Panama assumes UN Security Council presidency for August

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Panama officially assumed the presidency of the UN Security Council on Friday for August.

Ambassador Eloy Alfaro de Alba, Panama's permanent representative to the UN and now president of the Security Council, outlined the country's priorities during its presidency at a news conference.

De Alba said the Security Council is scheduled to hold a total of 22 meetings this month.

"Country-specific meetings will include briefings and consultations on situations that remain on the council's agenda, including particularly West Africa and the Sahel, Yemen, Lebanon, South Sudan, and Syria, among others," he added.

The UN Security Council is made up of five permanent members with veto power — the US, Russia, China, France, and Britain — and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Panama has taken a non-permanent seat on the Council for the sixth time, beginning on Jan. 1 of this year.