretary-General Annabi. This focussed on the security situation, in particular the Government offensive launched in Equateur Province as well as heightened military activity by the "negative forces". Mr Annabi highlighted the risk of the current volatile situation leading to a security crisis in the Kivus. He stressed that it was important that parties refrained from hostile propaganda. Council members continued their consideration of these developments on 22 December and Mr Annabi supplemented his briefing with reporting on the deployment of United Nations Military Liaison Officers, which was meeting with some obstacles.

After the consultations, the Council President made a statement to the Press reflecting points raised by Council members during both consultations. He said that Council members were concerned over recent fighting and disregard of the Lusaka Agreement; called on the parties to exercise restraint; urged the parties to convene early meetings of the Political Committee and Joint Military Commission (JMC) and to facilitate the deployment of local JMCs and the United Nations Liaison officers; reiterated the willingness of the United Nations and international community to work with the Lusaka parties; but pointed out that the United Nations had to be confident that the parties themselves were determined to respect the ceasefire and refrain from hostile acts and propaganda.

Sierra Leone

Under-Secretary-General Miyet briefed the Security Council in a public meeting on Sierra Leone on 10 December. His briefing focussed on the contents of Secretary-General's report on the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) which had issued on 6 December, and on the latest security situation.

On 29 December, Assistant Secretary-General Annabi briefed Council members on the Secretary-General's letter of 23 December to the President of the Council, in which the Secretary-General reported the Nigerian decision to withdraw its ECOMOG troops and consequently recommended the expansion of UNAMSIL. Mr Annabi told Council members that the Secretariat would make more detailed proposals on this by 20 January. Members of the Council expressed agreement in principle to the expansion of UNAMSIL. Following the consultation, the President of the Council made a statement to the press noting Nigeria's decision to withdraw its forces; paying tribute to the role played by Nigeria and the other ECOMOG participants in Sierra Leone; underlining the necessity to avoid a security gap; and looking forward to further detailed information from the Secretariat on their proposals.

Burundi

Under-Secretary-General Prendergast briefed Council members on 3 December on his November 1999 visit to Africa concerning Burundi. He had met the Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity, the Heads of State of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda and Zimbabwe and senior officials of Rwanda and South Africa. The briefing focused on the regional states' views on the search for a new mediator (preceding former President Mandela's appointment) and on the Secretariat's assessment of the political, security and humanitarian situation in Burundi; the prospects for further progress in the Burundi peace process; and the role of the United Nations and donor countries in contributing to the search for peace in Burundi.

On behalf of Council members, the President of the Council made a statement to the press expressing deepest concern at the ongoing violence in Burundi against the background of a fragile situation in the region more widely, and appealing to all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities immediately. The statement also welcomed the designation by the eighth Arusha regional summit of former President Mandela as the new facilitator for the Arusha Peace Process. Council members also agreed that the President should invite the new Facilitator to brief the Security Council about his plans for taking the Burundi peace process forward. On 3 December, the President wrote to the South African Ambassador asking him to convey an invitation to former President Mandela on behalf of the Council. (Former President Mandela took up this invitation in January 2000.)

On 8 December, Council experts met to discuss how the Security Council could sharpen its focus on Burundi. They agreed that the Council should make more use of public meetings, private meetings and informal consultations of its members on Burundi – the format to be decided by the objective of the meeting.

Angola

Assistant Secretary-General Annabi briefed Council members on 13 December on the Angolan military offensive against UNITA, the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Angola, and on the continuing efforts to conclude a Status of Mission Agreement to establish a United Nations Office in Angola in accordance with resolution 1268 (1999). On behalf of Council Members, the President made a statement to the press reiterating that the primary cause of the current crisis in Angola was the failure by the leadership of UNITA to comply with its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol; demanding that UNITA comply immediately and without conditions with those obligations; and welcoming the appointment of Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari as Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on African issues.

Ethiopia/Eritrea

Under-Secretary-General Prendergast briefed Council members on 21 December on the Organisation of African Unity's efforts to resolve the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea and on the humanitarian situation in both countries. He underlined the need for patience and discretion at a delicate stage in the mediation process.

Somalia

Assistant Secretary-General Fall briefed Council members on the political and humanitarian situation in Somalia on 30 December. He referred in particular to the forum organised by the United Nations Political Office for Somalia in Nairobi on 16 November and the meeting of the Standing Committee also in Nairobi on 15 December. At both meetings there was broad support for President Guelleh's recent peace proposals which were to be developed in more detail over the next two months. On behalf of Council members, the President made a statement to the press condemning the continuing flow of arms into Somalia in contravention of the Council resolutions and calling for the arms embargo to be respected.

Western Sahara

During informal consultations on 9 December Under-Secretary-General Miyet briefed Council members on progress towards the implementation of the Settlement Plan in Western Sahara. Council members discussed a draft resolution on 13 and 14 December. Concerns were expressed in particular about the possible delay to the referendum until 2002 or even beyond. On 14 December the Council adopted resolution 1282 (1999) by fourteen votes in favour, with one abstention, extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission for a Referendum in the Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 29 February 2000 and asking the Secretary-General to report again before that deadline.

Guinea-Bissau

Assistant Secretary-General Fall briefed Council members on 29 December on the Secretary-General's report of 23 December which followed the 28 November elections in Guinea-Bissau. The President was authorised to issue a statement to the press welcoming the fact that the first round of the elections had been held in an open, fair and transparent manner, encouraging all parties to ensure that the second round was conducted in the same manner and approving the Secretary-General's recommendation to extend the mandate of the United Nations Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNOGBIS) until the end of March 2000.

Asia

Afghanistan

Pending the appointment of a chairman, the Presidency chaired two meetings of the Afghanistan Sanctions Committee to discuss the application of measures under paragraph 4 of resolution 1267 (1999). On 22 December the Committee agreed on a list of aircraft subject to paragraph 4(a) of resolution 1267 (1999) which was subsequently issued as a press release to all Member States (SC/6777/99).

East Timor

Assistant Secretary-General Annabi briefed the Security Council in a public meeting on East Timor on 22 December. The briefing focussed on the security situation in East Timor, plans for the handover of responsibility for security from the multinational force (INTERFET) to the peacekeeping element of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), the humanitarian situation in East Timor including refugee return from West Timor, and the deployment of the civilian elements of UNTAET.

Members of the Council welcomed the excellent progress made by INTERFET and UNTAET and the success of the Tokyo Donor Conference, which had taken place on 17 December. But concerns were raised by some about the rate of refugee return from West Timor and the need to ensure that the transition from INTERFET to UNTAET be completed as soon as possible.

Europe

Kosovo

Council members heard a briefing from the Secretariat on 21 December on the 17 December attack on a Serb café in the town of Orahovac in Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in which seven ethnic Serbs had been wounded and one killed.

The Security Council held a private meeting on 30 December to consider the Secretary-General's 23 December report on the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), and to hear a supplementary briefing from the Secretariat.

Cyprus

The Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, briefed Council members on 2 December on the proximity talks due to begin in New York on 3 December. After the consultations the Council President made a statement to the press, welcoming the parties' agreement to start talks; expressing the hope that all concerned would participate without preconditions and in a constructive spirit; and offering full support for United Nations efforts.

On 7 December Council members discussed the Secretary-General's 1 December report on Cyprus, covering both the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the Secretary-General's Good Offices Mission. A short statement to the press was issued.

Special Adviser de Soto briefed Council members on 14 December following the conclusion of the Cyprus proximity talks held in New York from 3–14 December. Council members also considered a draft resolution to extend the UNFICYP mandate expiring on 15 December. After the consultation the Council President made a statement to the press, welcoming the fact that the talks had been conducted throughout in a positive and constructive atmosphere and without preconditions; commending the commitment shown by the participants; and looking forward to the continuation of the talks early in 2000.

On 15 December the Council unanimously adopted resolution 1283 (1999), extending the UNFICYP mandate for a further six months until 15 July 2000.

Security Council procedures and improved transparency

The United Kingdom Presidency's efforts to improve transparency by holding more meetings in the Council chamber open to all members of the United Nations or, in certain cases, to those with a particular interest have been noted above. As part of its policy of encouraging greater openness and efficiency in the work of the Council, the United Kingdom delegation had earlier in the year introduced a draft note by the President of the Council on the need for increased recourse to public meetings, including on situations involving specific countries, on the availability of draft resolutions and Presidential statements as soon as they are introduced in informal consultations, and on the practice of press briefings by the Presidency.

This draft Note was considered during the course of 1999 in the Council's informal working group on documentation and procedures, where the suggestions of other Council Members were taken into account, and was completed at informal discussions on 30 December by the inclusion of a paragraph recognising the broad range of options for public and private Council meetings which can be used in order to facilitate specific discussions. This reflects the growing practice of the Council of considering both thematic and country-specific matters in public or private meetings, rather than in informal consultations of members. A copy of that Note (S/1999/1291 of 30 December 1999) is attached as an annex to this assessment.

Millennium Reception

To mark the end of the century and the millennium the Security Council members held a reception at the United Nations Headquarters on 29 December to which the Secretary-General, senior members of the Secretariat, heads of the United Nations bodies and all Permanent Representatives were invited.