India takes over UNSC presidency for August; maritime safety, counter-terrorism key priorities

India on Sunday assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of August and is ready to organise key occasions in three main areas of maritime safety, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism.
“It is a singular honour for us to be presiding over the Security Council the same month when we are celebrating our 75th Independence Day,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti mentioned in a video message on Saturday. “India has just assumed the presidency of The UN Security Council on 1st August. India and France enjoy historical and close relations. I thank France for all the support which they’ve given us during our stint in the Security Council,” he additional added.
As a part of its new function, India will determine the UN physique’s agenda for the month and coordinate vital conferences on a variety of points. “Security Council will also have on its agenda several important meetings including Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and the Middle East. Security Council will also be adopting important resolutions on Somalia, Mali, & UN Interim Force in Lebanon,” TS Tirumurti mentioned.
Apart from assembly on maritime safety, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism, India can even be organising a solemn occasion in reminiscence of peacekeepers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be the first Indian PM to preside over a gathering of the UNSC, Former everlasting consultant of India to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin mentioned.

“In 75 plus yrs, this is the first time our political leadership has invested in presiding over an event of UNSC. It shows that leadership wants to lead from the front. It also shows that India&its political leadership are invested in our foreign policy ventures. Although this is a virtual meeting, it’s still a first meeting of the sort for us. So, it is historic. The last time an Indian PM was engaged in this effort was the then PM PV Narasimha Rao in 1992 when he attended a UNSC meeting,” Syed Akbaruddin added.
Ahead of India assuming presidency, Pakistan on Saturday expressed its hope that New Delhi would comply with worldwide guidelines and norms. “We hope that India will abide by the relevant rules and norms governing the conduct of the Security Council Presidency,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson mentioned.
This would be the nation’s first presidency throughout its 2021-22 tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. India started its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC on January 1, this 12 months.