This Week in DPPA: 17 - 23 July 2021

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo met with Deputy Foreign Minister Sang-wook Ham of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on 22 July to discuss ways to further consolidate cooperation in the area of peace and security and conflict prevention between the UN and the Republic of Korea. 

Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Europe, Central Asia and Americas Miroslav Jenča, participated in the 11th General Meeting between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations held on 21-22 July hosted by DPPA. ASG Jenča chaired the opening session where Secretary-General Antonio Guterres thanked CARICOM via video message for its unwavering support to the United Nations in Haiti. In his remarks, the ASG also noted the importance of the continuing partnership between the two organizations. “I find it heartening to see that CARICOM and the UN have found a way to make this meeting happen despite the tremendous challenges facing the Caribbean region. Our partnership today is more necessary than ever”. The online meeting brought together more participants than ever for this event: 130 participants, including 10 CARICOM Permanent Representatives. The meeting identified areas to carry forward to address the multidimensional vulnerability of the Caribbean region, including economic recovery and social and environmental resilience.

Security Council

Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria, briefed the Security Council in closed consultations on 19 July. In an effort to move the political process forward, he urged all sides to define, with greater precision, what kind of reforms and steps they are willing to take, if concrete steps were taken on the other side. The Envoy noted that any steps should be reciprocal and mutual, realistic and precise and be implemented in parallel. 

Elizabeth Spehar, Special Representative for Cyprus, updated the Security Council in closed consultations on 21 July. In a brief statement following her briefing, Spehar said that she expressed “deep concern” over the latest developments in Varosha and its negative impact on the ongoing efforts to seek common ground between the parties towards a lasting settlement of the Cyprus issue. “The Council has been reminded that the Secretary-General has systematically called on its members to refrain from any unilateral actions that could intensify tensions and derail efforts to continue the dialogue for finding common ground, including Varosha”, Spehar said.

Watch full media stakeout here

Joanna Wronecka, Special Coordinator for Lebanon, briefed the Security Council on 22 July the implementation of Resolution 1701. She spoke alongside Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Force Commander Stefano Del Col behind closed doors. Focusing on recent developments, she highlighted the country’s multiple and accumulating socio-economic, financial and political difficulties and their impact on the people. She also reiterated the UN’s call for the formation of a fully empowered government that can put Lebanon on the path to recovery. “The United Nations is doing what it can to mitigate the situation”, she added, “but ultimately the responsibility for salvaging Lebanon lies in the hands of Lebanon’s leaders”.

Read more here

Afghanistan

Deborah Lyons, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) participated in a meeting held with the Afghan Women Consortium and Provincial Women’s Network. The discussion centered on the most effective ways to secure support to women’s rights and safety, exploring possible ways of working with the Government, Taliban, regional and international actors to defend the dignity and rights of all of Afghanistan’s women. “If Afghan women’s rights are denied it will impact women all over the world”, Lyons stressed.

Syria

Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen was in Moscow this week. He met on 22 July with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. They discuss the full implementation of Resolution 2254. Pedersen noted that he appreciated the support he has received from Russia for his mandate. In his remarks to the press following the meeting, he voiced hope that the common understanding reached during the meeting with Minister Lavrov on humanitarian issues could also be developed into a more unified approach to the political process.

Transcript of press stakeout here 

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Iraq

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), met with President Barham Salih to discuss the current political and security situation in the country, including preparations for the early general elections in October. In light of the new enhanced UNAMI mandate, the President and the Special Representative reaffirmed their commitment to constructive cooperation towards free, fair, inclusive and Iraqi-led elections. Later in the week, on 22 July, Hennis-Plasschaert continued the discussion on the UN’s commitment to assist the Iraqi authorities in holding transparent and credible elections with Head of the Al-Hikma National Movement Ammar Al-Hakim in Baghdad.

Great Lakes Region

Huang Xia, Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, met with the European Union’s Political and Security Committee (PSC) for a breakfast briefing hosted by the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the European Union on 21-23 July in Brussels. They discussed the action plan to implement the new United Nations Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution in the Great Lakes Region and ways to facilitate solutions to regional, bilateral and national challenges faced around the region.

Central Africa

François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), was in Luanda, Angola, this week to participate in the 8th Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa; CPLP) Conference. In his remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General, he noted that the partnership between the UN and CPLP is essential to help deliver on the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and stressed that the UN looks forward to continued cooperation to build a sustainable and more resilient future. During his visit to Angola, he also met with President João Lourenço and Minister of External Relations Tete Antonio, among others, and discussed issues related to peace and security in Central Africa and the role of subregional organizations. 

Colombia

The UN Verification Mission in Colombia and the Agency for Reintegration and Normalization on 22 July accompanied former FARC-EP combatants to the Great Agricultural Fair held in Quibdó, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture with the support of the World Food Programme. The ex-combatants presented their two most important projects: The fish farm #PescaPaz and the women's restaurant “La Rancha de mi Pueblo”. Producers and entrepreneurs had the opportunity to interact with clients and public institutions.

Haiti

Helen La Lime, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), and her deputy, Special Representative Bruno Lemarquis, participated in the funeral of the late President of the Republic of Haiti, Jovenel Moïse on 23 July. The service was held in Cap-Haïtien, close to the former President’s hometown of Trou du Nord.

Peacebuilding

This week’s episode released on 19 June by the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) features Aya Chebbi, a pan-African feminist activist and former AU Special Envoy for Youth. In this episode, she talks about Pan-Africanism and women’s participation in leadership and decision-making for peace and development in Africa. Chebbi also shares key insights on the importance of inter-generational dialogue towards the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

For more information on the podcast series, click here

Next Week

Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Oscar Fernandez-Taranco will brief the Security Council on the current challenges of COVID-19 vaccine access in conflict-affected areas on Monday, 26 July in closed consultations. Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland will update the Council on the Middle East Peace Process on Wednesday, 28 July. 

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo is traveling to Ethiopia and Sudan next week. She is expected to meet with senior officials in both countries to discuss peace and security challenges in the Horn of Africa. While in Ethiopia, she will also meet the leadership of the African Union.