China assumes presidency of UNSC
February 2, 2015, 6:39 am

Russia and China are permanent members of the UNSC [Xinhua]

Liu Jieyi, China’s permanent representative to the UN, took over the rotating presidency from Cristian Barros Mellet, permanent representative of Chile to the UN.

The UN Security Council presidency rotates every month among the council members in alphabetical order of their names, while each president holds office for one calendar month.

The last time China took over the rotating presidency was in November 2013.

Under the UN Charter, the Security Council is tasked with keeping international peace.

The UNSC, which has powers to authorize military action, impose sanctions and set up peacekeeping operations, has 10 rotating members. The US, China, Russia, France and Britain are permanent members which wield a veto.

The Security Council has been deeply divided over Syria, with Syrian allies Russia and China at odds with the US, its Western allies and other members who support the rebels fighting the Assad-administration. Russia and China have, on multiple occasions, vetoed UN Security Council resolutions referring the Syrian crisis to the International Criminal Court for investigation of possible war crimes.

BRICS members, India and Brazil have both bid for permanent membership of the UNSC.

In her opening address at the United Nations General Assembly in September last year, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff slammed the delay in implementing reforms at the Security Council.

“The Security Council has been having difficulties in promoting peaceful solutions to those conflicts. A genuine reform of the Security Council is necessary to overcome the current paralysis. This process has been dragging on for too long,” she said.

“I am certain we all understand the serious risks of paralysis and inaction at the Security Council,” she added.

Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama in a state visit to India last week, repeated an offer of American backing for Indian membership of the United Nations security council in a warmly received speech in Delhi.

“I believe if we are going to be true global partners, our two nations must do more around the world together. So, to ensure national security and peace, multilateral institutions created in the 20th century have to updated for the 21st. That’s why I support a reformed United Nation Security Council that includes India as a permanent member,” Obama said, while addressing a gathering at the Siri Fort auditorium in the Indian capital.

Obama, however, did not specify whether Washington would actively push for a UN security council seat for India. He had made a similar offer in 2010.

TBP and Agencies