US to take over Security Council presidency in September

The United States would hold the presidency of the UN Security Council in the crucial month of September when world leaders would converge here to attend the annual General Assembly session.

This is the first time that the US has become the president of the Security Council during the Obama Administration.

A head of state-level meeting on nuclear non proliferation and nuclear disarmament on September 24th would be a major the highlight of American presidency of the 15-membered most powerful body of the United Nations. The meeting would be chaired by the US President, Barack Obama.

"The session will be focused on nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear disarmament broadly and not on any specific countries," the US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice said. Rice would address a press conference to brief UN correspondents on the agenda of the Security Council for the month of September.

The Security Council is expected to take up a draft resolution on sexual violence in armed conflict. Later the Council is expected to have a debate on the Secretary General’s second quarterly report on Afghan developments.

Britain was the Security Council president for the month of August. Security Council comprises of 15 members and its presidency revolves among all its members every month. Five of its members -- China, US, Russia, Britain and France -- are Permanent Members having veto power.

Rest of the 10 countries are non-permanent members elected for two year term.