UN Photo/Laura Jarriel / Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations, in the President of the United Nations Security Council for the month of July 2020. 

By Gary Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  –  NEW  YORK –  GERMANY  officially took over as President of the UN Security Council Wednesday  for the month of July.  Ambassador Christoph Heugsen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN and President of the Security Council in July,  laid out the Council’s programme of work for the month.  The German Presidency of the Security Council  views COVID-19 as a threat to global security. To that end,  the Council will be addressing what   impact is COVID-19 having on global security; What effect is the pandemic having on fragile states, crises and conflicts, and what help can be provided in these context;  How can the Security Council respond appropriately to health risks?  “The Security Council will be discussing these questions right at the start of the German Presidency, on 2 July, with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in the chair,” the German Federal  Foreign Office stated.  Ambassador  Heugsen  addressed journalists  Wednesday via a video teleconference. The presidency of the council is held by each of the members for one month, following the English alphabetical order of the member states’ Names.  Germany follows France  which held the presidency the month of June.  The Security Council is currently meeting by video due to the COVID pandemic.  Earlier in the day,  the  Security Council unanimously passed a resolution demanding a 90-day “humanitarian pause” in conflicts worldwide to allow states to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We begin our Presidency this month with a signal for hope: the Security Council has today endorsed the Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire in the face of COVID-19 with a resolution. This is a sign for hope for all people currently living in conflict zones around the world. It is now the obligation of the Council – and all parties to armed conflicts – to implement this resolution in our work this month and beyond.”

-Ambassador Christoph Heugsen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN

The ambassador noted that Germany  took over the Presidency of the European Union today in addition to the UN Security Council.  Germany will assume the presidency of the Council of EU.  This means that, from July to December 2020, Germany will chair the meetings of the EU Council and will be responsible for progressing EU legislation.  “This is also the start of the presidency of Germany has in the EU. Both (UN and EU) are foundations of German foreign policy to strengthen the international order through multilateralism.”

The German Ambassador said during the UN presidency its priorities are: 

–Rightwards arrow Conflict prevention & resolution

-Rightwards arrow Links between security and health, climate change, human rights

-Rightwards arrow Multilateralism and rules-based international order  

While the Security Council is expected to continue to work largely remotely, Germany appears to want to have some meetings in the Council chamber if circumstances allow. There are five open debates planned for July. During this period of remote meetings, open debates have been held as open videoconferences (VTCs), and statements by non-Council members have been submitted in writing.  Early in the month a high-level open debate on pandemics and security is anticipated. German Foreign Minisiter Heiko Maas will chair the meeting. The anticipated briefers are UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer, and Amira Elfadil Mohammed Elfadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs of the AU.   Regarding Middle East issues, on Syria open and closed VTCs on the political and humanitarian situation and a closed VTC on the use of chemical weapons are anticipated. Open and closed VTCs on developments in Yemen are also planned.  On African issues, there will be open and closed VTCs on Libya as well as on Libya sanctions. Open and closed VTCs will also be held on the Secretary-General’s semi-annual report on West Africa and the Sahel. Members will receive the quarterly briefing on developments in Colombia in an open VTC, followed by a closed VTC discussion.   Ambassador Heusgen also said the Council will be looking at Climate Change and its impact on security; and Sexual Violence in Conflict. 

Ambassador  Heusgen has been the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations since July 2017 and has since 2019 been Germany’s representative on the Security Council. Before to coming to New York, Ambassador Heusgen served for 12 years as Foreign Policy and Security Advisor to the Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. His career in the Foreign Service also included terms as Deputy Head in charge of European Affairs in the private office of Foreign Minister Kinkel (1993-1997), and Director of the Policy Unit of the High Representative Javier Solana in the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union in Brussels (1999-2005). Ambassador Heusgen attended the University of St. Gallen and received a PhD from Sorbonne University in Paris in 1980. He joined the German Foreign Office shortly thereafter.