India set to take over as President of UN Security Council for August

India will take over the Presidency of the UN Security Council on August 1 and is set to host signature events in three major areas of maritime security, peacekeeping and counterterrorism during the month.

The first working day of India’s Presidency will be Monday, August 2 when India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti will hold a hybrid press briefing in the UN headquarters on the Council’s programme of work for the month.

Key Highlights

• India’s two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council began on January 1, 2021. The August presidency will be India’s first Presidency during its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

• India will again preside over the Council in December next year, the last month of its two-year tenure.

• During its Presidency, India will be organising high-level signature events in three major areas – maritime security, peacekeeping and counterterrorism.

• In the video message, Tirumurti said maritime security has a high priority for India and it is important for the Security Council to take a holistic approach to this issue.

• Peacekeeping is a topic close to our hearts, given our own long and pioneering involvement with peacekeeping, he said, adding that India will focus on how to ensure the safety of peacekeepers, especially by using better technology and how to bring perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers to justice.

• As a country that has been at the forefront in the fight against terrorism, India will continue to keep the spotlight on counterterrorism.

SOURCE: The Indian Express, Business Standard

Download as PDF