S/PV.7373 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I shall now give the floor to the members of the Security Council.

May I start by conveying our appreciation for your efficient and productive presidency of the Security Council during the month of January. I wish to commend you, Sir, for your poise in presiding over our work. In 2015, we continue to face significant challenges, with persistent conflicts provoking untold human suffering and an ever-growing number of victims. Death, refugees, displaced persons, new and more divers terrorist threats are contributing to a world where our remarkable scientific and technological progress contrast sharply with the most heinous behaviour of some human beings. It is it is this dual reality that we have been facing in the Security Council while trying to find solutions to the grim realities of our contemporary world. Quite often, it appears that those who foster war and disintegration might have the upper hand, but we must not fall into despair because the international community has entrusted to us the inalienable task of upholding the principles of peace and the rule of law. I would like to share my views on some areas for the Council has not performed how it should, given its inability to unite and, in other instances, to find common ground to address what are very complex issues indeed, related to war and the search for peace. The continuing crisis in Syria, the rising tensions of the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, the deteriorating situation in Yemen, the growing threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham, and the mounting threats relating to the situations in Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic constitute heavy burdens for which we must remain as steadfast and effective as possible, with a view to reducing the growing threats of conflict and the humanitarian disasters associated with them. We remain current deeply concerned by the lack of unity within the Council to foster an effective political solution to the conflict in Syria. Even though there has been significant progress in the destruction of the Syrian chemical weapons programme, no real progress has been made to find a political solution, which remains the best way forward. We continue to urge members of the Council to unite and promote a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis through dialogue and negotiations. We are also concerned at the lack of significant progress towards the resumption of peace talks between Israel and Palestine, which is also due to the lack of a consensus position within the Council and the Council’s inability to move forward in supporting the two-State solution for Israel and Palestine. Yemen, which was on the right path towards democratic reform, is slowly spiralling out of control. Here, again, the Security Council should be more assertive due to the risk of Al-Qaida terrorists advancing into the Arabian peninsula. Fortunately, the Security Council has been able to keep its unity in the fight against terrorism. The proliferation of terrorist groups, such as ISIS, Al-Qaida and Boko Haram, among others, and the alarming growth and reach of their operations, post a grave threat to the world. We must preserve our essential unity in this fight, which concerns us all. Even though there has been some significant progress in the peacekeeping missions in Africa, we are concerned by the fragile nature of many situations. In the Democratic Republic of the Cong, the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda, despite being under an ultimatum to disarm and surrender, continues to defy the Security Council. We should not allow this to continue. Another case where the international community and the Security Council are striving to broker a peace agreement, the Central African Republic, has obtained meagre results to date. Burundi also continues to experience political turmoil, ahead of legislative and presidential elections currently scheduled for May and August 2015, respectively, requiring the commitment of the Security Council to assist in the electoral process. Regarding Mali, we are witnessing a grim situation, with terrorist acts, attacks on peacekeepers and great difficulties in engaging in a meaningful political process. We applaud the role of Algeria in leading efforts to bring about a peaceful solution. The threat of Boko Haram has finally met with a response from the Security Council. We must now step up our efforts to assist the countries of the region to face that terrorist group, which has provoked so much suffering and destruction. In Central and West Africa, the near future is full of uncertainty, with a number of countries expected to hold elections, requiring the strong support and commitment from the Special Representatives of the Secretary-General and political missions in those regions with good offices missions to prevent potential conflicts associated with those electoral processes. Before concluding, I would like to mention the important debates on inclusive development for the maintenance of international peace and security and on post-conflict peacebuilding. We agree that inclusive developments is key for preventing conflict and enabling long-term stability and peace. With regard to post-conflict peacebuilding, the successful implementation of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes for ex-combatants, the incorporation of gender issues and the promotion of dialogue and pluralism are essential elements for the consolidation of peace. In conclusion, we are fully dedicated to the work of the Security Council, to promoting its unity as a prerequisite effectively to resolve fundamental issue related to international peace and security. We will continue to cooperate with our partners in the Council in dealing with ongoing and emerging situations alike in the most effective way.

As a newly elected member of the Security Council completing our first month of service, New Zealand thanks Chile for its very able stewardship during January, not least in the thematic debates your promoted, Sir, and the important visit to Haiti, which you proposed and which give us a great deal of valuable information. We also commend your scheduling of meetings at short notice when the need arose, and your use of the full range of available tools for members to engage informally in discussions on critical emerging issues. I would highlight, in that regard, the informal interactive dialogue on the Central African Republic Commission of Inquiry and the Arria formula meeting on human rights and peacekeeping operations. In discharging its day-to-day duties, it is very important that the Council not lose sight of its responsibility on behalf of the broader United Nations membership to respond quickly to emerging threats to peace and security. When urgent matters do require our attention, New Zealand encourages all members to work constructively together to reach swift agreement on the Council’s public positioning. If, for example, in just the past week, we had remained silent on the most clear-cut issues — and I think in particular of events in Nigeria, Yemen and Lebanon — and if we had been unable to agree on even the simplest language of condemnation or concern, then the Council’s relevance could have and would have been called into question. Acting swiftly and speaking with unanimity will help ensure that ongoing relevance. Making that comment, I find myself very much aligned with the similar comments made by my colleague, the representative of Angola. Reflecting on the Council’s work in January, New Zealand has viewed a number of issues with very deep concern, not least the continued perpetration of atrocities by Boko Haram. We welcome the efforts of Nigeria and the region to combat that threat, including the establishment of the multinational task force. Boko Haram is, without a doubt, a significant threat to international peace and security, and New Zealand hopes that the Council will support regional efforts to combat that threat, and extends its hand of support to Nigeria in its efforts to combat Boko Haram. In the absence of regular conflict-prevention briefings, it is very important that the Council take every other possible opportunity to be briefed by the Secretariat on emerging issues, including, if necessary, by doing it under “Any other business”. We welcome such developments during January, in particular in respect of Yemen, on which we had two such briefings at short notice. Obviously, the Council, with its very full agenda, must find a balance between responding in a timely manner to events through its products and statements and ensuring that such messaging is representative of all 15 members. In that regard, New Zealand thanks its fellow Council members, both permanent and elected, for their ongoing work as penholders on particular issues and situations. That is important work on behalf of the Council. We do, however, regard it as essential that all members be given adequate time to consider both formal and informal texts, particularly when the relevant timelines are well-known, well-established and known in advance, such as with dates for the renewal of mandates, and that, where necessary, there be adequate time for face-to-face negotiations on the texts in question. Wrap-up sessions can be valuable opportunities for us to reflect on the way we have gone about our business during the month under review, and to assess how those methods might be improved. Moreover, a measure of public and therefore transparent self- reflection can also provide the broader United Nations community with some insight into the workings of the Council, particularly given that so much of our business is inevitably transacted in the consultations room, through email exchanges or in small informal groupings of Council members. While New Zealand feels that there is real utility in this wrap-up format, not least from a transparency perspective, we believe we should make even more efforts to ensure that these meetings are dynamic and relevant. We specifically suggest that future presidencies consider recommending to the Council that these sessions be opened up to allow representatives of regional groups to participate under rule 39 and to give us their assessment of the way in which the Council is going about its work on their behalf.

I would like to thank you, Sir, for convening this wrap-up session for the month of January 2015 in open format. As Malaysia has stated before, open meetings of this nature allow for greater transparency and afford better insight into the work of the Council, especially for non-Council members and other stakeholders. We will continue to support the holding of such sessions. I also take this opportunity to thank you personally, Cristián, and your team at the Chilean Mission for guiding us through the Council’s work in January with great leadership, wisdom and patience. At the same time, I would like to thank you and Ambassador Samantha for the briefings on the Council’s recent mission to Haiti (see S/PV.7372), which, in our view, went smoothly and successfully. Malaysia shares the assessment that the Council’s visit to Haiti was especially timely. We believe that the visit provided the necessary impetus for the parties in Haiti to continue to pursue peaceful negotiations with a view to resolving their differences and in order to overcome the deadlock over electoral reforms, which has prevented the country from realizing its political and socioeconomic potential for far too long. Malaysia also commends Chile for organizing three open debates during the course of its presidency. The themes for the debates — namely, the situation in the Middle East (see S/PV.7360), inclusive development and the maintenance of international peace and security (S/PV.7361), and the protection of civilians — are all current issues and brought about broad participation from non-Council members, attesting to the importance of these issues. At this stage, I would like to share some of the reflections, insights and experience that Malaysia has gained after joining the Council roughly a month ago. The first observation is on how quickly time passes when one is a Council member. Secondly, and although I note that this point has been raised before, I feel compelled to reiterate it. The Council’s work appears to have increased over time and continues to do so. The fact that the Council remains engaged and meets more frequently on various issues and situations on its agenda indicates the importance and centrality of its role in managing and maintaining international peace and security. Given the enormity and gravity of its responsibility, the Council must continue to ensure that it is able to respond and address such challenges in the most appropriate, effective and timely manner. As you rightly indicated, Mr. President, the Council has adopted a number of important resolutions and made a good number of important pronouncements of position on various developing or escalating situations around the world. For instance, we recall that, for this month, the Council has adopted several important resolutions — resolution 2196 (2015) on the situation in Central African Republic, resolution 2197 (2015) on Cyprus, and resolution 2198 (2015) on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On that note, my delegation would like to emphasize that the quality of the Council’s resolutions lies in their implementation and follow-up. Malaysia hopes that all relevant parties will commit to implement the provisions of those resolutions. The Council must remain vigilant in monitoring the implementation of its resolutions, and we should not hesitate to address instances of non-compliance. In addition, the Council has also discussed and pronounced itself on a number of issues and situations through numerous statements to the press. We share the Council’s deepening concern on the markedly increasing number of terrorist attacks around the world. In addition, we remain deeply concerned by the escalations of armed conflict and violence in several situations around the world. In this context, we are disappointed that the Council was unable to reach consensus on addressing the deteriorating situation in Yemen. At the same time, the deteriorating humanitarian situations in several conflict areas, including Palestine, Syria and Ukraine, continue to remain high on the Council’s agenda. It is a matter of concern that the Council remains sharply divided on these situations. The incident in southern Lebanon yesterday is yet another grim reminder of how untenable the current situation in the Middle East is. Moving forward, we hope that Council members will continue to work towards bridging differences in order to discharge the Council’s Charter-mandated responsibilities. Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to contributing in that regard. On working methods, Malaysia is pleased to note the Council’s continued use of technology, including through the use of video-teleconferencing facilities, to engage and interact with the United Nations presence on the ground. We believe that such practices should continue. We also note that, on many occasions, the Council has reacted promptly to address certain developing situations, including through the early issuance of press statements. We believe that prompt reactions by the Council are an important feature of its work and should continue. Malaysia notes that the “Any other business” agenda item continues to be used by countries to discuss certain issues on an exceptional or urgent basis. We support the continued use of that practice, as it affords the Council the ability to convene and react quickly to emerging issues and developing situations. We also note the convening of the Arria Formula meeting initiated by Lithuania on the role of human rights components in United Nations peacekeeping and political missions. We value the opportunity provided to exchange views with colleagues on the ground, in particular on how the Council could better support not only their mandates but the mandates of peacekeeping and political missions as a whole. We believe that greater use could be made of the Arria Formula format. In conclusion, I wish to once again express my delegation’s heartfelt appreciation to you and your team, Mr. President, for the exemplary manner in which you guided the Council’s work this this month. We are pleased and honoured to have worked with you in furthering the aims and purposes of the Council. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the delegation of China on its upcoming presidency of the Council next month. Malaysia stands ready to work closely with China and all Council members in pursuit of our common goals and objectives.

China thanks you, Mr. President, for convening today’s meeting. We greatly appreciate Chile’s leadership as President this month in enabling the Council to successfully conduct its work. China will serve as President for the month of February, and we will do all that we can to ensure the success of our work next month. We hope that we will continue to enjoy the full support of all colleagues on the Council. With regard to the Council’s work this month’, I should like to focus on three issues. First, on the situation of the Middle East, China is deeply worried about the serious difficulties facing the peace process in the Middle East, and expresses deep regret over the fact that the Council failed to adopt draft resolution S/2014/916, on the question of Palestine, submitted by Jordan on behalf of the Arab Group of countries (see S/PV.7360). The stalemate in the peace talks will inevitably lead to further escalation. China hopes that the Palestinians and the Israelis alike will adhere to their strategic choice of peace, stay the course of the peace talks, meet each other half-way and resume peace talks as soon as possible. The international community should enhance coordination and be open- minded in an effort to help both sides restore trust. The Security Council should assume the necessary responsibility to play an active role in promoting peace talks, ending the occupation and faciliating the reconstruction of Gaza. China is ready to enhance its cooperation with the international community and to play a greater role in promoting a solution to the question of Palestine. The recent security situations on the Lebanese-Israeli and Syrian-Israeli borders are also troubling. China urges all parties to abide by the relevant Council resolutions and the ceasefire agreement, exercise restraint and avoid actions that might escalate tension so as to restore calm. Secondly, on Africa, the Council has considered the situations in Mali (see S/PV.7355), Côte d’Ivoire (see S/PV.7358), Burundi (see S/PV.7364), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (see S/PV.7367) and the work of United Nations Office for West Africa (see S/PV.7357), as well as other topics concerning Africa. This year, many African countries are planning to hold elections that attract the broad attention of the international community. China hopes that he United Nations and the international community will actively engage in preventive diplomacy, enhance communication with relevant countries and support them to successfully hold their respective elections. China greatly appreciates the unique and important role played by the African Union and other African regional and subregional organizations in addressing regional and internal conflicts. We hope that the international community will strengthen cooperation and coordination with the relevant regional organizations in Africa in jointly addressing regional challenges and maintaining African peace and stability. Thirdly, on Yemen, China is deeply troubled by the dramatic worsening of the situation in that country. The top priority now is for all parties in Yemen to exercise restraint and to avoid actions that might escalate tensions. They should also bear in mind the long-term interests of their country and their people; resolve their differences through dialogue and consultations; fully implement the Peace and National Partnership Agreement and the outcome of the National Dialogue Conference and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative; and reach a broad-based consensus on the future of the country. We support the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Yemen, Mr. Benomar, in his mediation efforts and good offices. We also welcome the GCC and other international partners in playing a constructive role in helping Yemen restore stability at an early date. China will enhance coordination with the parties concerned and encourage the Council to play an active role in finding a solution to the question of Yemen.

I would like to personally thank you, Mr. President, and the entire delegation that you head for the skilful and effective completion of the role of President in the month that is ending, which has once again been characterized by a very heavy agenda. I will focus on a number of key issues. One focus of our programme of work was the meeting on the issue of inclusive development (see S/PV.7359). We agree with the premise that the interconnection of the issues of ensuring security, human rights and development has become more relevant in the current period of the United Nations post-conflict reconstruction of States. The United Nations needs to assume a coordinating role. Peacebuilding support must be based on national priorities that are developed by national Governments and be geared towards the development of national capacity. At the same time, we call for moderation and caution in considering issues within the framework of unofficial formats, particularly those by the Security Council. We consistently support the efficient division of labour among the principal United Nations bodies, as well as consideration by the Security Council of only those issues that have a direct bearing on international peace and security. Discussions in the Security Council have been very productive on another important topic: peacebuilding. We reiterate our assessment that the primary aims of States that have overcome the most active stages of conflict are consolidating national reconciliation and establishing security and peace for all their people, which are essential to avoid any repetition of armed conflict. Once again, we did not hear any good news from the Middle East in the month of January. It has been a year now since the Palestinians and Israelis suspended their negotiations, and their rift is widening. The situation on the ground continues to worsen, and the issues concerned with normalizing the situation in the Gaza Strip after the bloody conflict in 2014 still remain unresolved. Under those conditions, all opportunities must be used to unblock the peace process. Russia, especially, is working hard to hold a ministerial meeting of the Quartet as quickly as possible. Also, the work of the Security Council needs to be more focused on the Middle East peace process. Another source of concern is the escalating situation on the borders between Israel and Lebanon and Syria. We call on all sides for restraint and caution. We understand that emotions are heated, but the region cannot afford to have another hotspot of conflict. That could completely destabilize the region against the backdrop of growing terrorist threats. In that regard, I would like to express our condolences to the delegation of Spain in connection with the death yesterday of a Spanish peacekeeper of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. The Syrian conflict that has been dragging on has a very negative impact on the situation in the Middle East. We would like to once again emphasize that the only way to stop the conflict is through dialogue. In order to launch the process of national reconciliation, all opportunities must be utilized. In that connection, we have undertaken considerable efforts in launching inter-Syrian consultative contacts in Moscow. Russia’s efforts on the Syrian settlement are completely transparent. We are always ready to work on the basis of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations with all those who are truly interested in launching the process of political resolution. Everyone needs to understand that the process will be lengthy and will require additional efforts in developing a truly effective format for dialogue. Not all representatives of the opposition who were invited to Moscow were able to attend. We do not consider that a major problem. Efforts to promote national dialogue in Syria will continue, not only by us; we see added value in the efforts by Egypt. We will welcome any effort by other States or organizations that are aimed at creating optimal conditions for inclusive national dialogue, within the framework of which the Syrians will reach an agreement by themselves. We also see potential in the mission of the Special Envoy of the Secretary- General for Syria, Mr. De Mistura, who is promoting a number of interesting ideas that, of course, will require the support of all interested parties. The Council has considered the situation in the Ukraine twice this month. Unfortunately, the discussions have been highly politicized, while the recent tragedies there have become pretexts for stoking frenzy rather than promoting honest discussion about the reasons for the Ukrainian crisis and ways of overcoming it. We have again seen the flawed practice of colleagues attempting to include unadoptable provisions for propaganda purposes in documents that are humanitarian in essence. We are certain that genuine results in settling the conflict can be achieved only through direct dialogue between Kyiv and Donetsk and Lugansk, which the Ukrainian authorities have declined for the time being, having adopted the ruinous course of trying to solve the situation in the south-east by force. Without the inclusive political process that must be the framework for parameters of constitutional reform, as required by the Geneva declaration and the Minsk negotiations, an national settlement will be unattainable. In conclusion we would like to once again welcome the delegations of Angola, , Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela, which joined us on 1 January and which right from the start have begun to make very useful contributions to the work of the Council. We also wish every success to the delegation of China, which will lead the Council in February. It can count on our full support.

Mr. President, I join my colleagues in expressing my delegation’s appreciation to you personally and to your team for your efficient presidency of the Council during this month. A good part of the work of the Council in January was carried out in the form of open debates and open briefings, including an open briefing by the Chairs of the sanctions committees. We also appreciate your use of Arria formula and interactive dialogues during the presidency, and we appreciate the kind words of our Malaysian colleague with regard to the Arria formula meeting that was organized by my delegation. Although start-of-the-month horizon-scanning seems to have fallen out of grace in the Council, yesterday’s initiative of the Department of Political Affairs to brief the Council on the situation in Nepal was a useful reminder, in our view, of why that format is important. As the Council continues to cope with ever more numerous crises and wider conflict geography, in the face of the largest numbers of persons displaced and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance since the Second World War, a renewed focus on prevention is urgent. It is increasingly difficult to muster pledging funds and troops for peacekeeping operations, and if we do not improve the United Nations early warning and conflict-prevention capacities, the gap between the urgent needs and our ability to address those needs will continue to widen, with tragic consequences. In this respect, we welcome the Department of Political Affairs’ continued use of informal briefings, “Any other business” briefings, or any other formats that may serve the purpose of drawing the Council’s attention at an early stage to potential crises and conflicts before they erupt, in order to work out early preventive responses. Being discussed by the Council should not be seen by countries as some sort of stigma to be avoided at all costs until it is too late. On the contrary, it should be seen as a preventive and helpful remedy that significantly reduces the losses, particularly human losses, and provides gains in the longer term. In Yemen, things this month have taken a dramatic turn. The country, viewed as a success story only a year ago, has suffered a significant setback, with both the President and the Prime Minister resigning from their offices and the country itself on the brink of fragmentation. The Council has been warned about the continuous spoiler activities of ex-president Saleh and the consequences of the further violent advances of the Houthis, including a growth in violent sectarianism, terrorists strengthening their foothold, and even the split of the State itself. The national dialogue outcomes were the result of a legitimate and inclusive process and cannot simply be brushed aside if we are ever to achieve sustainable peace and development in Yemen. We need to push all political actors in Yemen to agree and, most importantly, to strictly comply with a new, clear timeframe for the implementation of key stages in the transition. Whatever road map is agreed, it must be backed by credible means to ensure implementation. Otherwise, the Council’s pronouncements will continue to be perceived as no more than empty threats. Some of my colleagues have referred to the issue of credibility or relevance of the Council, as my colleague from New Zealand has said. We find it very unfortunate that, at this critical stage, the Council failed a few days ago to come up with a statement on the latest developments in Yemen, and was unable to muster unity when it was most needed. Next month, the Council is to review the Yemen sanctions regime, which was created to help prevent exactly what has happened in that country — to stop spoilers from undermining the transition process. That is what we have failed to do. We believe that a serious discussion is in order about where we go from here in order not to lose the Council’s credibility and impact on this very fragile and potentially explosive situation. This month, the Council extended the sanctions regime against the Central African Republic. I wish to commend the excellent work of the Panel of Experts, which has produced an impressive report and submitted 19 statements of cases. Although some positive signals have been seen emanating from the Central African Republic in the past days, the situation remains extremely fragile, as seen from the recent kidnappings of ministers and continuous human rights violations. Our inaction at this stage would send a bad signal to all those who are still engaged in perpetrating abuse and fomenting violence, undercutting our ability to impact on the further developments of the situation in the country, and also raising doubts about how serious we are about tackling impunity. While we note ongoing discussions between the warring groups of the Central African Republic, we believe that general amnesty or Government posts should not be a reward for those committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and gross violations of human rights. We also hope that the sanctions committee will be able to take necessary action within the context of the recent report of the Panel of Experts. Finally, let me turn briefly to the issue of Ukraine. A few days ago, we held our thirtieth open briefing on the situation in that country (see S/PV.7368). If only open briefings translated into changes on the ground. While the Council has managed to maintain a focus on the continuous deterioration of the situation in eastern Ukraine and occupied Crimea, we have no real impact on the ground, alas. In spite of Ukraine’s efforts to keep the ceasefire alive, the militants have unilaterally abandoned the ceasefire and continue their attacks, with a growing number of civilian casualties. Russian weaponry and mercenaries, without which the conflict would have expired long ago, continue to flow freely across the border. In the meantime, while the events in Mariupol were exploding, Russia concluded a comprehensive agreement on alliance and strategic partnership with Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region, which means a de facto annexation of that territory in all but name. We remain profoundly concerned by the pattern of expansionist behaviour of Russia vis-à-vis its neighbours. The Council’s ability to respond to such situations is once again being tested, as is its credibility. Let me conclude by joining my colleagues in wishing the best success to the Chinese presidency during the month of February. They can count on our support and cooperation.

I would like to begin by thanking you, Mr. President, for organizing this meeting, and to congratulate you on your leadership and the great work done by your team for the development and success of your presidency. At the end of the first month of my country’s presence, for the fifth time, on the Security Council, I would like to make some general observations at this first wrap-up session in which my delegation is participating. We are pleased to see the good atmosphere of collaboration within the Security Council and the many concrete outcomes we have been able to negotiate and adopt in recent weeks. My country is and will be a constant and faithful partner in this work, and we are very aware of the importance and centrality of the work of the Security Council to the entire international peacekeeping and security architecture, as well as the Council’s responsibility. It was precisely in order to help maintain peace in the world that we presented our candidature, and we have always borne in mind that in electing us, the Member States of the Organization have entrusted us with that responsibility. Spain champions a Security Council that is open to discussion, seeks to broaden its sources of information, and takes advantage of the work and knowledge of the entire United Nations system. In that effort of transparency, we will therefore listen to all Members of the United Nations on matters on the agenda of the Security Council, particularly those with a special interest in them. We will promote decision-making that bears in mind the points of view of countries, regional organizations and other stakeholders. This first month during which we have participated in the work of the Council has shown us that it is essential to work in an orderly and predictable fashion, but that it is equally important to have the necessary flexibility to deal with questions that call for our attention. The consultations held on the crisis in Yemen or, yesterday, in the case of Lebanon, where sadly a Spanish Blue Helmet lost his life, have demonstrated the unanimity that Members have always shown in the fight against terrorism. Moreover, we believe that, beyond the calendar marked by mandate renewals and regular consultations and debates, it is essential for the Council to address all issues affecting world security, which constitute a variable geometry, and to use its tools, interactive dialogues and Arria Formula meetings, which we clearly welcome. I wish to express my delegation’s appreciation to the Chilean presidency for the ministerial-level debate held on inclusive development for the maintenance of international peace and security, presided over by President Michelle Bachelet (see S/PV.7361). That meeting reminded us that peace has many dimensions and that the Security Council should bear all of them in mind when it confronting an issue or creating or renewing a specific mandate. The Council’s mission to Haiti, on which we heard a briefing earlier today (see S/PV.7372), reflected the importance of the Security Council’s trips to keeping it up informed and effective on issues on its agenda. We also welcome tomorrow’s debate on the protection of civilians. My delegation especially appreciates the focus on the particular vulnerability of women and children in conflict that the presidency has emphasized for the debate. Spain is deeply invested in all questions related to the issue of women, peace and security, the interconnectedness of which we will continue to support and champion at all times. In my delegation’s opinion, the overall outcome of this month’s work is positive, both because of results achieved and because the Members of the Council have come together in a solid group able to agree on many things. It is essential, however, to show unanimity and resolve in our response to situations that call for the Security Council to speak out firmly and in a timely fashion. That has not always been possible this month, as those who have spoken before me have made clear. I wish the greatest success to the delegation of China when it assumes the presidency of the Council in February, and I reaffirm that all members count on our delegation’s continuing to build and strengthen the Council’s resolve.

I would like to thank the Mission of Chile for its steady leadership during the busy month of January. We are grateful, Sir, for your team’s diligent and conscientious hard work. As these first few weeks of 2015 have shown, this year we will be returning to several of the same crises that we faced last year, while also needing to turn to new challenges. This month, the Council has discussed continuing crises in Syria and Ukraine, growing terrorist threats in West Africa, and continued friction in the Middle East. With your leadership, sir, we travelled to Haiti to review the composition of the United Nations Mission there and to assess the political climate leading up to elections, as we just discussed this morning. We also again used the Arria Formula to inform ourselves informally about human rights components of peacekeeping operations, and we thank Lithuania for its initiative in that regard. Tomorrow, we will finish the month with an important open debate on protection of civilians. Looking ahead, we see a number of issues that will certainly need our continued attention. First, on Ukraine, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the past two weeks have been the deadliest period in Ukraine since the 5 September agreement was signed in Minsk. During this time, an average of 29 people have been killed each day. More than 5,000 people have been killed and almost 11,000 wounded since the conflict began in April 2014. The conflict reached a new low point with the attacks on the civilian population of Mariupol, well away from the Minsk ceasefire lines. We continue to believe that the only viable solution to this situation is a political solution, not a military one. The United States of America urges Russia to withdraw its armaments and forces from eastern Ukraine and end its support to the separatists. On the situation in Yemen, we see that the Security Council members clearly recognize the seriousness of the crisis following the resignation of President Hadi Mansour, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. We agree that an immediate ceasefire remains imperative and that the Yemeni people deserve a clear path back to a legitimate Yemeni Government, consistent with the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative, the national dialogue outcomes and the resolutions of this Council. Any understanding reached on the ground should include clearly defined timelines to complete Yemen’s draft constitution, to hold a referendum and to launch national elections. We also continue to support the mediation efforts of Special Adviser Jamal Benomar, along with the group of 10 ambassadors in Sana’a. We are pleased to see that some Security Council members this month raised the findings of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons fact-finding mission reports on Syria, which clearly point to the Al-Assad regime’s using helicopters to drop barrel bombs filled with chlorine on three villages in northern Syria. These actions are clear violations of resolution 2118 (2013), and the Council should certainly condemn such actions. Turning to Africa, we fully agree with the Secretary-General’s observation that the parties in Mali need sufficient time to resolve contentious political issues in order to ensure a truly inclusive, viable and implementable agreement. That said, we do need to start seeing progress on this agreement. We strongly support the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and the robust implementation of its mandate to protect civilians and United Nations personnel and facilities, as demonstrated by the critical and important use of its attack helicopters when its peacekeepers came under hostile fire in Tabankort in northern Mali on 20 January. On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Council adopted presidential statement S/PRST/2015/1 to show its concern over security in the eastern part of the country due to the ongoing activities of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR). As the Council said in its statement, the surrenders so far are not sufficient and do not come close to the full demobilization of the FDLR that we have called for. The FDLR must be held accountable, and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo must continue to apply robust military pressure on the FDLR elements that refuse to demobilize. In early January, the United Nations Office in Burundi formally closed and transitioned to the United Nations Electoral Observation Mission in Burundi (MENUB) with a mandate to support the country’s electoral process ahead of the 2015 elections. MENUB will play an important role in providing support to the Government in the development of an inclusive and transparent 2015 elections cycle. We urge the Government of Burundi to engage productively with the new Mission to ensure that all political and civil society leaders play an active role in the electoral process and that the people of Burundi enjoy a fully free and fair electoral process. This month, Special Representative Bernardino León succeeded in bringing together key Libyan political leaders for a United Nations-facilitated political dialogue, holding two rounds in Geneva so far, one on 14 and 15 January and another that began 26 January. We all welcomed these initiatives through a press statement on 17 January. We especially commend those who are engaging in the talks, which are aimed at producing a unity Government, and we encourage other Libyan leaders to participate in this effort as well. For the last three consecutive wrap-up sessions, we have ended our remarks on the issue of terrorism, and this month, sadly, is no different. As the Council stated in its 19 January presidential statement S/PRST/2015/4, we all condemn the attacks perpetrated by Boko Haram, particularly the suicide bombings in Maiduguri and Potiskum involving the use of children as suicide bombers. These events were simply heartbreaking, and serve as another example of why combatting terrorism continues to merit the Council’s close and sharp attention. This Council also strongly condemned the series of outrageous terrorist attacks in and around Paris on 7 and 8 January, including the barbaric and despicable shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo magazine. We have expressed it before, but it is worth repeating that we extend our deepest sympathies to the people of France, my country’s first friends, and our condolences to the family and friends of the 12 people murdered at the offices of the magazine, the policewoman who was killed the following day, and the four people who were murdered in the attack on the kosher market. As President Obama said in the wake of those attacks, we must continue to work to see that all our countries are working together seamlessly to prevent attacks and to defeat the terrorist networks. The freedom of expression is a key element in every democracy, and senseless violence cannot change that. To conclude, I want to renew a warm welcome to the newly elected members. We already enjoy and benefit from working with them. To our Chinese colleagues who take over the presidency on Sunday, we look forward to working with them cooperatively in February and, of course, we wish them a happy new year — the Year of the Sheep — on 19 February.

The Nigerian delegation thanks you, Mr. President, for organizing this wrap- up session, which provides us with an opportunity to assess the work of the Council in the month of January. The open debate on inclusive development for the maintenance of international peace and security, held on 19 January (see S/PV.7361), presented an opportunity for Council members and the wider United Nations membership to share views on the link between security and development. Nigeria commends the Chilean delegation for convening the debate and for its leadership role in the drafting of the presidential statement adopted at the debate (S/PRST/2015/3). We reiterate our firm belief that inclusiveness is vital to peace and security. Therefore, in our view, the topic should continue to be of interest to the Security Council. The Security Council mission to Haiti underscores the importance of the Council’s direct engagement with countries on its agenda. The trip allowed Council members to see first-hand the situation on the ground and to hear directly from the country’s leaders. We are satisfied with the outcome of the mission, the report of which we have just heard (see S/PV.7372). Nigeria appreciates the unity of purpose demonstrated by the Council in the adoption, on 19 January, of the presidential statement on Boko Haram (S/PRST/2015/4). We are cooperating with our neighbours and coordinating our efforts in order to effectively confront the menace of the terrorist group. Terrorism is a global problem that requires a global response. We shall therefore continue to count on the support of our bilateral and multilateral partners in that important endeavour. We thank the delegation of New Zealand for the reaffirmation of its support. We would like to conclude by thanking you and your delegation, Sir, for the astute manner in which you have presided over the Council this month. We extend our best wishes to the delegation of China and give assurances of our support and cooperation as it prepares to assume the presidency of the Council in February.

On behalf of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, let me congratulate you, Mr. President, and your entire team for the authority, dedication, efficiency, enthusiasm and leadership with which you and your delegation have conducted the work of the Council’s presidency in the month of January. This has been a month of great activity, and we would like to focus on several aspects of particular importance for my delegation. With regard to the question of Africa, the Council addressed the situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Somalia and West Africa, with particular emphasis on Mali. Venezuela aspires to be a constructive participant in that area and is ready to work with African regional and subregional organizations and all countries of the region in order to resolve conflicts and build lasting peace. The informative Council meeting on peacebuilding in the aftermath of conflict, chaired by Mr. Heraldo Muñoz, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Chile, on 14 January (see S/PV. 7359) highlighted the role of exclusion and inequality as root causes of relapse into conflict. It is important to highlight some points of agreement on how to advance the peacebuilding process, such as the importance of inclusive political dialogue and short-, medium- and long-term funding with proper coordination among national, regional and international entities in implementing recovery policies, as well as the importance of the leadership of the country concerned in the design and implementation of the State’s reconstruction policies. The Peacebuilding Commission has an important role to play in that regard. Venezuela shares the goals just mentioned but recalls that, without addressing the fundamental causes of conflict and relapse — including inequality, the impact of colonialism, foreign intervention and occupation and economic dependence — lasting peace will not be achieved. January was a busy month in the Middle East. Events in Yemen were the subject of the Council’s focus. We hope that a political settlement will be arrived at between the parties to enable the country to restore calm and achieve a durable peace agreement based on strict respect for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The open debate on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question (see S/PV.7360), provided States Members of the United Nations an opportunity to draw attention once again to the Council’s inescapable responsibility of promoting, with the support of the parties, a negotiated political solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. That task has become increasingly necessary to strengthen the credibility and confidence of the international community in this organ, especially when a draft resolution (S/2014/916) of fundamental importance to the Palestinian people did not attain sufficient votes in the Council for adoption on 30 December (see S/PV.7354), despite majority support in the General Assembly. The achievement of a firm and lasting peace on that issue will require and end to Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territories and the establishment of a Palestinian State with pre-1967, internationally secure borders, coexisting peacefully with Israel, in accordance with international law, including the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly. The Security Council should therefore spare no effort in playing a more active and constructive role in promoting the two-State solution. We urge the parties to resume at the earliest negotiations to achieve a firm and lasting peace. Venezuela reiterates its strong support for including Palestine as a fully fledged State Member of the United Nations and urgently calls upon Israel to immediately resume the transfer of the customs revenues it is holding, cease its blockade of Gaza and end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories. My country was honoured to see President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, of the brotherly country of Chile, presiding over the Council on 19 January (see S/PV.7361). The topic of the open debate, “Inclusive development for the maintenance of international peace and security”, helped to highlight the links among peace and security and development. It was a broad debate with the participation of over 80 countries. Although we have some doubts about the appropriateness of addressing that issue in the Security Council, we value the efforts made by the Chilean delegation to highlight the inverse relationship between inequality and exclusion, on the one hand, and peace and the well-being of nations, on the other. We cannot but agree that combating social and economic inequality and exclusion in all their aspects is an urgent task of all States that desire lasting peace. In that context, we value the presence of President Bachelet Jeria in presiding over the Council. Another issue that attracted the attention of the Security Council during the month was the working visit to Haiti from 23 to 25 January, on which we heard a briefing this morning (see S/PV.7372), which we fully endorse. We participated in the mission, together with the other members of the Council. The mission made it possible to reaffirm the Council’s support to the Government and the people of Haiti in their in their efforts in building peace, democracy and stability and promote the country’s recovery and sustainable development. Furthermore, the visit allowed us to see on the ground the important role of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti in maintaining peace. Venezuela therefore reiterates its appeal for ongoing and increased assistance to Haiti with a view to assisting it in overcoming the economic and social problems that have affected the country for decades and that were further exacerbated by the natural disaster of 2010. Venezuela welcomes all assistance to the Haitian people. We support a free and sovereign Haiti’s democratic development and political and social stability. Concerning the situation in Syria, Venezuela would like to reiterate that the only way to stop the armed conflict and the complex humanitarian situation in Syria is through a negotiated and inclusive political solution to the crisis. To that end there should be an immediate ceasefire, which will help to reach a firm and lasting peace ensuring reconciliation for our brotherly Arab country, with full respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We support efforts aimed at achieving peace in Syria and reject any outside interference or financing of armed and terrorist groups designed to effect regime change in this Arab State, in violation of international law. In that regard, Venezuela welcomes the Russian Federation’s offer to provide a platform for a dialogue between the parties to the conflict. In conclusion, we take this opportunity to reiterate our fraternal congratulations to the delegation of Chile on its successful leadership of the presidency of the Security Council, and to wish every success and our full support to the delegation of China during its presidency for the month of February. Lastly, we support and agree with New Zealand’s proposal that during these wrap-up meetings of the Council we should include the voices of the countries involved in the Council’s decisions.

I would first like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on the leadership you have shown in conducting the work of the Council during your term, as well as your entire support team. You have made a sustained attempt to continue the Council’s efforts to meet the requirements of transparency, as outlined in presidential note S/2010/507. We commend your initiative in organizing an open debate on development as it relates to the maintenance of international peace and security (see S/PV.7361), a subject that the Security Council had not covered since 2011 and that attracted great interest among Member States, along with the fact that your country’s President personally took part in and led the debate, which culminated in the adoption of a presidential statement (S/PRST/2015/3). As we affirmed in our statement in the debate, security and development are highly interdependent, and even while the responsibility for preventing conflict lies chiefly with States, the Security Council nonetheless has a primary role to play in countries in post-conflict situations, particularly when it comes to implementing its resolutions. Regarding the meeting on the peacebuilding architecture (see S/PV.7359), Council members noted the progress that has already been made in that area, while emphasizing that much still remained to be done. Among other things, the Security Council is awaiting with interest the results of the forthcoming 2015 review of the peacebuilding architecture, a process that began last month conjointly with the General Assembly. For our part, we emphasized the importance of proper identification by States themselves of their national priorities as a basis for intervention by the Peacebuilding Commission, as well as on strengthening national institutions so as to restore the authority of the State and ensure the provision of basic services to the people. Concerning Burundi, while some progress has been made in achieving peace and stability, much remains to be done, particularly when it comes to expanding the political space. However, we welcome the establishment of the United Nations Electoral Observer Mission in Burundi, which on 1 January began official operations alongside the African Union, the European Union and the International Organization of la Francophonie, while hoping that the elections will adhere to democratic standards so as to ensure stability and peace in the country. The situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still worrying, owing to the political challenges related to the electoral process and the threat posed by armed groups, including the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda. We welcome the launch of the joint military operation against those groups between the Congolese armed forces and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while hoping that the necessary measures will be taken to ensure the protection of the civilian population and their access to humanitarian aid. My delegation has concluded that, regrettably, the Council remains divided on the issue of the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. Far from calming the atmosphere of defiance between Israelis and Palestinians, recent events have seen the prospects for the speedy resumption of negotiations recede even further. At the meeting on the situation in Palestine (see S/PV.7360), Council members noted the failure of the draft resolution submitted to the Council on 30 December (S/2014/916), the purpose of which was to reach an agreement on ending Israel’s occupation by the end of 2017. However, we should note that Council members were unanimous in urging the international community to play an active role in promoting a two- State solution. We commend Chile for organizing a mission to Haiti designed to enable the Council to see at first hand the implementation of the stabilization process in Haiti in the wake of the disaster that devastated it in 2010. In conclusion, I would like to once again reiterate my congratulations to you and your team, Sir, for the enormous amount of work tackled, the relevance of the subjects addressed and the perseverance you displayed throughout your term. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate China on its assumption of the presidency for the month of February, assure its entire team of my delegation’s unreserved support and wish them every success. Sir Mark Lyall Grant (United Kingdom): I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and the Chilean Mission on guiding the Council smoothly through a hectic first month of 2015. I would also like to welcome once again our five new colleagues, whose contributions we are already appreciating. I am grateful to you, Mr. President, for convening today’s wrap-up meeting, and pleased that we are again holding it in public. We have covered a broad range of issues in January, including the worrying developments in Yemen, the escalating violence in Ukraine, the situations in the Middle East, Syria, Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as emergency discussions on Lebanon and Nepal. I congratulate you on the informative open debate on inclusive development and the prevention of conflict (see S/PV.7361), and I look forward to tomorrow’s debate on the important role that women must play in the protection of civilians. Together with the United Nations community, we commemorated the seventieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and expressed our solidarity in the fight against anti-Semitism. In addition, the Council travelled to Haiti to see at first hand the work of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. And sadly, we have already agreed on five press statements this year condemning new terrorist atrocities. Equally sadly, we have also started this year as we finished the last, addressing a series of seemingly intractable conflicts that have divided us. In this seventieth anniversary year of the United Nations, it is more important than ever that we face up to those challenges and work harder to overcome the divisions that have prevented the Security Council from taking action. I would like to mention three such conflicts. First, we have already met twice this year to discuss the worrying escalation in violence in eastern Ukraine. The separatist attack on Mariupol last Saturday that killed 30 people was a provocative and indiscriminate act that risks increasing the scope and severity of this crisis. This was not the first separatist attack targeting civilians this year. They could not have carried these attacks without Russian support and military hardware. Because despite our calls, the Minsk agreements of 2014 in September remain unfulfilled and the Russian military support for the separatists continues unabated, in clear violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. If Russia wishes to work for a peaceful solution, it needs to match its leaders’ words with deeds. Trust in Russia is currently at a low and hard work will be required to regain it, but a political settlement should be achievable and Russia will find willing international partners, if it is prepared to change course on Ukraine. We have also discussed the brutal conflict in Syria. An additional 76,000 people were killed in Syria in the course of last year, the majority through the regime’s barbaric actions, including indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas. Persistent, credible reporting of continued regime use of chemical weapons, in the form of chlorine, is an outrage which warrants Council attention. And, despite adoption of resolution 2191 (2014), the grave humanitarian situation continues to worsen. Let us not sit and watch another year go by as the toll of death and misery mounts. It is more imperative than ever that we come together to support a political process, in line with the Geneva communiqué of the Action Group for Syria (S/2012/522, annex) that brings an end to the violence. We look forward to Staffan de Mistura briefing the Council on his latest efforts next month and working with Council colleagues to find a viable end to this appalling conflict in the course of 2015. This month we also discussed perhaps the most intractable issue of all — the Middle East peace process. For over 50 years, the Council has toiled with this issue, and a solution is long overdue. The Council shares the same core commitment to a negotiated settlement that leads to a safe and secure Israel living alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian State. But last year the prospects for a two-State solution moved backwards. This year we must turn that momentum around. We must remain open to working with partners to revisit the parameters resolution. With sufficient time for proper negotiation, we may yet secure the full support of the Council for a resolution of this nature, which could help to kick-start a sustainable peace process. The challenge for the Council during this anniversary year will be whether we can make progress on these and other seemingly intractable conflicts. The overlap of views between us is greater than many give us credit for. The differences are relatively few, but they are acute. To succeed we will need to focus on these differences and not let them disrupt the areas that we do agree on. We owe it to all those suffering from the effects of conflict to do our utmost in these efforts.

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, and the entire Chilean team for the work you carried out in January. You have begun this year very well, with a heavy programme combining a useful field mission in Haiti and a dense and productive agenda in New York. Moreover, we were honoured by the presence of the President of Chile, Ms. Bachelet Jeria, in the Council. January 2015 will remain forever in the collective memory of the French people. The terrorist attack against the newspaper Charlie Hebdo, the crimes that followed it against the representatives of the security forces, and then the anti-semitic attack at the Hyper Casher market were deeply shocking for France and the rest of the world. On behalf of my country, I would like to once again thank the United Nations for its exemplary support through the statement (SC/11727) issued by the Security Council on 7 January, through the minute of silence observed by the Council and through the commitment of the Secretary-General, who came to express his support to us in the French Mission in New York, as well as the representatives of so many of Council members’ countries for their expressions of solidarity. The attacks underscore the extent to which, in an interdependent world, the security of all of us is a common good. More than ever, peace and stability in the Middle East cannot be disassociated from those of Europe. More than ever, France is committed to the future of the Middle East. In that connection, the current political crisis in Yemen has created a power vacuum in which Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula is prospering. In that context, we reaffirm our support for the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General aimed at promoting the establishment of a Government of national unity and the continuation of the process of political transition. Those conditions are necessary to continue combatting terrorism in that country. Early 2015 has also been marked by the rapid deterioration of the situation in Ukraine and the renewal of combat by separatists supported by Russia, in violation of the ceasefire and the Minsk agreements, which they committed to uphold last September. The attacks carried out by separatists these past few days, and in particular the offensive launched in Mariupol, seemed to indicate that they were deliberately targeting civilians. As the Secretary-General recalled to the press last Saturday, they could constitute serious violations of international humanitarian law. It is urgent to de-escalate the situation and to put the political process back on track. That will require a more constructive attitude on the part of Russia, which needs to stop supporting the separatists, in particular by supplying them with weapons. There can be no military solution to the conflict. The Minsk agreements of September 2014 remain the only basis for a lasting solution to the conflict. France continues to mobilize and will continue its efforts in close contact with its German partners and the Ukrainian and Russian authorities in the framework of the Normandy format meetings. I shall now turn to the African crisis. The influence of Boko Haram is spreading in Nigeria, as we saw in January, and beyond to neighbouring countries. The atrocities being committed are growing worse. The humanitarian consequences are horrible and pose a threat to the peace and stability of the region. In May 2014, the Paris summit warned about this phenomenon and led to the mobilization and strengthening of regional cooperation, as has been recalled by the follow-up meetings, in particular the Niamey meeting held on 20 January. The next step is to make the Multinational Joint Task Force operational without delay by developing a concept of operations, a concept of logistics support, rules of engagement and all other necessary documents, as was agreed in Niamey. The decisions follow and comply with the call launched by the Security Council in an important presidential statement (S/PRST/2015/4) adopted on the eve of the Niamey meeting. France, like its partners, stands ready to consider a binding resolution of the Security Council authorizing the regional force on that basis. In Mali, the escalation of fighting between armed groups in recent weeks is very worrisome. In implementing its mandate, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) had to use force on 20 January against a rebel group — the Mouvement national pour la libération de l’Azawad — which was firing on the city of Tabankort and on the MINUSMA camp. As underscored by the majority of Council members during consultations on 6 January, the deteriorating security situation requires joint pressure on the part of the international community on all parties to cease the fighting, respect the ceasefire and resume the Algiers negotiations without delay with a view to achieving lasting and inclusive peace. Before the peace talks resume in Algiers, we will propose a presidential statement of the Council to demand, in the clearest possible way, that the Malian parties return in good faith and without delay to the path of peace. January was an important month for the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 2 January — the date of the ultimatum established for the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda — marked the failure of the disarmament process of that armed group. The Council reacted immediately by holding an emergency meeting to examine the situation and adopted a strong presidential statement (S/PRST/2015/1) on the need to take immediate action against that group. As we come to the end of the month, we expect the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, now more than ever, to assume their responsibilities and undertake operations against the armed group. The Council also met to discuss the findings of the strategic review of the United Nations presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fourteen years on since the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo deployed in the country, we must step up efforts to ensure that the mandate of the Mission, in particular in terms of protecting civilians, is more actively and effectively implemented. According to the recommendations of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, we need a force that is more modern, mobile and responsive, but also more determined, if we are to make a difference on the ground and persuade the population of the added value of our efforts. The Council spoke forcefully on 22 January regarding the riots in Kinshasa. We warmly welcome the outcome of the crisis. However, we must remain alert. We call once again for the legal framework and timetable for the elections to be developed by consensus. Finally, the first half of 2015 will be an important period for the Central African Republic in its return to stability and peace. We welcome the continuing deployment of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), which should continue at a steady pace. We also welcome the robust posture that MINUSCA has already adopted and which it is particularly important to strengthen in this period. Major milestones are on the horizon as we approach the Bangui Forum and the legislative and presidential elections. They must allow us by August 2015 to inclusively complete the transition period led by President Catherine Samba-Panza, with the support of international partners and the tripartite mediation led by President Denis Sassou Nguesso. The Security Council must remain engaged to ensure that these essential steps for the stabilization of the Central African Republic succeed, that the timetable is respected and that the efforts of all parties focus on these same goals. Achieving stabilization also means combating impunity and respecting human rights. The report just issued by the international investigation commission makes an important contribution in that regard. I conclude by thanking once again the Chilean presidency and wishing the best of luck to China as it takes over in February.

At the outset, I would like to thank your delegation, Sir, for its successful leadership of the Security Council over the past month. In that regard, we welcome the initiatives of your presidency focusing on international peace and security and peacebuilding. I would like to recall in particular the open debate held on inclusive development for the maintenance of international peace and security (see S/PV.7361), which was presided over by the President of the Republic of Chile herself. The meeting reiterated the importance of inclusive development to safeguarding international peace and security, how complementary programmes and policies promote the link between political, security and development actions, and the importance of upholding human rights and the rule of law. National ownership is key to achieving lasting peace. The open debate on post-conflict peacebuilding (see S/PV.7359) was another opportunity to emphasize the lasting effects of peacebuilding, the comprehensive evaluation of the peacebuilding architecture, which will be reviewed later this year, as well as the importance of peacebuilding to consolidating political gains and to building the capacity of States concerned to complement international efforts. We look forward to tomorrow’s meeting on the protection of civilians and the role of women in that regard. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the delegation of China, which will assume the presidency of the Council in February, with our full support.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Chile. Over the past month, the Security Council held an open debate at the ministerial level on inclusive development for the maintenance of international peace and security (see S/PV.7361). The Council adopted a presidential statement (S/PRST/2015/3) containing important guidelines in this area, including on the participation of women and young people, inclusive disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes, the effects of the illicit exploitation and trafficking of natural resources and transnational organized crime, and the need to adopt a broad and comprehensive approach supporting the activities of the whole system in the context of its three pillars, including during transition periods under missions mandated by the Council. We thank all members of the Council who contributed to that statement and participated in the debate presided over by President Michelle Bachelet. We hope that the statement will help ensure that the Council’s future work integrate such a focus on inclusive development, which would be especially relevant in solving the situations before us at present. In the context of the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), Chile proposed the holding of an open debate on the protection of civilians focused on the protection challenges facing women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations. We hope that that open debate, to be held tomorrow, will bring forward ideas and solutions on a topic that deserves our full attention, in the light of the global study on the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) and the numerous review processes under way, including that on peacebuilding. In that regard, the Council adopted presidential statement S/PRST/2015/2, which supports the review of the peacebuilding architecture and suggests ways to guide efforts in this domain. Security Council missions are a tool for maintaining international peace and security. Our visit to Haiti allowed us to obtain first-hand information and to issue an urgent unified call on all sectors urging them to make constructive process through dialogue and by holding fair, credible and transparent elections. Such visits demonstrate the need for the Council to remain attentive to solutions on the ground, such follow- up being all the more important when it comes to reconfiguring peace missions. In Haiti, the Council observed the support for inclusive development for the maintenance of international peace and security provided by the United Nations country team, and the rapid-impact and community violence-reduction programmes being implemented by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. The Council also, unfortunately, learned of many deaths and was able to respond in a timely fashion, through presidential statements, to threats and attacks from armed and/or terrorist groups, such as the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda and Boko Haram. In that regard, a holistic approach must be taken to such issues in the light of the underlying causes that generate them. That will require us to ensure that the United Nations Office for West Africa and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa are adequately supported. The informal interactive dialogue on the final report of the independent investigation commission on the Central African Republic was an exemplary initiative that allowed Council members to gather information about the fight against impunity in the country, which will be useful when the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic comes up for renewal. We welcome the joint reviews of country situations, missions and offices with their respective sanctions regimes, including the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which were reviewed together with the respective sanctions regimes, with a view to promoting coherent evaluation and procedural efficiency. We note with interest the consultations held on the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, and we welcome those on Nepal, which demonstrate the Council’s interest in preemptively focusing on an issue that could require follow-up. We are very grateful for the support received from all members of the Council this month. Finally, we wish the greatest success and offer our full support to China during its Council presidency in the month of February. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.