"PEACE AND SECURITY"

Addressing its first open debate on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on global peace and security, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council that the consequences can be felt in countries traditionally seen as “stable,” but stressed that it’s impacts “are particularly apparent in countries already experiencing conflict or emerging from it.” UNIFEED

Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, and the President of the Security Council for July, briefs journalists on the Council’s Programme of Work for the month.

Echoing Secretary-General Antonio Guterres call for a worldwide ceasefire to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution demanding “a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations, on its agenda.” UNIFEED

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called on the Security Council to renew the arms embargo on Iran which is set to expire four months from now “because of the flawed nuclear deal negotiated by the previous American administration.” UNIFEED

Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Agreement within reach, Under-Secretary-General tells Security Council, as trilateral talks proceed to settle remaining differences.

Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo commended Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt for their continuing negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and said "the remaining differences are technical and legal in nature." UNIFEED

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock told the Security Council failure to extend the cross-border authorization into Syria “would sever the UN operation currently underway” in the country’s northwest and stressed that it would “cause suffering and death.” UNIFEED

UN Special Representative David Shearer said the country was at a very low period in terms of progress on the peace process and emphasized that what is need “is a unity government functioning as a unity government and not as a series of parties in one administration." UNIFEED

The Spokesperson for High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Liz Throssell, reported that “580 civilians have been killed so far this year in central Mali, as a deteriorating security situation and widespread impunity undermine efforts to protect civilians.” UNTV CH

Nicolas de Rivière, Security Council President for the month of June and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, holds a virtual stakeout on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.