Sweden's presidency of the UN Security Council will focus on conflict prevention and the inclusion of women in peace processes, Foreign Minister Margot Wallström has revealed.

Writing in Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, Wallström highlighted three areas Sweden will tackle during its presidency of the Security Council through January 2017. It is the first month of a two-year term as part of the body, after being elected in June last year as a non-permanent member for the 2017-18 period.

The Nordic country wants to build a "constructive new relationship" between new UN Secretary General António Guterres and the Security Council, Wallström explained.

On top of that, it also wants to “lift the UN’s work with conflict prevention as well as the link between women, peace and security”, with an active female influence in peace processes a “strategic issue for international peace and security,” according to the Swedish Foreign Minister.

Finally, Sweden will also set out to improve the Security Council’s working methods and contribute to a "council that is more determined, transparent and legitimate”, as well as limit veto use, in particular when it comes to "situations of mass atrocities like in Syria", Wallström noted.

Mali, Syria, Somalia, the DRC, Cyprus, Colombia and the peace process in the Middle East will all be discussed during the Swedish presidency.

Sweden’s tenure on the UN Security Council will be marked by similar themes, according to its ambassador to the UN.

“Our foreign policy is rooted in a solid foundation of international law, human rights, gender equality and a humanitarian approach. The same will apply to our term on the Security Council," Swedish UN Ambassador Olof Skoog said in December.

READ ALSO: How Sweden negotiated a seat on the UN Security Council

Sweden will present its January programme of work for the UN Security Council on Tuesday. It will sit on the council with the five permanent members (China, France, Great Britain, Russia and the United States) as well as nine other non-permanent members.</s>Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Sweden Among New Members of UN Security Council

UNITED NATIONS, Jun 29 2016 (IPS) - Bolivia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan and Sweden were elected on Tuesday to serve on the UN Security Council (UNSC) as non-permanent members, while Italy and Netherlands have split the remaining contested seat.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) met to choose five new non-permanent members who will serve a two-year term starting January 2017 alongside the 15-member council.

As the UN’s most powerful body, the UNSC is responsible for international peace and security matters from imposing sanctions to brokering peace deals to overseeing the world’s 16 peacekeeping missions.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom expressed how “happy” and “proud” Sweden is to be joining the UN’s top decision-making body.

“We will do now what we promised to do,” she told press. Among its priorities, Sweden has pledged to focus on conflict prevention and resolution.

“With 40 conflict and 11 full-blown wars, it is a very very worrisome world that we have to take into account,” Wallstrom stated.

Despite its location in Northern Europe, Sweden has not been untouched by recent conflicts, including the ongoing civil war in Syria. With a population of 9.5 million, the Scandinavian country took in over 160,000 asylum seekers in 2015. The government has since imposed tougher restrictions on asylum seekers including a decrease in permanent residence permits and limited family reunification authorisations.

Ethiopia has also highlighted its position in promoting regional and continental peace and security. The country is the largest contributor of UN peacekeepers and is actively involved in mediating conflicts in Africa, most recently in South Sudan. It has also long struggled with its own clashes, including a crackdown on political dissent.

The Sub-Saharan African country has also promised to work towards UNSC reforms.

During the 70th Session of the UNGA in September 2015, Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn remarked that he was “proud” that Ethiopia is one of the UN’s founding members, but stressed the need to reform and establish a permanent seat for Africa in the council.

“Comprehensive reform of the United Nations system, particularly that of the Security Council, is indeed imperative to reflect current geo-political realities and to make the UN more broadly representative, legitimate and effective,” he told delegates.

“We seize this occasion to, once again, echo Africa’s call to be fully represented in all the decision-making organs of the UN, particularly in the Security Council,” Dessalegn continued.

Ethiopia has been a non-permanent member of the UNSC on two previous occasions, in 1967/1968 and 1989/1990.

It will also be the third time that Bolivia will have a non-permanent SC seat. Bolivia campaigned unopposed with the backing of Latin American and Caribbean countries.

“Bolivia is a country that has basic principles…one of those principles is, without a doubt, anti-imperialism,” the Bolivian delegation said following their election, adding that they will continue implementing these principles as a member of the UNSC.

Since the election of Evo Morales, its first indigenous leader, the South American country has largely focused on social reforms and indigenous rights. Most recently, Morales has been reportedly implicated in a political scandal that is threatening journalists and press freedom.

Kazakhstan became the first Central Asian country to be a member of the UNSC after beating Thailand for the seat.

Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said that he was “very happy” and their selection was a “privilege.” He also reiterated the country’s priority focus on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan relinquished its nuclear weapons and has been actively advocating for non-proliferation around the world.

“We have a lot to offer to the world and we believe that it is time to attract attention to the need of development in our part of the world,” Idrissov stated.

However, Human Rights Watch has scrutinized the Central Asian nation’s human rights record, including restrictions on freedom of expression.

Netherlands and Italy were up for the last Western European seat on the UNSC, but after four rounds of voting, they were deadlocked with each country receiving 95 votes while needing 127 to win.

Following deliberations, Italian and Dutch foreign ministers announced that they would split the seat, with Italy in the UNSC in 2017 and the Netherlands in 2018.

Since May, the six countries have been campaigning for council seats by participating in the first-ever election debates in the UN’s 70-year history.

The debates were a part of a new effort to increase transparency in the institution.

The new non-permanent members will work alongside the five veto-wielding permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Following their controversial exit from the European Union, known as “Brexit”, the UK may face an uncertain future in the UNSC as the prospects of Scotland and Northern Ireland leaving the UK loom.</s>Bolivia, Ethiopia, Italy, Kazakhstan and Sweden will begin their two-year term as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council on Sunday, January 1.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The countries are replacing Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela, whose mandate expired on December 31.

On January 1, 2018, the Netherlands will replace Italy as a non-permanent member of the council on January 1, 2018, according to an agreement reached by Rome and Amsterdam after they both received 95 votes each following five rounds of voting in the General Assembly.

The UN Security Council consists of 15 states, namely five permanent (Russia, France, China, the United States and the United Kingdom) and 10 non-permanent members that are to be elected for two years. Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay will remain non-permanent members of the council, with their terms expiring on December 31, 2017.</s>ASTANA (TCA) — The national flag of Kazakhstan was raised in a special ceremony in front of the hall of the UN Security Council at the United Nations in New York on December 31, 2016 as the country has become a non-permanent Security Council member starting from January 1, 2017, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan said.

Other newly elected non-permanent Security Council members are Bolivia, Italy, Sweden and Ethiopia. Kazakhstan and these countries replaced, respectively, Malaysia, Venezuela, Spain, New Zealand and Angola. The ceremony marked the start of the work of the five new non-permanent members on the Security Council.



The convincing win in the election campaign for the post of a non-permanent member of the Security Council for 2017-2018 from the Asia-Pacific Group became the main foreign policy outcome for Kazakhstan in 2016, the foreign ministry said, adding that Kazakhstan has become the first in Central Asia to be elected to this important global political body.



In accordance with the UN Charter, the Security Council is one of the principal organs of the Organization, whose decisions are legally binding. In order to ensure prompt and effective action of the United Nations, its Member States have conferred on the Security Council primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, and have agreed that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility, the Council acts on their behalf.



The first calendar meeting of the UN Security Council in 2017 is scheduled for January 3, while the powers of Kazakhstan as a non-permanent member of the Council started on January 1, 2017.</s>MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The countries are replacing Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela, whose mandate expired on December 31.

The UN Security Council consists of 15 states, namely five permanent (Russia, France, China, the United States and the United Kingdom) and 10 non-permanent members that are to be elected for two years.

Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay will remain non-permanent members of the council, with their terms expiring on December 31, 2017.</s>YERUSHALAYIM - Israel watched with cautious optimism as former Portuguese prime minister António Guterres succeeded Ban Ki-moon on Sunday as secretary-general of the U.N.

Guterres has a record of being friendly toward Israel but has also been critical of Israeli policies over the Green Line, and there will be tremendous pressure on him to take sides against Israel during his five-year term.

“I met with him and was impressed with his wide knowledge of the U.N. and the international arena,” Israel’s Ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon told The Jerusalem Post. “I hope we can turn a new page with him.”

“I told him that the U.N. system creates so much negative energy against Israel, we just want him to be objective – not for Israel, but objective – and able to withstand the tremendous pressure against Israel that exists inside the U.N.”

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak told Army Radio in October when Guterres was chosen that the new U.N. chief had in the past helped Israel in dealings with the European Union and the Socialist International. “I am sure he will be fair,” Barak said. “His views are closer to those of Amos Oz than [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu. His stances reflect those of the world.”

Micha Harish, a minister of industry and trade when Guterres, then Portugese opposition leader, first traveled to Israel, found him “friendly and was definitely not part of the extreme Left in Europe. I don’t remember any anti-Israel comments by him. I think he will be more fair and less aggressive in the U.N. than his predecessors.”

Changeovers at the Security Council should help Israel somewhat, as five rotating members finished their two-year term and five new countries took their place.

Of the five countries that left the Council, there were three of the four that sponsored the anti-settlement resolution last month: Venezuela, Malaysia, and New Zealand. The fourth sponsor, Senegal, has another year on the Council.

Israel will welcome the entry of Kazakhstan to the Council, with which Israel has good relations, and where Netanyahu visited last month – replacing Malaysia, with which Israel has no diplomatic ties.

Ethiopia, a friendly country, will replace Angola, and Spain will be replaced for one year by Italy, and the other year by The Netherlands, two European Union countries whose voting record on Israel in international forums is better than Spain’s.

However, Venezuela, with whom Israel has no diplomatic ties, will be replaced by Bolivia, which is almost as anti-Israel, and also has no diplomatic ties with Israel.

New Zealand, which refused to bend to Israeli urgings to withdraw from the anti-Israel resolution, turns over its seat to Sweden, which has been a leading critic in the EU and whose foreign minister is officially a persona non grata in Israel.</s>The United Nations is marking the new year with a change in leadership and five new Security Council members. But is it really the start of a new era?

At midnight Saturday, Ban Ki Moon relinquished his role as UN secretary general to Antonio Guterres, who then made a global appeal for peace, urging all people to make a shared New Year's resolution: "Let us resolve to put peace first."

His words echo those of his predecessor, Ban, who on assuming the role of secretary general of the United Nations in January 2007 declared that his mandate would be "marked by ceaseless efforts to build bridges and put an end to divisions."

Ten years later, the Korean leader has arguably fallen short of his mark. Critics have blamed Ban for a lack of charisma and a failure to muster the requisite authority to lead the international agency.

Many observers are confident that Guterres, a former Portuguese prime minister and high commissioner for refugees, who was unanimously elected to replace Ban, can breathe new life into the UN.

"We need mediation, arbitration, as well as creative diplomacy," said Guterres, 67, after he was named the new UN chief. He added that the institution "must focus more on delivery and less on process, more on people and less on bureaucracy."

Described as an intellectual with a consensual leadership style, Guterres has been lauded for his political judgment, his vast knowledge of culture and history and for a personality that seeks to be socially engaged.

His supporters say these are the qualities that make him so qualified to take on the mantle of chief international mediator at a time when the UN faces some of its toughest challenges.

In 2017, the UN will be grappling with numerous crises. Bringing an end to the Syrian conflict, which has ravaged the country for nearly six years, managing a migrant and refugee crisis triggered by it, but also ensuring that the gains made in combating climate change, via the COP21, COP22 and the upcoming COP23 agreements, are upheld.

Richard Gowan, an analyst at the European Council of International Relations, says that the new secretary general "could give the UN the kind of kick to the back that it needs".

"Whether it is on Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, the refugee crisis or climate change, he will be judged on his ability to stand up to the powers that have chosen him," Louis Charbonneau said in an interview with FRANCE 24.

According to UNHCR, 21.3 million people are refugees around the world. Fifty-three percent of these people are from Syria (4.9 million), Afghanistan (2.7 million) and Somalia (1.1 million). In South Sudan, the UN will have to keep up its engagement to try to put an end to the civil war that has already killed thousands and forced more than one million people to leave their homes.

Human Rights advocates say Guterres’s international work, which includes 10 years serving as UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), has prepared him well for global challenges, particularly those brought on by the refugee and migrant crisis.

“The Security Council has chosen a fervent and effective refugee advocate who has the potential to adopt a radically different tone on human rights at a time of great challenges," said Louis Charbonneau of the UN Human Rights Watch.

Is the UN still relevant?

Many believe the UN no longer reflects contemporary international society with increasing criticism focused on its unwieldy bureaucracy and the presence of the five permanent members at the Security Council, which have the right to veto resolutions.

Among recent critics is the US president-elect, Donald Trump, who said, "The United Nations has such great potential, but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!"

He took a swipe at the UN Security Council after it passed a resolution to end Israeli settlements – a vote enabled by the US, which took the almost unprecedented decision not to veto it.

Joining the Security Council this year are Bolivia, Ethiopia, Sweden and Kazakhstan, who replace Angola, Spain, Malaysia, New Zealand and Venezuela as non-permanent members sitting for two years.

Italy, which is the fifth country elected, will be in office for one year only. After five rounds of voting at the UN Assembly back in June, Italy, which had the same number of votes as the Netherlands, decided to share its seats. "We will sit a year each," said Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentilon.

These five new members are in addition to the five permanent members (France, United States, Great Britain, China, Russia) and the remaining five non-permanent members: Egypt, Uruguay, Ukraine, Senegal and Japan.

The UN, however, seems fully cognisant of what potentially undermines its capacity to be representative of the international community. On its website it says that “more than 60 UN member states have never been members of the Security Council."

This year’s membership will do little to mitigate the imbalance, with Europe overwhelmingly represented compared to other regions.

The continent has five member countries, while Africa has three representatives along with the Americas and Asia. This year, the Middle East is the only region without representation at the council.

Guterres has promised that the UN’s “duty is to the peoples we serve, is to work together to move from fear of each other to trust in each other, trust in the values that bind us, and trust in the institutions that serve and protect us," he said. "My contribution to the United Nations will be aimed at inspiring that trust."

This is an adaptation of an article that appeared in French.</s>The Irish women’s team fly out to Malaysia on Tuesday as they finally get back into competitive action after an 18-month wait with the first stage in the World Cup qualifying bid.

They will play in World League Round Two from January 14th-22nd in Kuala Lumpur, looking to finish in the top two from the eight-team competition which ensures a ticket to Round Three, where the World Cup tickets will be doled out.

With a world ranking of 16, Graham Shaw’s side go into the competition as the second highest ranked team, with Italy, who are ranked 15th, the other big gun.

Ireland are placed in an initial group with hosts Malaysia, along with rank outsiders Kazakhstan and Hong Kong. But, despite being one of the fancied sides, Shaw says the timing of the competition has made preparation tricky.

“When the tournament is at this time, it’s incredibly difficult for European teams to prepare for it with the difference in time, weather and humidity,” he told The Irish Times.

No other opponents were available for challenge matches due to the Christmas break, and so regional camps were organised on December 22nd and 23rd, as well as on the 29th and 30th.

“We have got seven days in Malaysia to sharpen ourselves up pre-tournament. It’s certainly not ideal.

“But the girls are quite a self-driven squad. With nutrition and the requirements of being an elite athlete, the girls are well aware of what it takes when it comes to over-indulgence!”

It will be their first world-ranking event since July 2015 when they claimed the EuroHockey Champions Trophy, a month after missing out on a ticket to Rio by the thickness of a post.

Since then, players such as Emma Gray, Kate Dillon and Emma Smyth have formally retired, while Aine Connery has stepped away from the squad.

Shaw tried out a large number of new faces in the challenge matches in 2016, notably the Hawkes Bay Cup in New Zealand in April, where they beat Olympic-bound India and Korea.

Lena Tice and Zoe Wilson emerged as the new stars of the set-up and will form a new-look central defence. And Shaw believes that they will form the nucleus of the next generation.

“We feel now we are stronger across the board and across different lines. That’s been a real plus. The introduction of those younger players of that quality has been brilliant and we are excited about what they can do in the future.”

Another addition who will make her ranking tournament debut in January is Limerick’s Roisin Upton following two NCAA titles with the UConn Huskies. Her inclusion gives Ireland more options in midfield and defence.

She is also a player who can potentially replace captain Megan Frazer, the team’s star player, while she recovers from her cruciate knee ligament injury.

“Losing Megan is incredibly disappointing but players like Zoe, Roisin and Lena are able to do that role for us. Maybe down the road it allows us to use Megan further up the field.”

In Malaysia, there will be further tournament debutants in the form of Rebecca Barry and Clodagh Cassin. They will play pre-tournament friendlies against the host nation and then Italy on January 11th before the final lead-in to the formal ties, starting with Kazakhstan on January 14th.</s>China, Italy and Spain have joined a long list of countries selling English sparkling wine as the number of importing nations has grown by a third in the last year.

Chalky soils, south-facing slopes and warm temperatures mean conditions are ideal for producing wine in parts of Britain and the industry now boasts sales of around £100million a year.

Producers have also secured contracts with some of the world's most exclusive restaurants and hotels such as the Burj Al Arab in Dubai and the Ritz in London, while the UK collected 120 medals at two prestigious awards.

British companies picked up the gongs at this year's International Wine Challenge, the International Wine and Spirit Competition and Decanter World Wine Awards, the industry said.

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom said that with major producers on track to deliver a 10-fold increase in exports: 'Our vintners are set for huge success in 2017 with wineries growing and more bottles on supermarket shelves.'

Growing demand has led to land under vine doubling over the last 10 years, with 30 vineyards opening in the last two years alone.

It has also sparked interest from champagne producers in France with Taittinger buying land in Kent in 2015.

English Wine Producers chairman Simon Robinson said: 'It's boom time for English wines.

'The growing trend on the high street shows the retailers have really got behind them and the wine consumers of Britain are responding.

'Our export sales are also on the up, with new markets opening up around the world.

'We're looking forward to even more wines coming on to the market next year.'

Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) chief executive Miles Beale said: 'As we always expected, the word has spread and English wine is now internationally recognised as a premium quality product and very much in demand.

'The WSTA were proud to lead the first ever English wine round table in March 2016 when the major producers committed to ambitious targets of increasing exports tenfold to 2.5million bottles by 2020.

'It is fantastic to hear we are well on our way to achieving this.'

New markets for English sparkling wine in 2016 included Austria, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, China, Italy, Ivory Coast, Spain, Taiwan and UEA, according to English Wine Producers.

These were in addition to existing markets of Canada, Estonia, Ireland, Macau, South Africa, Switzerland, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Japan, Sweden and the US.</s>The U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan made a New Year present to Kazakhstani citizens having announced simplification of visa regime between the two countries.

Starting December 29, 2016 ‘qualified Kazakhstani applicants will receive multiple entry visas valid for ten years,’ the U.S. Consulate in Almaty informed on its Facebook account.

“Issuing 10-year business and tourist visas will let the citizens of Kazakhstan and the U.S. to devote more time to planning their trips and not worry about visa-handling issues,” said U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan George Krol.

Visa requirements have been simplified in the year when Kazakhstan and the U.S. are celebrating the 25th anniversary since establishment of their diplomatic relations.

Speaking at the jubilee, Ambassador Krol pointed out: “Such development of events proves firm partnership relations formed between our countries in the past 25 years and symbolizes adherence of the U.S. to further development of friendly relations with the people of Kazakhstan.’

Alongside, the MFA of Kazakhstan will issue 10-year visas for the U.S. citizens planning tourist and business trips to Kazakhstan. Starting January 1, the U.S. citizens arriving in Kazakhstan for less than 30 days will don’t need any visas.

The cost of ten-year visas for business and tourist trips will remain at USD160.

The article was originally published by Kazinform
Bolivia, Ethiopia, Italy, Kazakhstan, and Sweden begin their terms on the United Nations Security Council, replacing Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain, and Venezuela.