MEMBERS OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (Bad Joke!)

The United Nations Security Council Website ^ | January 2003 Updated | United Nations

[PhiKapMom]

Background

Members

Functions and Powers

Structure

Sanctions

Repertoire of the Practice
of the Security Council

Security Council Round-up 2002

Counter-Terrorism Committee
(established pursuant to Resolution 1373 (2001))

Formal meetings

Report of the Security Council to the General Assembly
16 June 2001 - 31 July 2002

UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)

Sanctions Committees: Elected Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons for the period until 31 December 2003

 

Background

The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the Charter,for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is so organized as to be able to function continuously, and a representative of each of its members must be present at all times at United Nations Headquarters. On 31 January 1992, the first ever Summit Meeting of the Council was convened at Headquarters, attended by Heads of State and Government of 13 of its 15 members and by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the remaining two. The Council may meet elsewhere than at Headquarters; in 1972, it held a session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the following year in Panama City, Panama.

When a complaint concerning a threat to peace is brought before it, the Council's first action is usually to recommend to the parties to try to reach agreement by peaceful means. In some cases, the Council itself undertakes investigation and mediation. It may appoint special representatives or request the Secretary-General to do so or to use his good offices. It may set forth principles for a peaceful settlement.

When a dispute leads to fighting, the Council's first concern is to bring it to an end as soon as possible. On many occasions, the Council has issued cease-fire directives which have been instrumental in preventing wider hostilities. It also sends United Nations peace-keeping forces to help reduce tensions in troubled areas, keep opposing forces apart and create conditions of calm in which peaceful settlements may be sought. The Council may decide on enforcement measures, economic sanctions (such as trade embargoes) or collective military action.

A Member State against which preventive or enforcement action has been taken by the Security Council may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and privileges of membership by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. A Member State which has persistently violated the principles of the Charter may be expelled from the United Nations by the Assembly on the Council's recommendation.

A State which is a Member of the United Nations but not of the Security Council may participate, without a vote, in its discussions when the Council considers that that country's interests are affected. Both Members of the United Nations and non-members, if they are parties to a dispute being considered by the Council, are invited to take part, without a vote, in the Council's discussions; the Council sets the conditions for participation by a non-member State.

The Presidency of the Council rotates monthly, according to the English alphabetical listing of its member States.

Current Presidency of the Security Council

Members

The Council has 15 members-- five permanent members and 10 elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms:

Membership and Presidency of  the Security Council in 2003
Month	Presidency	Membership Term Ends
January	France	Permanent Member
February	Germany	31 December 2004
March	Guinea	31 December 2003
April	Mexico	31 December 2003
May	Pakistan	31 December 2004
June	Russian Federation	Permanent Member
July	Spain	31 December 2004
August	Syrian Arab Republic	31 December 2003
September	United Kingdom	Permanent Member
October	United States	Permanent Member
November	Angola	31 December 2004
December	Bulgaria	31 December 2003
	Cameroon	31 December 2003
	China	Permanent Member
	Chile	31 December 2004

The following countries began their two-year membership term on 1 January 2003:

Angola

Chile

Germany

Pakistan

Spain

Each Council member has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of at least nine of the 15 members. Decisions onsubstantive matters require nine votes, including the concurring votes of all five permanent members. This is the rule of "great Power unanimity", often referred to as the "veto" power.

Under the Charter, all Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to Governments, the Council alone has the power to take decisions which Member States are obligated under the Charter to carry out.

Functionsand Powers

Under the Charter, the functions and powers of the Security Council are:

• to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations;
• to investigate any dispute or situation which mightlead to international friction;
• to recommend methods of adjusting such disputes or the terms of settlement;
• to formulate plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments;
• to determine the existence of a threat to the peace or act of aggression and to recommend what action should be taken;
• to call on Members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression;
• to take military action against an aggressor;
• to recommend the admission of new Members;
• to exercise the trusteeship functions of the United Nations in "strategic areas";
• to recommend to the GeneralAssembly the appointment of the Secretary-General and, together with the Assembly, to elect the Judges of the International Court of Justice.

Structure

Committees:

Standing Committees -- There are two committees at present, and each includes representatives of all Security Council member States.

• Committee of Experts on Rules of Procedure (studies and advises on rules of procedure and other technical matters)
• Committee on Admission of New Members

Ad Hoc Committees -- They are established as needed, comprise all Council members and meet in closed session.

• Security Council Committee on Council meeting away from Headquarters
• Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission established by Security Council resolution 692 (1991)
• Committee established pursuant to Resolution 1373 (2001) concerning Counter-Terrorism

Working Group on General Issues on Sanctions

Sanctions Committees, an Overview :

• Security Council Committee established by resolution 661 (1990) concerning the situation between Iraq and Kuwait
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 748 (1992) concerning the  Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) concerning Somalia
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 864  (1993) concerning the situation in Angola
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 918  (1994) concerning Rwanda
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 985  (1995) concerning Liberia
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1132  (1997) concerning Sierra Leone
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1160  (1998)
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267  (1999)
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1298 (2000) concerning the situation between Eritrea and Ethiopia
• Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1343 (2001) concerning Liberia

Peace-keeping Operations

Between June 1948 and August 2000, there have been 53 United Nations peace-keeping operations.

International Tribunals

• International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia - established by S/RES/808(1993) - International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY);
  
• International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States - established by S/RES/955 (1994).
  
  

 

Sources: Basic Facts About the United Nations, Sales No.E.98.I.20., Press Release GA/9784 (10 Oct. 2000), and the Office of the Director of Security Council Affairs Division, Department of Political Affairs.
Last updated on 30 August 2002
Prepared for Internet by the UN Website Section, Department of Public Information - © United Nations 2002

[PhiKapMom]

Take a good look at the members of the Security Council for this term and who is going to be in charge on a monthly basis. This whole organization has turned into a bad joke IMO!

IMO we would be better off if the Security Council votes against a 2nd resolution and make the United Nations Security Council and thus the United Nations irrelevant.

[PhiKapMom]

And on top of this we have Syria chairing a Human Rights committee and Iraq chairing a Disarmament Committee this Spring.

Did not know until I went to the site that Chili (?) and Mexico (?) were part of the Security Council. What do they and others have to do with Security around the world.

Why isn't Australia on the Security Council?

IMO time for the United States to get out of the United Nations as it has turned into a toothless, paper tiger!

[Aeronaut]

IMO time for the United States to get out of the United Nations

It looks like the US is going even one better. It is allowing the Euro-snots and all the rest to render themselves irrelevant and useless. Once that is established in the minds of the citizens, we won't have to be bothered by them.

[PhiKapMom]

That is so true! I was shocked to see some of these countries on the Security Council and others left off. Angola (?) is not a country that belongs on the Security Council. Last I remember they couldn't take care of their own country.

I agree with you, France and Germany are doing us a big favor.

[Wait4Truth]

And on top of this we have Syria chairing a Human Rights committee and Iraq chairing a Disarmament Committee this Spring.

IMHO, this alone makes the U.N. an irrelevant joke! I've had enough...let's roll.

[Wait4Truth]

And on top of this we have Syria chairing a Human Rights committee and Iraq chairing a Disarmament Committee this Spring.

IMHO, this alone makes the U.N. an irrelevant joke! I've had enough...let's roll.

[GraniteStateConservative]

There is a group of over 120 established and emerging democracies called the Community of Democracies. We should call that the UN and tell the rest of the world to f@%k off. Who gives a rat's ass about what North Korea or China or Iraq thinks about our foreign policy? Bush knows that it's not Islam directly that threatens us. All of our enemies have one thing in common-- they aren't too keen on freedom.

Participants  Albania Andorra Antigua & Barbuda Argentina Australia Austria Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia Bosnia & Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Bulgaria Canada Cape Verde Chile Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador El Salvador Estonia Finland France Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala

Guyana Honduras Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kiribati Latvia Lesotho Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malawi Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Monaco Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Norway Palau

Panama Papua New      Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Russia Saint Kitts & Nevis Saint Lucia Samoa San Marino Sao Tome & Principe Senegal Seychelles Slovakia Slovenia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka St. Vincent & the      Grenadines Suriname Sweden Switzerland Tanzania Thailand Trinidad & Tobago Turkey Tuvalu United Kingdom United States  Uruguay Vanuatu Venezuela

Observers

Afghanistan Algeria Armenia Azerbaijan Burkina Faso Cote d’Ivoire Egypt

Fiji Georgia Haiti Kuwait Lebanon Madagascar Malaysia

Oman Qatar Sierra Leone Singapore Tunisia Ukraine Yemen

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for sharing that! I am with you!

No wonder we don't want to share classified with the Security Council members.

The UN has outlived its usefullness IMO!

[MeekOneGOP]

[MeekOneGOP]

[MeekOneGOP]

[PhiKapMom]

ROFLOL!!!!!! That sums up my feelings about the UN!

[blackie]

Abolish the UN!

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!

[PhiKapMom]

Abolish UN

Will certainly second that!

[blackie]

Hi PKMom, the UN has certainly become the laughingstock of thinking people.

They are totally irrelevant, now!

[Free_at_last_-2001]

EU UN == irrelevant

[Free_at_last_-2001]

EU UN == irrelevant

EU UN == immaterial

EU UN == neither here nor there

EU UN == unrelated

EU UN == inappropriate

EU UN == beside the point

EU UN == extraneous

[WarHawk42]

If the UN ever served a useful purpose which I doubt it has long since ceased to.  The only reason it seems to exist today is to redistribute the wealth of nations, all in the name of humanity of course.  When it comes to the tough questions and the tough problems it is worse than useless, it is obstructionist.

As Mad Kitty would say.  

WarHawk42

[M Kehoe]

Methinks Kofe Annan has a 'king of the world' ego. Unfortunately for him, he rules over spies and thieves. Doling out little favors to Iraq or Syria, while trying to stay on the back of the tiger. Fearing that W. and the U.S. will make Kofe and the thieves look irrelevant.

Kinda like the League of Nations.

5.56mm

[Victoria Delsoul]

This whole organization has turned into a bad joke IMO!

Big bump to that!