Norway’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Madame Mona Juul is President of the UN Security Council for the month of January 2022 in the Council chambers at UN world headquarters in New York. (Credit: Twitter)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
UNITED NATIONS – NEW YORK – Norway officially took over as President of the UN Security Council this week for the month of January with a focus on the protection of civilians, the role of women in peace processes and mediation, and furthering global peace and security. Mona Juul, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of January, briefed reporters on the Council’s Programme of work for the month. NORWAY follows NIGER which held the rotating presidency the month of December 2020. The UN Security Council comprises 15 member states, including five permanent members – the United Kingdom, China, Russia, the United States and France. Five new Security Council members—Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—commenced their two-year terms (2022-2023) on 1 January. Ambassador Juul announced that Norway will also prioritize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Security Council this month. Norway intends to elevate the Security Council’s quarterly debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to ministerial level status in January.
“In our view, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict deserves more attention. We are actually 30 years after the the Madrid Conference. And we think it is critical to enhance the Council’s focus on the need to find a political solution to this protracted conflict, and to make sure that we avoid further actions that undermine the prospect of a two-state solution. Time is running out (for two-state solution) but it is not too late. There is no alternative. We need to concentrate more on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to continue to work for a peaceful solution.”
-Mona Juul, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations
UN Security Council to Hold High-Level Debate on Women, Peace and Security
Ambassador Juul said women, peace security, and the protection civilians are also priorities during Norway’s presidency in the Security Council.
“Norway is committed to making women, peace and security a top priority. We will prioritize participation of women peace builders and human rights defenders. Women are often among the hardest affected by conflict, yet remain marginalized when it comes to political processes and peace making. In the (Security) Council we always speak about having full and equal and meaningful participation of women. That’s why we are extremely concerned about threats, intimidation, and reprisals against women who engage in peace process, including those who brief the Council.” – Norway Ambassador to UN
The meeting will be chaired by the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anniken Huitfeldt. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and a civil society representative are expected to brief. The second UN Security Council event is a high-level open debate on protection of civilians under the theme “Wars in cities: protection of civilians in urban settings”. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre will chair the meeting.
“We will concentrate on the threats to civilians in urban warfare,” ambassador Juul said. Today’s wars are not fought in the field, but in the cities, with huge impact on civilians, in particular on children. The aim of this meeting is to move forward on how civilians in conflict in urban areas can be better protected and have their rights respected.”
-Ambassador Juul.
#NorwayUNSC looks forward to be at the helm of the #UNSC this month, 2⃣0⃣ years since last time we were elected member.
We will continue to be a consistent supporter of the UN, multilateral solutions, intl law & a rules-based world order.
🎬Foreign Minister about 🇳🇴priorities⤵️ pic.twitter.com/YuNyJwaMvz
— NorwayUN (@NorwayUN) January 1, 2022
Norway To Hold A Mini OSLO Forum in New York
Norway plans to organise a retreat at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund estate in Pocantico, New York in January. It will be akin to a mini-Oslo Forum, gathering mediators for an extended and substantial sofa talk under the theme “Preventive diplomacy and mediation”, Ambassador Juul said.
“Norway has a long tradition of of engaging in peace and reconciliation around the world. And in light of that, we plan to arrange a mini-Olso Forum. An Olso Forum being a yearly mediators’ retreat, ” the Norway ambassador explained. The Oslo Forum is a series of retreats for international conflict mediators, high-level decision-makers, and other peace process actors. It provides a discreet and informal space to reflect on current mediation practice, collaborate across institutional and conceptual divides and advance negotiations.
“We would like to invite all members of the Security Council to an informal discussion on how we can do better when it comes to preventative diplomacy and conflict resolution. We will look at what do we need to do better to implement peace agreements,” Ambassador Juul said, adding that UN Security-General António Guterres will attend the mini-Olso Forum.
In addition, there will be three UN Security sessions in January dealing with specific conflict situations—Colombia, Afghanistan and the situation in the Sahel. Mediators, negotiators and other actors from the field are expected to take part in these discussions.
Other Middle East issues on the UN programme include:
• Syria, the monthly meetings on the political, humanitarian and chemical weapons tracks
• Yemen, the monthly briefing and consultations on developments.
The Security Council is also scheduled to hold a meeting on Afghanistan. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is expected to chair the meeting. Norway intends to open the meeting for rule 37 participation by Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries.
Africa Issues include: Ethiopia, Sudan, Mali, Libya
The Council may also adopt a resolution initiated by Ghana and Norway on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea during the month.
NORWAY: “Multilateralism is at the heart of Norway’s foreign policy”
Credit: norway.no/en/missions/ Mona Juul, Norway’s Ambassador to the United Nations
Norway campaigned and won a seat on the powerful UN Security Council in 2020. Norway said it is motivated by the country’s desire to defend the multilateral system and the rules-based multilateral order. COVID-19 has been placed in the global spotlight over the past two years. “But the consistency in our foreign policy, development cooperation and commitment to the UN are the same. Global health has been a priority for Norway for the past two decades, ” Norway ambassador Juul said during the country’s UN Security Council campaign. “Norway’s response to the crisis illustrates this.”
Before her UN appointment, Juul was Ambassador to the United Kingdom beginning in September 2014. She was previously Director General of the Department for Security Policy and the High North in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2014, Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 2005 to 2010, and Ambassador to Israel from 2001 to 2004 when she was concurrently accredited to Cyprus.
Ambassador Juul Was Member of Norwegian Team That Facilitated Secret Negotiations Between Isreal and the PLO for 1993 OSLO ACCORDS
A career diplomat since 1986, Juul was Executive Officer in the Cabinet of the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1993, and a member of the small Norwegian team that facilitated secret negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization that led to the 1993 Oslo Accords. As Minister Counsellor in the Embassy of Norway in Tel Aviv from 1994 to 1997, she worked with both sides on the follow-up to the implementation of the Oslo Accords, and from 1997 to 2000, she was Special Advisor, Ambassador and Middle East Coordinator in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, chairing the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee on Assistance to the Palestinians. Juul holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Oslo
U.N. Security Council Chamber Still Most Important Room In The World Maintains ‘Norwegian Identity’
Credit: Norway Permanent Mission to the United States in New York.com / UN Security Council Chamber was fully renovated in April 2013. Photo by: Martin Lerberg Fossum / NorwayMFA.
Architects Of Security Council Chamber Wanted To Maintain The Room As Politically Neutral Space
Since its inauguration in August 1952, the Security Council chamber has maintained a certain “Norwegian Identity.” The Security Council Chamber of the United Nations was designed entirely by Norwegian artists and designers. The revered Security Council chambers was donated by Norway as a “gift” to the U.N. The chambers itself was designed by Norwegian artist Arnstein Arneberg. A large mural by Per Krohg (Norway), symbolizing the promise of future peace and individual freedom, covers most of the east wall. In fact, most of the Security Council’s furnishings have a Norwegian touch as they are from Norway. Although Norway does not have a permanent seat in the UN’s Security Council, the Scandinavian nation’s ‘presence’ looms larger than life in the room, as its chairs and other interior furnishings are all Norwegian.
Large mural by artist Per Krohg (Norway), symbolizing the promise of future peace and individual freedom Is Center Piece of Security Council Chambers
Credit: Wikipedia Public Domain / Oil canvas mural painted by Norwegian artist Per Krohg hangs in U.N. Security Council Chambers depicts a phoenix rising from ashes of World War II.
Norway was commissioned as the designer of the Security Council Chamber as a known Scandinavian nation known the world over for its political neutrality
Credit: norway permanent mission UN / The draperies and wall coverings of Security Council Chamber were designed by Norwegian painter and textile artist Else Poulsson, showing the anchor of faith, the growing wheat of hope and the heart of charity. Photo: Martin Leberg Fossum / NorwayMFA/
