Pak assumes UN Security Council presidency, PM, FM to chair special sessions

Pakistan today assumed this month's presidency of the UN Security Council and will hold special sessions on peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.

"During its presidency, Pakistan will help Council members to forge consensus and bridge differences. Ours will be an effective presidency," Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Masood Khan said.

Pakistan began its two-year term as non-permanent member of the 15-nation Security Council last year and will be the President of the UN body for the month of January, the first time that Pakistan has assumed the rotational office of the UNSC during its present term.

Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf would be in New York to chair the January 21 open debate on 'UN Peacekeeping: a multidimensional approach', which would take a comprehensive view of UN peacekeeping.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar would chair a Ministerial level session on January 15 on counter-terrorism.

Khan said the debate would provide an opportunity to the Council members and the general UN membership to have a "holistic view of the continuing threats and challenges posed by international terrorism and the best ways of formulating and implementing coherent and comprehensive responses to this menace.

"We have put the difficult issue of counter terrorism on the agenda of the Council for a special debate. Terrorism can only be rooted out through a comprehensive approach of deterrence, dialogue and development," Pakistan's UN envoy added.

Previously, Pakistan has been elected to the Security Council six times.

The UN Security Council has five veto-holding permanent members - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - and 10 nations that are elected as non-permanent members without vetoes.

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