S/PV.8339 Security Council

As this is the first public meeting of the Security Council for the month of September, I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to Her Excellency Ambassador Karen Pierce, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, for her service as President of the Council during the month of August. I speak for all members in thanking not only Karen but also Jonathan and the entire delegation on a job well done. Adoption of the agenda

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the United States. All Security Council members should have the provisional programme of work, which was circulated. I have always believed in transparency and that everything we do should be in the open. I know from the breakfast meeting this morning that there were some concerns, or issues, with the provisional programme of work. I felt that, rather than explaining it to one another, members could each openly say, in their national capacity, whether there are any issues with the provisional programme of work, or whether we can continue by consensus. I wanted to at least allow each delegation to say it in its own voice instead of having it said on its behalf. I hope that this will be the start of continued transparency. I think we have come a long way in the past couple of years in terms of making sure all Council meetings are open meetings. During the United States presidency, every meeting will be an open meeting. We hope that all members will respect that and consider continuing that policy during their presidency as well. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I wish to join you, Madam President, in congratulating and thanking the delegation of the United Kingdom for its work during its presidency of the Security Council last month. I wish you, Madam President, and your team every success in your work on behalf of the entire Council. I thank you for your team’s work for the drafting of the provisional programme of work. I see that we have a rather broad agenda covering many topics this month. Some of them are related to my region. Others include Haiti, the adoption of a draft resolution and the possibility of expanding the mandate of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, as well as the issue of South Sudan and the proposal of the presidency of convening a meeting during the high-level week to discuss the situation in Iran, among many others. We agree with a majority of the chosen topics but, as we have expressed throughout the drafting of the provisional programme of work, we believe that the desired meeting under the item of cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security with regard to the situation in Nicaragua should not be addressed within the Security Council primarily because, as we have expressed on other items, the situation in Nicaragua does not constitute a threat to international peace and security. We believe that it is important for the Security Council to clearly adhere to what is stated in the Charter of the United Nations, which is that its primary responsibility is to maintain international peace and security. We support the policy of the Secretary-General with regard to preventive diplomacy, but preventive diplomacy must be used within a framework of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States Members of the United Nations and where all States are on an equal footing. Furthermore, as we have said clearly in the past, the work being done by regional and subregional organizations is very important, but the Security Council should limit its efforts to addressing cases that represent a threat to international peace and security. The United Nations system is broad. It is not limited to the Security Council. If there is a situation related to human rights, we have the Human Rights Council, and the membership as a whole elects the members of the Human Rights Council. The same goes for other topics that are, of course, important. I should also say that we will be leaving the Security Council in a few weeks, and we are concerned about the possibility that we are giving the Security Council more power than the Charter of the United Nations itself entrusts to it. That would weaken the multilateral system and empower an organ that, as we have said many times before, is not democratic or transparent and in many cases does not represent the interests of the entire membership.

I too would like to join in congratulating our British colleagues on their presidency in August. They had a difficult job and nonetheless handled it well. I also wish you and your team every success, Madam President. This too will be a complicated month. You effectively lose a week to the general debate, but I think with our collective efforts we can make headway and discuss genuinely important issues pertaining to international peace and security. In that context, I wish to endorse my Bolivian colleague’s statement, which I felt made a very compelling and persuasive argument. There is no question that the Security Council should focus on issues that pose a threat to international peace and security, and in that regard, we see no such threat from the situation in Nicaragua. Furthermore, we fear that putting this item on the agenda of the Security Council will only undermine the efforts being made in Nicaragua to resolve the situation, and which of course we fully support. Our hope is that you, Madam President, will heed our views and that we can continue to work together as a team and achieve success in areas where we can make genuine progress. I also want to note that we understand and are familiar with the previously mentioned plans to hold a high-level meeting on 26 September. We assume that the discussion will take place in the context of the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015). In our view, the subject of Iran can be discussed only within that framework. In particular, we very much hope that the aspects linked to the withdrawal of the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action will be discussed.

I would first like to congratulate you, Madam President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Security Council in September. We know this is a difficult month and we wish you luck. We also thank the United Kingdom for presiding over the Council in August. China is of the view that the situation in Nicaragua does not constitute a threat to international peace and security. We support the position of Bolivia and Russia and do not believe that it is necessary for the Security Council to get involved.

I too would like to begin by congratulating you, Madam President, and your delegation on your assumption of the presidency. Peru wishes you every success and extends the support of its delegation to you. We also congratulate the United Kingdom on its very successful presidency and the professional way in which it led our deliberations. I would also like to say that we fully support you, Madam President, on the provisional programme of work you presented for this month. We agree with you about the importance of many of the meetings you have planned. With regard to the meeting on the maintenance of peace in particular, we want to emphasize that we also think that the issue of the link between corruption and peace and security is a new theme, but we would like to hear more details about how it is being planned. With regard to the issue of Nicaragua, we would like to point out that if this issue is presented as it appears in the provisional programme of work, in the framework of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, that is, with regard to cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, there is a very specific article, Article 54, which says that the United Nations should be kept informed of everything being done in regional organizations with regard to the maintenance of international peace and security. We believe that in that sense the meeting would be pertinent and we would be ready to support it. We believe what has been said at various points with regard to the theme of preventive diplomacy is very important. That applies perfectly in this case, because there are Security Council resolutions that specifically and emphatically point out that serious abuses and violations of international law, human rights and international humanitarian rights can be an early indication of a simmering conflict. In that sense, based on the merits of preventive diplomacy, we would agree to holding such a meeting.

Let me join others in congratulating you, Madam President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council. I would like to say straight out that we support the ambition you have shown, Madam, in your provisional programme of work, and we are very happy with it. As all of us tend to do during our presidencies, I note that the United States has proposed a thematic debate, this one on corruption and conflict, which I think will be very interesting for us to consider. We support it completely on that. The main focus of our conversation today has been on Nicaragua, where we have seen many lives lost and increased refugee claims in the region. The United Kingdom, as part of its presidency, hosted an open debate last week (see S/PV.8334) on mediation and the importance of that element of the agenda in our preventive toolbox. I therefore think it is right that as a Council we are considering those issues and thinking about how we can support countries in the region. The representative of Peru mentioned the regional dimension. I would also like to point to Article 34 of the Charter of the United Nations, which states very clearly that the Security Council may investigate any dispute or situation that might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the continuation of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security. It is therefore clear to me that this is a proper subject for debate. The United Kingdom supports the United States fully, and I would encourage our colleagues in the Council to agree to having those discussions and a debate. That is what we are here for. I would also encourage the Government of Nicaragua to come to that meeting in a constructive spirit and focus on its vision for an inclusive and mediated solution.

I should like to begin by congratulating you, Madam, on your country’s assumption of the presidency for the month of September. I wish you good luck and full success in your endeavours. Allow me also to mention how much we appreciated the efforts and professionalism of the British presidency. With regard to the work of the Council for this month, we support your proposal this morning. We welcome it and appreciate the fact that you are will organize two main events, on corruption and security, as well as others on peacekeeping. Turning to the question of Nicaragua, Poland appreciates the fact that the meeting will take place under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations”. I concur with the remarks of my Peruvian colleague. It is important that this discussion have added value.

We wish you every success, Madam President, in your country’s presidency in September, which is never an easy month as it coincides with the plenary session of the General Assembly. With regard to the provisional programme of work that you presented to us this morning, we wish to note our full support for the programme, including the consideration of the situation in Nicaragua under the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations”, which will allow the Council to engage in an exercise of preventive diplomacy, as provided for by its mandate.

First of all, we would like to join you, Madam President, in commending the British presidency for its exemplary stewardship of the Council’s work in August. The delegation of Kazakhstan would like to congratulate the United States on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of September, which will be busy indeed, coinciding as it does with the opening of start of the new session of the General Assembly and the general debate. We commend the United States for its well- structured provisional programme of work for September, with which we agree in general. However, we would like to note our reservations regarding the inclusion of the Nicaraguan issue in the provisional programme of work. Finally, Madam President, would like to wish you and your able team every success during the month of September.

Allow me to wish you and your team, Madam President, the best of luck for your presidency this month, which starts off in a very interesting and transparent way. Allow me also to thank the United Kingdom and its delegation for an exemplary presidency during the month of August. We thank the United States presidency for proposing its provisional programme of work, which we support. It includes some very important discussions, including on corruption and peacekeeping operations, and we look forward to discussing under your guidance a number of pertinent issues, including from a preventive perspective, such as the situation in Nicaragua. We therefore reiterate our support for the provisional programme of work and look forward to the month of September.

At the outset, we would like to wish you, Madam President, and your team every success during your presidency of the Security Council. We also commend the United Kingdom for its exemplary presidency and its constructive approach in guiding the work of the Council during the month of August. My delegation expresses its full support for the provisional programme of work proposed by the United States, including the briefing on Nicaragua in the light of the developing crisis in that country and its impact in the region in the context of preventive diplomacy. In conclusion, we look forward to a rich and constructive month of September under the presidency of your country, Madam President.

At the outset, I should like to offer my sincere congratulations to the United Kingdom for its exemplary presidency during what was for many a month of vacation. Despite that fact, it managed to attain very positive outcomes through rich debates guided by its programme of work. We also congratulate the United States on assuming the presidency for the month of September, which is no easy task. We express out satisfaction with the approach it has adopted, whereby almost all meetings will be held in an open modality, allowing the broader members to be informed as to the content of our discussions. Despite this being a very busy month due to the preparations for the holding of the seventy-third session of the General Assembly, I am convinced that this provisional programme of work will provide for a month of very positive outcomes in the Security Council. With respect to Nicaragua, as we said this morning, while we regret the prevailing domestic situation in that Latin American country and call on the Government of Nicaragua to spare no effort in seeking a solution to this domestic problem, our Government is of the view that the situation does not as yet merit discussion in the Security Council. At present, the Organization of American States and the United Nations Secretariat could dedicate efforts, together with the Government of Nicaragua, to find a solution to the situation. As things stand, it does not constitute a threat to international peace and security, and we are therefore of the view that this matter remains the purview of the joint preventive diplomacy of the Secretary-General and the Organization of American States. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate your country, Madam President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month, and wish you success. As we mentioned during the breakfast meeting, your tasks will not be easy, but we have full trust that you and your team will be able to accomplish them. I would also like to thank the delegation of the United Kingdom for its outstanding presidency of the Council during the month of August. As Chair of the Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, I am very pleased that you have decided that the meetings will be open. This is unusual from a permanent Member State. Member States usually permanent prefer closed meetings, so your move is truly unprecedented on the part of a permanent member State. I assure you that we support transparency and will continue to support you throughout your presidency of the Council. Of course, it is always better to adopt the programme of work by consensus, in conformity with established practice. It is also unusual to discuss the provisional programme of work in an open meeting. Differences do exit and what matters is that we must spare no effort to reach consensus on the provisional programme of work. Regarding the situation in Nicaragua, and even the situation in Iran at the end of the month, these are contentious issues, as we have heard from other representatives. As a Member State, we consider the Articles of the United Nations Charter to be sacred, in particular those related to the non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and respect for their sovereignty, while we must discuss only those matters pertaining to international peace and security. However, there are other Articles of the Charter that should also be taken into consideration, such as Article 34, as mentioned by Mr. Allen, which is quite clear. The Secretary-General may also, if he wishes, bring any matter to the attention of the Security Council, pursuant to Article 99. One of our priorities, as States members of the Council, is the issue of preventive diplomacy and the prevention of conflict. There can be no doubt that the regional dimension, especially the role played by regional organizations, is very important. We appreciate the role played by Peru and its proposal to discuss this matter in the context of regional peace. What I would like to underscore is that the unity of the Security Council is very important. If we are to contribute to addressing the situation, I believe that we must be united. Sometimes, differences and the discussion of a contentious issue do not positively contribute to improving the situation. That is a very important matter.

We would also like to congratulate our colleagues from the United Kingdom for their professionalism and efficient manner in presiding over the Security Council. Allow me to congratulate you as well, Madam President, for assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of September, a difficult month but we are sure that you will fly through. We look forward to engaging constructively in the meetings and would like to assure you of our full support. However, we would like to echo some concerns raised by some members of the Security Council on the agenda item scheduled for 5 September, as we think that the situation in Nicaragua does not constitute a threat to international peace and security. It would therefore be very difficult for us to support the inclusion of the agenda item in the provisional programme of work.

Let me begin by joining others in congratulating you, Madam President, in assuming your role for this month. Let me also echo others in praising the United Kingdom presidency for the manner they led the Security Council during the month of August. We have no objections to the provisional programme of work. We look forward to this month. It is important for the Council to assume its responsibility and come together on the wide range of issues on its agenda. We wish the presidency the best of luck. You, Madam President, and your team have our full support.

I will now make a further statement in my national capacity. The contention seems to about the meeting on Nicaragua. I said to some of the members this morning that all the explanations and reasons that have been raised for not having a meeting on Nicaragua are the exact same responses that were given to us on Venezuela. We were told that it was not a matter of peace and security, that it was a regional issue and that it was best dealt with at the Human Rights Council. We went to the Human Rights Council. They would not hear it because Venezuela was on the Council. We had a meeting outside of the Human Rights Council, in Geneva, to try to bring attention to the issue. Now, as we look back to see where we are with Venezuela, we see that the average adult in Venezuela has lost 24 pounds. Ninety per cent do not know where their next meal is coming from. Thousands are crossing the border every day trying to get medical help and supplies. We have dealt many times with the African Union on regional issues; I do not know why we cannot deal with the Organization of American States (OAS) on regional issues. We have spoken with the OAS and give it full support and respect. That is why the Secretary General of the OAS is coming to brief us tomorrow. I would ask any member who does not think that Nicaragua is an issue of peace and security to talk to the people of Nicaragua, the people of the region and the countries that have to accept the people of Nicaragua, to the Catholic Church, to which Ortega has turned because of Nicaragua. My final question is, how many people have to die before it becomes a matter of peace and security? I think we have already reached that point. That is why the United States thought it was very important to have a meeting on Nicaragua — because we do not want another Syria or another Venezuela, and we think it is the responsibility of the Security Council to ensure that. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There is no consensus on the adoption of the provisional programme of work, and there is no requirement in the Council’s provisional rules of procedure that a programme of work be adopted. Rather, the adoption of a programme of work is Council practice and not required. Accordingly, the Security Council will proceed in its work without the adoption of a programme of work. The President of the Council, pursuant to rule 1 of the provisional rules of procedure, will convene a meeting on the situation in Nicaragua tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the Chamber. Finally, I want to thank Ms. Egian and her team for pulling together this open meeting on the provisional programme of work. I also want to thank each and every one of the members for supporting the transparency effort of this meeting. Any one of them could have stopped it, and I thank them for not doing so. I also want to thank the interpreters, who probably had to rush to get to us very quickly, for being flexible and realizing how important transparency is to the United States.