Russia assumes rotating UN Security Council presidency for August Russia on Sunday assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Sec

Russia on Sunday assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of August.

Russia’s ambassador to UN Vitaly Churkin took over the rotating Council presidency from his Nigerian counterpart, Joy Ogwu, who held the rotating presidency for July.

Under the Russian presidency the Security Council is expected to discuss the situation in Africa, the Middle East and other regions.

The Security Council presidency rotates among the Council members in the English alphabetical order of their names. Each president holds office for one calendar month.

Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in the world at large.

The Council has 15 members: five permanent members – China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States – and 10 non-permanent members elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.