Spain assumes rotating presidency of UN Security Council for December

Spain on Thursday assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for December.

During Spain's presidency, there will be a high-level debate on prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-state actors, Roman Oyarzun Marchesi, Spain's ambassador to the UN, told reporters here.

In addition, there will be meetings on topics of international judicial cooperation to combat terrorism and trafficking of persons in conflict situation, said Oyarzun Marchesi.

Throughout the month, Security Council members will continue to follow developments in South Sudan, Libya and Syria. The council is also expected to adopt a resolution to pay tribute to outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, according to the council's program of work.

Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for maintaining peace and security in the world at large. It also bears the responsibility to work on the mandate of UN peacekeeping operations.

The Council is composed of five permanent members - China, the US, Britain, France, and the Russia - and 10 non-permanent members that are elected in groups of five, with a tenure of two years on the council.

The presidency of the council rotates among its 15 member states based on the English-language alphabetical order of the countries' names on a monthly basis. Endit