United Nations, MARCH 3, SPA -- South Africa will preside over the U.N. Security Council for the first time in council history in March, a month expected to include a resolution on Iran s nuclear non-compliance. This time the Iran resolution will be handled differently by the council, said South African Ambassador Damisami Kumalo. He noted that council members last year complained bitterly that the permanent five (P-5) members of the council did not include the non-permanent 10 members on discussions on Iranian violations of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Kumalo also told reporters that he felt the issue of non-proliferation is not so special that it should only be for some. In celebration of International Women s Day, on March 8th, the council will issue a presidential statement on the status of women. The council has had many statements of women as victims, but I think it is important for the Security Council to look on women in totality, said Kumalo. The Security Council will receive the report of the independent commission investigating the death of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others in 2005 and will be briefed by top prosecutor Serge Brammertz on March 21st. A report on Resolution 1701, which ended the Israel-Hezbollah war last summer, will also be presented to the council with consultations to take place during the last week of March. The report on Resolution 1559, ending Syria s occupation of Lebanon, will be presented to the Security Council in April. Kumalo said he will focus on exploring the relationship between the Security Council and regional organizations, particularly the AU, during an open meeting on March 28. The council is planning to go on a few trips during the course of the year, and discussions are ongoing among council members, said Kumalo. The suggestions put forward by council members include visits to African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cote d Ivoire, Nepal, Timor Leste, Lebanon, and Israel and the Palestinian territories. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/429672