India Takes Over UNSC Presidency For August; Maritime Security And Counter-Terrorism Key Priorities

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador TS Tirumurti, thanked France for presiding over the Council in July and supporting New Delhi in its role in the world body.

India Takes Over UNSC Presidency For August

New Delhi: India on Sunday assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August.

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador TS Tirumurti, thanked France for presiding over the Council in July and supporting New Delhi in its role in the world body.

“During our Presidency in August, India is organising three high-level signature meetings, focusing on our priority areas i.e. maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism,” said Ambassador Tirumurti in a video message.

READ: What Is e-RUPI, How Does It Work? Know About Govt's 'Revolutionary Initiative' Ahead Of Launch By PM Modi

“India will also be organising a solemn event in the memory of peacekeepers,” he added.

Ambassador Tirumurti further said the Council plans several important meetings, including those with Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen and the middle-east.

“I am confident that India's Presidency will contribute to strengthening international peace and security further,” he added.

French Ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain, expressing his delight over India taking over the presidency of the Security Council and said his country would work with India in tackling several issues faced by the world today.

“Delighted that India is today taking over #UNSC presidency from France. We are committed to working with India on strategic issues as maritime security, peacekeeping & counter-terrorism, and upholding a rules-based, multilateral system to face today's many ongoing crises,” he tweeted.

Dilshod Akhatov, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India, also welcomed the announcement.

“India is one of the biggest members of the UN and plays an important role. Its permanent membership for the next two years is an important event. Uzbekistan supports Indian candidacy to obtain a permanent membership in the Council,” ANI quoted Akhatov as saying.

This is India’s tenth tenure as the country has been the Council’s President nine times earlier - June 1950, September 1967, December 1972, October 1977, February 1985, October 1991, December 1992, August 2011 and November 2012.