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| Incoming President of the Security Council for the month of December, Mohammed Loulichki, briefing reporters at UN headquarters [PHOTO: UNifeed] |
New York: The incoming Security Council President, Moroccan Ambassador
Mohammed Loulichki briefed reporters at UN headquarters on
the Council's programme for the month of December.
Asked about any Council action on Syria and NATO's warnings
on the possible use of chemical weapons, the Security Council President said
the Council remained "seized" of the conflict in Syria and that
chemical weapons were "a serious matter". He said the Security
Council would consider the issue of chemical weapons if Security Council members
"consider that it is for the Security Council to consider this
issue".
Responding to a question about the intention by the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to launch a satellite later this
month, Ambassador Loulichki pointed out that this was not the first time the
issue of DPRK appeared on the Council's table and that the country had
"obligations that are stemming from the Security Council
resolutions". He said that if the threats by the DPRK materialized, the
Council would take appropriate steps.
The Security Council President also confirmed that the
Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour had sent a letter to the
Security Council, informing the Council about Israel's decision to approve
3,000 new homes on Occupied Palestinian Territory. Loulichki noted that
Palestinian envoy did not ask the Council for any specific action.
In response to a question about media reports that France is
pushing for a resolution on Mali, authorizing the deployment of an
international mission under African lead, to be adopted by 20 December,
Loulichki, speaking in his national capacity, said the situation in Mali
required "urgent action". He added that it was up to the Council to
decide on the content of the draft resolution which is still in the process of
negotiations, but he hoped that it could be adopted by 20 December, when the
Council aims to conclude its business for this month. -UNifeed