Security Council – Work assessment under Panama presidency (February 2008) – Letter from Panama (excerpts)

Letter dated 28 July 2008 from the Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

I have the honour to transmit to you the assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Panama in February 2008 (see annex). This assessment has been prepared under my responsibility, following consultations with the other members of the Security Council.

I should be grateful if this letter and its annex could be circulated as a document of the Security Council.

(Signed) Ricardo Alberto Arias

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

Annex to the letter dated 28 July 2008 from the Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

[Original: English]

Assessment of the work of the Security Council during the presidency of Panama (February 2008)

Introduction

During the presidency of Panama in February 2008, the Security Council held 17 meetings, including one open debate, one private debate, four debates and three briefings. In addition, the Council held consultations of the whole on 15 occasions. The Council also held one informal interactive discussion. The Council adopted four resolutions and five presidential statements and agreed on five statements to the press.

The Vice-President and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Panama, Samuel Lewis-Navarro, presided over the open thematic debate convened on 12 February on the topic of children and armed conflict.

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Middle East

The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question

On 26 February, at its 5846th meeting, the Council was briefed by Robert Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, on recent developments regarding the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, and by John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on the worsening humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. After the meeting, Council members retired to consultations of the whole to discuss those briefings. Council members exchanged views on the content of the briefings, and in particular expressed concern for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the daily rocket attacks from Gaza against Israeli civilians. The Council took no action on the matter.

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