Credit:  Gary Raynaldo /  © Diplomatic Times /  Ambassador  Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of February briefs reporters at UN world headquarters Feb. 3, 2020. 

By Gary Raynaldo         DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED NATIONS –   NEW YORK –  The Republic of BELGIUM officially took over the rotating Presidency of the UN Security Council Monday.  Belgium  took over the rotating Presidency from Viet Nam, which held it in January.  Belgium will put several topics on the Council’s agenda, such as the issue of children in armed conflict, Transitional Justice and the importance of European cooperation within the Council.  It has decided to hold an open debate on transitional justice, and will also hold a high-level briefing on “Integrating child protection into peace processes to resolve conflict and sustain peace”.   While the Security Council has considered transitional justice indirectly in various contexts over the past several decades, the open  debate in February will be the first time the Council holds a meeting on transitional justice as a thematic issue.  Ambassador  Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of February presented the Council’s work for this month in a briefing with reporters at UN world headquarters Monday. 

Belgium has decided to put three specific topics on the agenda of the Security Council:

• Children in armed conflict. Today, more than 420 million children (1 in 5 worldwide) suffer the consequences of conflict situations. On February 12, King Philippe will address the Security Council on the theme “Protecting children through peace processes”. This session will provide an opportunity to discuss the guidelines on the protection of children in peace processes developed by the United Nations and to mobilize the members of the Security Council around this theme.
• Transitional Justice. In the aftermath of conflict, countries often still face enormous challenges such as violence or major violations of human rights or international humanitarian law. Communities that were previously opposed must learn to live together again and to build a society based on reconciliation. Increasingly, countries emerging from crisis understand the importance of taking these traumas into account in order to lead to peaceful societies and lasting peace. Transitional Justice plays a key role in this area. On February 13, Foreign Minister Philippe Goffin will preside over an open debate in the Security Council on “Transitional Justice”, in the presence of several experts and key witnesses.
• European cooperation within the UN Security Council: Belgium has invited Josep Borrell, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, to address the Security Council on the role and actions of the European Union in world affairs and on cooperation between the EU and the UN. His speech – the first in his capacity as High Representative – is scheduled for February 25.

Security Council Will hold a Briefing Behind Closed Doors from  President Trump Senior Adviser Jared Kushner

The Security Council will hear a briefing behind closed doors from Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s senior adviser, on the U.S.-proposed Middle East peace plan on Thursday,  ambassador de Buytswerve said during Monday’s press briefing.  Last week, President Trump announced a controversial Middle East peace plan designed by Kushner, which calls for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided capital.”

DIPLOMATIC TIMES Video /  Ambassador  Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of February presented the Council’s work for this month in a briefing with reporters at UN world headquarters Monday, talks about the Middle East situation. 

Credit:  Gary Raynaldo /  Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  © Diplomatic Times /  Ambassador  Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of February briefs reporters at UN world headquarters Feb. 3, 2020. 

Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  © Diplomatic Times /  Ambassador  Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations and President of the Security Council.

The Security Council will also hold meetings on  Syria, Libya, Iraq, Sudan and Somalia.

The success of Belgium’s presidency and mandate in the UN Security Council is the result of long work in New York, Brussels and throughout the Belgian diplomatic network, according to a statement from the Belgium UN Mission.  “All of our diplomatic network is mobilized to make this mandate a success, whether it be the services of our headquarters in Brussels or our diplomatic missions.”