SC work programme for September 2008 – SecCo President press conference – Transcript (excerpts)

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Presenting the Security Council’s programme of work for September at a Headquarters press conference today, the Council President for the month, Michel Kafando of Burkina Faso, drew attention to a high-level meeting scheduled for 23 September on mediation and settlement of disputes.

Due to take place at the level of Heads of State during the afternoon of the opening of the General Assembly’s general debate, the Security Council meeting, open only to Council members, was a “very significant event”, which would take place under the aegis of the President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore. 

Time constraints, owing in part to the bilateral talks among Heads of State, had led the Council to limit high-level participation to its members only, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  “This is regrettable,” he said, “because a debate as important as this on a subject as significant -– mediation as a means for the settlement of conflict –- is very important and, of course, it is a subject that would be, is, of interest to all Member countries.” 

Experts had been invited to address the meeting, and they would outline their viewpoints and exchange experience, he said, adding that correspondents would be kept informed of who was expected to attend.

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Concerning the Middle East, Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Peace Process, would brief on the political, humanitarian and security situation in the region on 18 September.  …

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The Council had no objection to a briefing by Quartet members for the Middle East, he replied to another question.  That briefing would be highly useful to the Council members.  The only difficulty that had arisen was finding a time slot, as the workload was “very heavy” in the coming period.  But, a way would be found to accommodate a Quartet briefing.

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For information media • not an official record