The challenge of Security Council reform has been on the agenda at the United Nations for decades with little obvious effect on the workings of the Security Council itself.(1)

But what happens when an action of the Security Council is an improvement over past Security Council practices and presents an important model for conflict resolution in line with the obligations of the Charter? Will there be recognition of the peaceful direction that the action points in or will it be ignored and members of the Security Council revert back to the practice of the past?

The situation I am referring to is the consideration by the Security Council of the sinking of the South Korean naval warship, the Cheonan. The dispute over the sinking of the Cheonan was brought to the Security Council in June and a Presidential Statement was agreed to in July.

An account of some… weiter lesen

Was there a chance to stop a major escalation of a conflict that was missed?

 On Thursday evening, August 7, the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin arrived for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council with a request.  A letter he submitted to the Council (S/2008/533) asked that a meeting be held to discuss events taking place in Georgia. The members of the Security Council gathered and decided to hold consultations. The consultations were held in a closed door session. It was not till early in the morning on August 8, Friday, that a public meeting of the Security Council was convened.

 The meeting was convened around 1 a.m. Friday, August 8.

 In his statement to the members of the Security Council, the Russian Ambassador… weiter lesen