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Mr. President, We are almost at the end of another busy month. Busy, yet skillfully facilitated by a Presidency with a clear sense of purpose, efficiency and transparency. This month the Council focused its discussions on a number of issues that Lithuania finds particularly pertinent. Take the first-ever briefing with the heads of police components and the resolution on UN Police. Just as the debate with the heads of military components during the Argentinian presidency, it allowed us to hear directly from the commanders of the most rapidly growing UN peacekeeping component on efforts to stop community violence, ensure accountability and build national justice institutions. It was very encouraging to hear police commanders reaffirming that protection of civilians and in particular women and children is the key priority for UN peacekeeping. The Council has been consistent in sending this message through the country specific and horizontal resolutions. Both, Member States and the Secretariat, have to reinforce their efforts in ensuring that peacekeepers are prepared and willing to actively intervene when the most vulnerable are in need of protection.

Yesterday’s debate on UN sanctions, offered us an opportunity to reflect on how sanctions have evolved from punitive measures imposed in response to incompliance with international obligations. We are looking forward to a prompt adoption of the resolution on this issue. Currently, more often than not, sanctions are a much more comprehensive tool intended to help countries in their post-conflict recovery or in preventing relapse. The Council must therefore consider how it should readjust its efforts to ensure better compliance with and implementation of sanctions. While arms embargoes, travel bans and asset freezes might indeed be instrumental in setting a country on a path of peaceful development, it is only through capacity-building and technical assistance that their true potential can be achieved. It is also important for the Council and relevant Committees to remain engaged with the neighboring countries. Their shared interest in regional stability and first-hand knowledge of the situation are a crucial asset in making sanctions timely and well-targeted. Finally, the sanctions committees must engage in constant dialogue with the wider UN membership through open briefings and press statements.

Mr. President,

Looking ahead into the next month, the Council will have to decide on the extension of mandates of the judges of the International Criminal Tribunals for former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. During the last two decades, both tribunals made enormous contributions both to the development of international criminal law and the assistance to national judicial systems in conducting their own trials. They are now at a crucial juncture, aiming to effectively conclude cases still under consideration while referring pending tasks to the Residual Mechanism. Keeping this in mind, the Council has to ensure that closure dates depend on the completion of ongoing trials in compliance with the highest standards of procedural fairness. This can only be assured by the extension of the mandates as requested by the Presidents of both Tribunals.

In November, the Council held an important debate on international cooperation in combating terrorism and adopted the Presidential Statement, which reiterated the grave concern about ISIS, Al-Nusra Front and other Al-Qaida affiliates, as well as the negative impact of violent extremist ideology to the stability in Iraq, Syria and beyond. Next month the Council will continue to address the multifaceted issue of terrorism, focusing on African region that remains one of those most vulnerable to this increasingly diffuse threat. As noted in the Secretary General’s report of 9 January 2014, the picture is further complicated by the increasing cooperation between criminal networks and terrorist groups, especially in West Africa and the Sahel. It often involves drugs, arms and human trafficking, as well as other illicit activities, which calls for an immediate and enhanced response at all levels.

Mr. President,

Despite repeated calls from the international community to find a solution, the situation in the East of Ukraine continues to escalate. In the public meeting on 12 November most Council Members echoed concerns expressed by the OSCE and ASG Toyberg-Frandzen over increased tensions, as convoys moved into the separatist-held areas with substantial amounts of heavy weapons and troops from across the Russian border. Constant violations of the cease-fire continued to fuel the conflict and further endangered the Minsk agreements, as did illegal and illegitimate so called “elections” held on 2 November by foreign-backed illegal armed rebel groups despite overwhelming consensus by the international community that they would damage the political solution. As the international efforts to find a solution that can only be based on respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity continue, the Council and the UN should support them.

Lastly, Mr. President,

As it is the last Council meeting of this month – let me thank Australia for this extraordinary month, welcome the newly elected Council members who have now joined us and, finally, wish Chad every success in December.