Lebanon, Myanmar, Darfur among hotspots on Security Council agenda – President

Lebanon, Myanmar and the situation in the war-ravaged Darfur region of Sudan are among the top issues to be dealt with by the Security Council this month, its president said today.

Next week, the Council will consult on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s latest report on the implementation of resolution 1559 regarding Lebanon, which supports polling free from outside influence and calls for the withdrawal of all remaining foreign forces, the disbanding of all militias and the extension of Government control over the entire country.

At that meeting, the body will also be briefed by Mr. Ban’s Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen, Ambassador Marty Natalegawa of Indonesia, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency this month, said at a press briefing in New York.

Also concerning Lebanon, at the end of the month the Council will discuss the most recent report on resolution 1701, which ended last year’s war in the country.

Mr. Natalegawa noted that the Council could take up the issue of Myanmar, which he described as “a subject matter that is of interest.”

Ibrahim Gambari, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser, is scheduled to begin a visit to the South-East Asian nation tomorrow.

“The Council will benefit from his insights and other qualities when he comes back to New York,” Mr. Nagalegawa said.

On Africa, the body will take up matters regarding the Great Lakes region, Burundi and possibly Somalia.

Mr. Ban’s Special Envoy Jan Eliasson plans to brief the Council towards the end of the month on progress made thus far in the landmark Darfur peace talks currently being held in Sirte, Libya.

The Council will also discuss issues pertaining to Europe, including the European Union Stabilization Force (EUFOR) whose authorization expires on 21 November. EUFOR – which took over from the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) in 2004 – is mandated to ensure continued compliance with the Dayton Peace Agreement that in 1995 ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.