📋 Tender Overview
Norway holds the presidency of the Security Council in January 2022. In addition to leading the Security Councils work to safeguard international peace and security Norway will initiate several thematic meetings based on Norwegian priorities. Both the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State plan to visit New York and chair some of the meetings.Through the presidency Norway will promote a clear foreign policy based on Norwegian interests and values. Norway will lead the Security Councils work to safeguard international peace and security. In collaboration with other council members we will find good joint solutions.We must be a credible and consistent supporter of the UN international law and multilateral solutions in a rules-based world order. Several demanding country situations will be discussed by the Security Council in January not least Syria Afghanistan and Libya. We will also follow developments closely in Myanmar and Ethiopia says Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.The meetings under Norwegian auspices the so-called signature events are based on several of the Norwegian priorities for our Security Council term. It includes topics such as women peace and security and the protection of civilians.Openness and inclusion are important for Norways work in the Security Council. There have been fewer initiators from civil society in recent years. We will invite representatives from civil society especially women to brief the Security Council. It is important that Norway helps to give a clear voice to those who are most affected by violence and conflict says Huitfeldt.Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister plan to visit the UN headquarters in New York in connection with the presidency. They plan to chair some of the Norwegian signature events and other meetings of the Security Council.The Prime Minister will lead an open debate on the need to protect civilians when wars are fought in cities and densely populated areas. Modern wars are largely fought in such areas with large and long-term damage to civilians. Council members are invited to participate at the political level.The Foreign Minister will lead an open debate on women peace and security. The meeting focuses on the need to strengthen the connection between womens participation in political processes and the protection of women against threats and reprisals due to such participation. The Foreign Minister will also lead the open debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For the two open debates that the Foreign Minister will lead the council members are invited to participate at the political level.As president Norway will also arrange an informal meeting for the Security Councils ambassadors and the UN Secretary - General to discuss preventive diplomacy and peace mediation. The gathering outside the UN headquarters is based on Norways prioritization of peace diplomacy and its own experiences with peace and reconciliation work.The Security Council is an arena for great power politics. Geopolitical tensions between the great powers also apply here. But so far Norway as an elected member has not experienced a squeeze between the great powers. We have good working relationships with everyone says Huitfeldt.The program for January is approved by the members of the Security Council on 4 January. Adjustments may still be made to the work program during the month.If the infection control measures allow it Norway will start the month by inviting the 14 other council members to a working breakfast on board the Norwegian sailing ship Statsrd Lehmkuhl which is docked in New York. It is also a tradition for the presidency to mark the start of the month by giving a symbolic gift to the other members. Norway will provide some Norwegian cultural markers such as milk chocolate brown cheese and cheese grater.
