South Africa takes over presidency of UN Security Council

South Africa had taken up the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for January 2012, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on Tuesday.

"Consistent with the practice of the UNSC, the office of the president of the Security Council rotates monthly among its members on the basis of the English alphabetical order, and the Council is organised to be able to function continuously," the department said in a statement published by I-Net Bridge, a local news outlet.

Under Security Council rules, the presidency presides over meetings of the Council. However, in practice the presidency is also responsible for organising, coordinating and guiding the work of the Council. The presidency of the UNSC also offers an opportunity to promote a theme that is of particular regional or national importance.

In this context, the statement said, South Africa would continue exploring concrete measures for strengthening the relationship between the United Nations and regional organisations, in particular the African Union (AU), in the maintenance of international peace and security.

"At the same time, it is expected that the South African delegation will convene a high-level thematic debate with the aim of adopting concrete measures to ensure greater coherence between the UN and the AU in the area of conflict prevention, management and resolution of conflicts on the African continent," the statement reads in part.