Week 90, 26 – 30 September 2022

This bulletin will provide a brief analysis of last week’s meetings at the UN Security Council (UNSC), and an overview of the upcoming meetings this week.

Last week, the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week 2022 took place in New York, following the opening of the 77^th session of the General Assembly on 13 September 2022. Ireland hosted a high-level side-events on Peacekeeping Transitions and the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, participated in several high-level meetings. The Security Council held a ministerial-level meeting focusing on impunity and accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine, convened by France as President of the Council for September.

• On 20 September 2022, Ireland filed a declaration of intervention under Article 63 of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Statute in the case concerning Allegations of Genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russia). Ireland’s position is that the ICJ does have jurisdiction in this case and that the use of force by Russia on the pretext of a false allegation of genocide by Ukraine is a serious violation of the Genocide Convention.
• On 21 September 2022, just over a year since the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2594 on Peacekeeping Transitions, Ireland hosted a high-level side-event on ‘Ensuring the success of transition in UN peacekeeping operations.’ Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, spoke of Ireland’s longstanding contribution to UN peacekeeping missions and emphasised that Ireland is acutely aware of the complex nature of missions, particularly as they transition. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, highlighted two key elements to successful transitions; the need to build national capacities; and the necessity of partnerships with national and local authorities. Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cote d’Ivoire, Kandia Kamissoko Camara reiterated the importance of national ownership, strong planning, and gradual withdrawal.

 

Kandia Kamissoko Camara

• On 21 September 2022, at the United Nations, Ireland pledged €50 million in partnership with USAID and UNICEF, to respond to child malnutrition on the Horn of Africa.
• France hosted a ministerial-level meeting in the Security Council on Ukraine on 22 September 2022, focusing on impunity and accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, told the Council that the reports presented by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) constitute “a catalogue of cruelty”. He underlined the important role of the International Criminal Court and called for full cooperation with the Court. Karim Khan, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, emphasised that the international community must show that the rule of law can serve as an anchor for peace and security in Ukraine and in other places.  On a positive note Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence of Ireland, shared insights from his recent visit to Odesa, recounting that he witnessed the loading of a cargo ship with 46,000 tons of grain departing from Odesa for Bangladesh, a direct result of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has reached 3 million tons. Reflecting on the veto, Minister Coveney stated that “no one country, no matter how big or powerful, should have the ability to veto the application of international law, for its own aims.” He further urged the Russian Federation to cease all actions against the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and return control to Ukraine, adding that it is not acceptable for the world to be governed by force and not through dialogue.

                    Minister Simon Coveney         

• On 22 September 2022, the Irish Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, addressed the United Nations General Assembly during the General Debate and outlined Ireland’s continuing commitment to multilateralism, citing initiatives undertaken by the country as an elected member of the Security Council. He further reported Ireland’s deep frustration at many aspects of the Council, including the failure to adopt a resolution on Climate and Security, after it was vetoed by Russia, and claimed that the Council has not acted decisively to deal with the situation in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Turning to the issue of global food insecurity, the Taoiseach acknowledged that conflict is now the main driver of hunger and said that Ireland has responded to the crisis by increasing humanitarian aid, contributing 78 million Euro for the Horn of Africa, and funding other severely affected countries and regions, including Yemen, Afghanistan and the Sahel. Mr Martin went on to describe the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as 'not just a European issue' and 'not just a concern for the West.' He outlined that the targeting of nuclear facilities and of civilian infrastructure and the sham referenda in eastern Ukraine, aimed at forcibly changing Ukraine’s borders, as clear violations of the UN Charter. He stated that Russia's conduct could not be reconciled with its place on the UN Security Council, which is dedicated to the preservation of peace and prevention of war.

Miroslav Jenča

• Nicholas Haysom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), briefed the Council on 16 September 2022. The Council was that informed despite consensus by key signatories on a road map to complete South Sudan’s democratic transition to elections and a new Government, the country’s humanitarian situation is more dire than ever, with increasing violence and sexual assaults, the Government struggling to fulfil terms of the peace accord, and the entire country facing devastating food insecurity. Ireland condemned the continued violence, human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in the country in the strongest possible terms and called on the authorities in South Sudan to urgently take necessary steps to address the issue of impunity, as well as the drivers of conflict and insecurity.
• The Council was briefed by UN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, in a closed consultation on 16 September 2022. The Special Envoy discussed the deteriorating situation in Myanmar following her recent visit to the country, which marked the first time she was granted access to Myanmar since she was appointment to the position in October 2021.

The Week Ahead (26 – 30 September 2022)

This week marks the final week of the French Presidency of the Security Council for September. An Informal Interactive Dialogue on the humanitarian situation in Syria is scheduled to take place. The Council will also meet to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the Middle East including the Palestinian Question, Libya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Monday – 26 September 2022

• An Informal Interactive Dialogue (IID) on the Humanitarian situation in Syria is scheduled to take place, the first since the adoption of Resolution 2642 in July 2022. The IID aims to review and follow-up on the implementation of that resolution, including progress in early recovery projects, with a briefing from an official from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Tuesday – 27 September 2022

• The Council will hold its quarterly meeting on the situation in Afghanistan. The meeting is likely to focus on the humanitarian, economic, and human rights situations, as well as the international community’s approach to the Taliban. United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Deputy Special Representative, Markus Potzel, is expected to brief the Council.

Wednesday – 28 September 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, which will focus on the implementation of Resolution 2334 in relation to Israeli settlements.  UN Special Coordinator, Tor Wennesland, will brief the Council.

Thursday – 29 September 2022

• The Council is due to adopt a resolution extending the authorisation for member states, acting nationally or through regional organisations, to inspect and seize vessels off the coast of Libya that they suspect are being used for migrant smuggling or human trafficking from Libya. The disruption of human smuggling and trafficking networks is one of the secondary tasks of EU Operation IRINI.
• France, as President of the United Nations Security Council for September, has scheduled closed consultations on Libya, with a briefer from the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on Chemical Weapons in Syria.

Friday – 30 September 2022

• The Council will hold a briefing and consultations on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), Bintou Keita, and a civil society representative will brief the Council.