India assumes presidency of UN Security Council in August
27 Jul 2011
United Nations: India assumes the monthly rotating presidency of the UN Security Council on 1 August after a gap of 19 years. The last time it held that position was in December 1992.
India is a temporary member of the Council having been elected to that apex UN body last year in October for a two year term. Its term began in January 2011.
India's presidency in August is expected to be a fairly relaxed affair as it is what is informally referred to as the vacation period at the UN when diplomats take a break.
Hardeep Singh Puri, India's envoy to the UN, noted it could be a "relaxed" month but India would have to deal with the normal agenda of the Council as well as organise the 15-member body, if a crisis was to occur. Besides the regular work of the Council, India expects to organise a debate on peacekeeping.
The thematic debate, he added, would "take stock of peacekeeping operations and how they are headed".
As for the normal agenda, Puri stressed that the conflicts in Sudan and Libya needed attention of the international community.
"Military operations continue in Libya," the envoy said, adding that the Council would have to observe how the situation develops during the month of Ramadan.