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(JUNE 25-JULY 1)
According to reports, the regional strategy developed by the UN to tackle the threat posed by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) was endorsed by the UN Security Council. The Council also called for the necessary support to ensure its successful implementation. The strategy focuses on five key objectives to address the threat from the LRA and protect civilians of South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo.
In another development, at a UN Security Council debate on Afghanistan, India called for concerted action to isolate and root out terrorism including al Qaeda, Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba. India’s representative, H S Puri argued that principal problem in Afghanistan was the existence of terrorism that drew upon ‘ideological, financial and logistical support from beyond Afghanistan’s borders’. India expressed its full support for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned inclusive and transparent process of reconciliation against an internationally led process.
Meanwhile, in the UNSC’ debate on ‘protection of civilians’, India demanded that the principle be applied in an uniform manner to all parties to a conflict. India also pointed out that the Council’s responsibility does not end with a military or police response. India further added that when the principle is applies, it must respect the fundamental aspects of the UN Charter including sovereignty and integrity of member states.
In other developments, the mandate of the UN force monitoring the ceasefire in the Golan heights, the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) was extended until December 31, 2012. The Council also called on all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of UNDOF and the terms of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement.
According to reports, four judges of the UN tribunal trying serious crimes committed during the 1994 Rwanda genocide were given permission to serve beyond the expiry of their terms. Separately, the Council adopted a resolution which requested the Secretary-General to increase the size of the group of experts assisting the 1540 committee from eight to nine. The committee monitors a UN resolution seeking to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.