United Nations: The UN Security Council will focus on the West Asia conflict in April, taking up issues concerning Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank, Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Bahrain’s permanent representative to the United Nations and president of the council for the month, said.
Speaking at a daily briefing on the Security Council’s program of work for April on Wednesday (Local time), Alrowaiei said four general priorities shape Bahrain’s membership in the council in general — consolidating peace and stability, addressing traditional and emerging security threats, ensuring inclusion and participation, and advancing multilateralism.
The priorities are integrated in the council’s program of work and beyond, he said.
The presidency’s priority for the month will address the current regional and international environment, including issues concerning Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and other issues, according to Alrowaiei.
The UN Security Council also decried incidents that killed three Indonesian peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Sunday and Monday, reports Xinhua news agency.
In a press statement, Security Council members reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL and urged all parties to ensure the safety and security of its personnel and premises, as well as the mission’s freedom of movement, in accordance with international law. They also called on parties to refrain from actions that could endanger peacekeepers.
Recalling that peacekeepers must never be targeted, they called on the United Nations to investigate the incidents through UNIFIL and keep the relevant troop-contributing country informed of progress, consistent with the objectives of Security Council resolutions 2518 (2020) and 2589 (2021).
They also called on parties to fully implement Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and reiterated their strong commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity.
Five other peacekeepers were injured on Sunday and Monday. In recent weeks, several other incidents have affected UNIFIL positions and injured peacekeepers against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities along the Blue Line, according to the statement.
(IANS)
