India’s Presidency Of The UNSC

Context: India has just concluded its presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for August. India achieved almost all of what she set out for, and also successfully handled the expected and unexpected challenges.

Achievements during India’s tenure at helm of UNSC

• The maritime security event: The event was chaired by the Prime Minister of India, several world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin participated.
  • Towards holistic concept of maritime security: Statement exhibited consensus on broad areas including UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, terrorism, freedom of navigation, piracy, transnational crimes and other illicit activities, trafficking in arms, humans and others etc.
• Focus on Peacekeeping: A resolution on Protecting the Protectors was adopted. It was the first SC resolution piloted by India in over four decades.
  • India also signed an MoU with the UN Peacekeeping Institute in Entebbe.
• Event on threat posed by the Islamic State/Daesh: SC members agreed on a press statement highlighting threats posed by the IS-Khorasan and other regional groups to Asia and parts of Africa.
• Handling Afghanistan situation: Held 3 meetings on it and adopted one resolution.
  • The swift adoption of this resolution was crucial, bringing collective voice and expectations of SC to bear on the issue.
  • The outcome was broadly in line with our own thinking on this matter, including its focus on Afghan soil not being used for terrorism, especially by UN-proscribed terrorists, the departure of Afghan and foreign nationals, human rights, especially of women and minorities, and other humanitarian issues.
• Private meeting on Myanmar: A special envoy of ASEAN Chair of Myanmar and foreign minister of Brunei briefed the SC
• Session on Palestine question: Several other issues in the Middle East received SC attention, including the UN’s interim force in Lebanon, for which India is one of the largest troop contributors.
• Meeting on Ethiopia and African related issues: Resolutions on the UN assistance mission in Somalia and sanctions on Mali were also adopted.