UN Security Council to tackle Syria, Yemen issues

The United Nations Security Council will address issues related to Syria, Yemen and the Middle East as China assumes the rotating presidency of the council for April, according to China's top diplomat at the UN.

The Security Council will look at the political process, chemical weapons and humanitarian access for war-torn Syria, said Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, on April 1 when he took over the rotating presidency from his Angolan counterpart Ismael Abraao Gaspar Martins.

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.

On Yemen, Liu said the council's discussions would help advance talks and improve conditions for the implementation of a ceasefire that has been agreed upon, Liu said.

Three open debates on the Middle East, counterterrorism and piracy in the Gulf of Guinea are planned for April, he said.

Sponsored by China, the open debate on counterterrorism is aimed at enhancing international cooperation and coordination in the fight against increasing terrorist activities in Europe and Asia, Liu said.

The Security Council has the responsibility to maintain peace and security in the world at large under the UN Charter. China is one of its five permanent members. The council also has 10 non-permanent members that are elected in groups of five by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.