The Security Council's programme of work for September - a "special challenge" due to its intersection with both the General Assembly's High-level Week and the Summit of the Future - will focus on reinforcing weakening trust between nations and respect for international law, its President for the month told reporters at a Headquarters press conference today.
Samuel Žbogar of Slovenia, which holds the 15-member organ's rotating presidency for September, noted the many changes since his country first held the Council presidency 25 years ago. "But there is one thing that remains the same - the responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security," he stressed. Therefore, the central premise of Slovenia's presidency will be the urgent need to restore political will and strengthen an eroding global order.
This will be reflected in Slovenia's signature event - an open debate on 25 September chaired by Prime Minister Robert Golob - which will focus on building trust and recommitting to the purpose and principles of both the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Stressing that his delegation has witnessed the decay of the Council's legitimacy and relevance in the eight months of its term, he recalled that Sierra Leone's August presidency addressed the former while Slovenia will concentrate on the latter.
"We live in a world of grim statistics," he emphasized, pointing to the unprecedented need to "rebuild trust to secure the future" and stressing that the precondition for doing so is "full respect and compliance with the Charter of the United Nations".
Another open debate, to be held on 9 September, will focus on the importance of unified Council support for peace operations, so that missions can deliver on the mandates they are given. He noted that this event will also provide an opportunity to reflect on both how to foster trust and rally support for such operations and their future, given recent developments relating to UN peacekeeping.
He also noted that, given the threat of regional escalation in the Middle East, the Council will hold a high-level, interactive, informal dialogue on 26 September with the League of Arab States (LAS) and the Arab Summit Troika. This event will be chaired by Tanja Fajon, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia.
Relatedly, he said that the Council will hold several meetings in September on the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, encouraging Council members to deliver "forward-looking" statements that focus on reconstruction and the UN's role in restarting political dialogue towards a two-State solution.
Also noting meetings to be held on Syria, Yemen, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Afghanistan, he said that the latter will focus on the situation facing Afghan women and girls and will be chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Finally, on products to be adopted during Slovenia's presidency, he expressed hope that a mandate extension for the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti will be adopted before September's end. And, following the 25 September open debate, he expressed hope that Council members will adopt a presidential statement recommitting to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. "So, let's see how that goes," he said.
He then responded to questions posed by correspondents, many of which focused on the 25 September open debate. Asked about the focus of that meeting, he pointed to three conflicts where the Council was not "able to intervene more dramatically" - Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan - and said that the meeting is open-ended purposefully so that Member States can suggest how the Council can "do better". To a question seeking blame for the Council's "crumbling relevance", he said: "It is because of disunity among the P5 [Permanent Five] that it is impossible for the Council to be more forceful."
Building on that, he pointed out that, even when the Council adopts resolutions, it is usually with abstentions. "That is a message in itself to the parties on the ground," he observed, noting that the mood in the Council deteriorated after the Russian Federation's attack on Ukraine. While "we don't expect one debate to change the mood", he nevertheless said that it is important to reflect. And, asked what permanent Council members could change about their behaviour, he urged recommitting to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. "I think that would be a good start," he said.
Following a further question on his delegation's specific plans to build unity between permanent Council members, he said that "as long as the war in Ukraine lasts, it will be very difficult to improve the mood among the P5". While stating that "if you only had elected members in the Council you would have more resolutions", he said that - given the reality - his delegation will reflect on how to make the organ function better as it stands.
Relatedly, on Council reform, he spoke in his national capacity to say that Africa's call for permanent representation "seems convincing" and that Slovenia supports expansion in both categories of membership. And, while it is difficult to see how to realistically eliminate the veto, he suggested that its use could be regulated.
"It is a poisonous mood in the Council," he underscored, when asked about the difficulty of securing agreement for a presidential statement following the 25 September debate. It will not be easy, he said, but his delegation will prepare a simple document that everyone should support in principle. He expressed hope that the Council will show "some unity, which we believe is really the key for more successes in the future".
He also responded to several inquiries about country-specific issues. On Ukraine, he said that Council members will likely ask for a meeting on that situation - "just today, there was another horrible attack". While there are no formal requests yet, he added: "Unfortunately, the reason for the meetings on Ukraine will continue."
On the focus of the meeting on Afghanistan, he said that it will be based on the Secretary-General's report, which will cover all problems facing the country. He stressed, however, that the situation facing women and girls is "the most pressing one". And, on a potential meeting regarding rising tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, he detailed his understanding that "the issue is being handled regionally".
Answering a question on the mandate renewal for the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, he said that "force is needed" in that situation and expressed hope for a rollover of the mandate. As for a meeting concerning Sudan, he said that there is nothing fixed yet, but indicated that meetings might be held on the humanitarian and political situations.
He was also asked what his delegation will do in September to advance the interests of the European Union. To that, he stressed that "all crises are equally important" and that "human lives, wherever they are lost, are equally important". Thus, he said that Slovenia will show the general membership that European Union members "don't have double standards" and will not focus only on Ukraine.
Additionally, the press conference saw many questions surrounding the situation in Gaza. On an inquiry regarding concerns that negotiations are drifting away from the framework established by resolution 2735 (2024), he said that "patience is out" three months after its adoption and stressed that there will either be a ceasefire or the Council needs to reflect on what else it can do to achieve one.
He repeatedly expressed that sentiment during related questions, stating in his national capacity that a ceasefire is necessary because the suffering "has to end". Asked about what he would recommend Palestinians do other than resist occupation, he said that discussions in the Council should focus on reconstruction and working towards a two-State solution. "That would maybe give some hope to Palestinians that the international community is working towards a time when they will have a recognized State," he said.
One correspondent, noting that Israel has accused the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) of being a terrorist organization - and that its Ambassador shredded a copy of the Charter of the United Nations in front of Member States and has taken issue with the existence of the UN itself - asked why countries are dealing with Israel as if it is a normal State.
Noting the Israeli Government's issues with UNRWA, the Secretary-General, humanitarian staff and others, he nevertheless said that the only way to a solution is through dialogue. For this to happen, a person must be present and participating, and this is why the UN must sustain dialogue with Israel even if it is difficult. "We are a delegation of consensus and dialogue," he emphasized.
For the full programme of work, please see: www.un.org/securitycouncil/events/calendar.
