Guyana assumes UN Security Council Presidency for February; says war in Gaza will remain a priority focus

The war in Gaza will remain a priority focus for the UN Security Council in February, its President for the month said at a Headquarters press conference 1 February 2024, adding that it will hold meetings on the situations in Ukraine and Myanmar.

Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, assumed the rotating Presidency of the UN Security Council on 1 February 2024. 

Briefing the media, she said that the Council will organise a high-level open debate to examine the dynamic relationship between climate change, food insecurity and conflicts within the context of maintaining international peace and security.

The meeting — scheduled on 13 February — will be chaired by the President of Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, also featuring remarks by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres; Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Simon Stiell; Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Beth Bechdol; and a civil society representative.

The Council President said Guyana will promote enhanced transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusiveness in the Council’s work and commit to adopting a consensus-building approach in full collaboration with all its members. "We will also seek to include a gender perspective in meetings as far as appropriate in keeping with our commitments to women peace and security," she added. 

Gaza Ceasefire

Asked about a draft resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza prepared by Algeria, the council President said that it is being discussed and she intends to adopt a constructive approach to the resolution. “We believe that we should not wait another day for that,” she said, expressing hope for the adoption of that resolution. 

Asked about a report that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire proposal, she said that she does not have that information. There is a draft resolution being discussed and “we will see how that will progress in light of this new information that you just provided”, she said. 

Restoring Peace and Security in Haiti

Responding to a question about a delay in deploying the Multinational Support Force in Haiti due to a decision by the Nairobi High Court in Kenya, she said that the Council is seized of the matter, noting that Nairobi decided to appeal the court’s decision. In her national capacity, she voiced concern about the growing challenges in Haiti and the dire humanitarian situation. The Caribbean countries that have indicated their participation in the Force are the Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica, she added.

On Ukraine and Myanmar

On Ukraine, she said that the date for the meeting is being finalised, but she does not foresee any outcome document at this moment to mark the second anniversary of the Russian invasion. On Myanmar, she said that the Council will hear a report from the special envoy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Venezuela

On the territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, she said that it is not on the Council’s agenda for February, adding — in her national capacity — that Guyana has not requested a meeting on that country.

Click here to learn more about Guyana's election to the UN Security Council to serve a two-year term as a non-permanent member from January 2024.