Seton Hall Graduate Degree in International Affairs
Seton Hall Graduate Degree in International Affairs

BLUE SMOKE: A new monthly newsletter, from PassBlue and UNA–UK, which shines a spotlight on senior appointments at the UN

Security Council Presidency

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Pascale Baeriswyl, Switzerland’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told PassBlue that the country’s historic neutrality does not stop it from speaking out against violations of international law. Switzerland has been a UN member state since 2002, and it…

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Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, described the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against President Vladimir Putin as “stupid.” Nebenzia said this while taking questions from journalists during his briefing as rotating president of…

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Mozambique, the southern African nation with scenic beaches and islands, will focus on issues around security and terrorism as it leads the United Nations Security Council in March. This is the first time Mozambique has been an elected member…

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Malta is in charge of the Security Council this month, the first time in 39 years that the tiny Mediterranean nation is back in the chamber as an elected member. As an island, it’s appropriate that Malta is scheduling…

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Kimihiro Ishikane, Japan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, expressed frustration with the Security Council’s lack of consensus on North Korea’s unabating missile tests. Ishikane is the monthly rotating president of the Council in January, and he conveyed his…

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Ruchira Kamboj, India’s ambassador to the United Nations, said the Security Council could no longer afford to delay being more reflective of the diversity of the UN “wider membership” if it wants to remain relevant. The South Asian country…

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Ambassador Harold Agyeman, Ghana’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said the jury was still out on the use of sanctions to bring Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, to heel over his decision to challenge the sovereignty of Ukraine. With…

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Naturally enough, Gabon is focusing on Africa as the country leads the United Nations Security Council this month. Gabon’s UN ambassador, Michel Xavier Biang, detailed his country’s plans for the rotating presidency, elaborating on a climate change agenda as…

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After ending its nine-year military stay in Mali and promising to halve its military presence in West Africa, France said it remained committed to ensuring good governance in the countries affected by continuing instability in the region. Nicolas de…

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Myanmar’s military junta has extended its state of emergency by six months, a year and a half after it overthrew the democratically elected government in a February 2021 coup. The ruling was announced on Aug. 1, the same day…

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As Security Council president in August, China wants to keep the UN body “cool” — literally and figuratively — by navigating the fine line of staying close to Russia while not souring relations too much with the West; discussing…

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Brazil will try to push for a softening of global sanctions on Russia to free up essential food supplies and ease access to fertilizers internationally. Ambassador Ronaldo Costa, the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, hinted at such…

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The lack of accountability on a range of human-rights abuses and atrocities committed by countries and others across the world will be highlighted during Albania’s first open debate as rotating president of the United Nations Security Council this month….

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The United States is making the tackling soaring prices of food commodities the main focus of its presidency of the United Nations Security Council in May. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the country’s permanent representative to the UN, elaborated on the…

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As most of the world’s superpowers continue to impose sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, Britain says it will double-down on its effort to call out Russia by ensuring it does not continue to…

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Seton Hall Graduate Degree in International Affairs

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