Rwanda assumes rotating UN Security Council presidency for July

UNITED NATIONS, July 1 (Xinhua) — Rwanda on Tuesday assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for July.

Eugene-Richard Gasana, the permanent representative of Rwanda to the United Nations, took over the rotating council presidency from Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s UN ambassador.

According to the council’s provisional work program for July, the 15-nation UN body will hold a high-level open debate on regional partnerships in UN peacekeeping, which is to be presided by Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo.

The quarterly open debate on the Middle East is also expected with a briefing by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry.

Other issues including Libya, Syria, Sudan and South Sudan are also on the council’s agenda.

Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security in the world at large.

The council is composed of five permanent members — China, United States, UK, France, and the Russian Federation — and 10 non-permanent members that are elected in groups of five to two- year terms on the council.

The presidency of the council rotates among countries serving in the peace and security body on a monthly basis based on the English-language alphabetical order of the countries’ names.

The Shanghai Dailycom

UM– USEKE.RW