Week 57, 7 - 11 February 2022

Ireland and the UN Security Council – This Week

Last week, the Security Council held an open meeting on Ukraine as tensions continued to mount on the border with Russia. There were particularly heated exchanges between Russia and the US over a possible invasion, however, the meeting produced no concrete results. Ireland’s statement stressed the need for de-escalation, diplomacy, and dialogue. The Security Council issued a Press Statement on the situation in Lebanon and on attacks which killed 60 internally displaced persons in the DRC. Finally, on the 1 year anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar, the Security Council issued a Press Statement expressing concern at the continued state of emergency in the country.

• In a Security Council meeting in the situation on the Russia-Ukraine border on 31 January 2022, Ireland called for de-escalation, diplomacy, and dialogue.
• The Security Council renewed the mandate of the UN Mission in Libya on 31 January 2022. Ireland’s explanation of vote in favour reiterated its full support for the work of the Mission.
• Norway concluded its Presidency of the Council for the month on 31 January 2022.
• On the 1 year anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar, Ireland released a statement reiterating its support for the people of Myanmar and their efforts to restore the country’s democratic path. The Security Council issued a Press Statement on 2 February 2022 expressing deep concern at the continued state of emergency in the country.
• The Security Council issued a Press Statement on Lebanon on 4 February 2022 which stressed the need for the swift adoption of measures to address the economic situation in the country.
• The Security Council issued a Press Statement on the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 4 February 2022 which condemned the attacks on the Savo camp for internally displaced persons in Ituri province.
• Ireland joined with Albania, Brazil, France, Japan, Norway, the UAE, the UK, and the US, in making a joint statement on the recent DPRK launch of intermediate range missiles.

The Week Ahead

This week, Russia will hold the first high-level open debate of its Presidency on the “General issues relating to sanctions: preventing their humanitarian and unintended consequences”. Despite the concerns raised by Council members at last week’s meeting on the situation in Ukraine, Russia will be keen to shift attention back to the Council’s regular agenda items. There will be a closed meeting on the situation in Burkina Faso, where a military coup took place on 24 January 2022 and a briefing from Russian Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov on the Secretary-General’s 14th strategic-level report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

Monday – 7 February 2022 

• Russia will organise a debate on "General issues relating to sanctions: preventing their humanitarian and unintended consequences". Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths are expected to brief.

Tuesday – 8 February 2022 

• The Security Council will hold closed consultations on the situation in Burkina Faso, under the agenda item “Peace consolidation in West Africa”. A UN Secretariat official is expected to brief.

Wednesday – 9 February 2022

• The Security Council will receive a briefing on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, based on the Secretary-General’s 14th strategic-level report on the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh). The anticipated briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov and Acting Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) Weixiong Chen

Thursday – 10 February 2022

• The Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee.

Friday – 11 February 2022  

• No official meetings.