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Press Conference by Security Council President on Unofficial September Calendar

A briefing on corruption and conflict and a debate on United Nations peacekeeping operations are among the highlights of the Security Council’s work in the month ahead, Nikki R. Haley (United States), the organ’s President for September, said at a Headquarters press conference today.

She said the 15-member Council will also hold its first-ever meeting on the situation in Nicaragua on 5 September, when they will hear a briefing by a representative of the Organization of American States (OAS).  She emphasized the importance to the Council of regular updates relating to developments on the ground, since human rights are closely linked to peace and security.

She went on to state that, on 10 September, the Council will hear a briefing on how corruption has become a cross-cutting issue that undermines stability around the world.  It is a fundamental cause for conflict that the Council should be addressing, she added, citing Tunisia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as countries destabilized by corruption.  Also that day, the Council will hold an Arria-formula meeting on Venezuela and corruption.

On 12 September, a debate is scheduled on United Nations peacekeeping operations, she continued, adding that Secretary-General António Guterres will brief Council members.  Stressing the imperative of improving the efficiency of operations, she said her delegation plans to table a resolution aimed at holding performance failures accountable.

Turning to regular Council business, she said it plans three briefings on Syria, with the meeting on 6 September focusing on the use of chemical weapons in that country, followed by a briefing on the situation in Idlib.

She announced that on 24 September, President Donald Trump will kick off a high-level event on the global call to action on the world drug problem, and chair a meeting relating to Iran on 26 September.

Responding to questions, she said the Council continues to shed light on the situation in Burma, where the Government is still in denial of events there.  The Council must make hard decisions in that regard, she emphasized.

On the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, she emphasized the importance of sanctions under Security Council resolutions, adding that “Russia and China are not exempt” from implementing the measures.

Elaborating on the meeting on Idlib, she said that her delegation sees in that area a similar pattern of behavior by the Russian Federation, Iran and the Assad regime as seen before the previous use of chemical weapons in Syria.  The meeting is intended to help avoid that, she added.

As for the meeting on Iran, she said the message to that country is that the world is watching its actions, whether supporting terrorism, launching ballistic missiles or selling weapons.  The United States is not looking for a product, but seeking to get Heads of State talking about Iran’s actions and what can be done about them.