Romania presides over UN Security Council

As chairman of the UN Security Council, Romania assigns priority to more intensive co-operation between the UN and regional organisations in settling conflicts, Romanian Ambassador to Russia Dumitru Dorin Prunariu said at a RIA Novosti press conference on Monday.

"The main goal of the July debates in the UN Security Council is to co-operate with a series of international and regional organisations for the sake of settling conflicts," he said.

In his words, the July agenda of the UN Security Council will include settlement of conflicts in the Middle East, Somalia, Georgia, Congo, Lebanon, the Central African Republic and Kosovo.

"The situation in Kosovo is not developing for the better, and the UN should take tougher measures and expand its presence in the province," noted Prunariu.

"From 1993, UN observers have been present in Georgia following the situation and the conflict settlement. Romania supports efforts to stabilise the situation in the republic," the ambassador said in an answer to journalists' questions about Romania's position on the Georgian-Ossetian conflict.

Buharest supports the Afghan leadership's request to increase the Nato contingent in this country, said Dumitru Prunariu.

"The situation in Afghanistan has recently aggravated drastically. In view of presidential and parliamentary elections (due in September 2004), the number of terrorist attacks and subversions seeking to disrupt the elections has increased. The Nato contingent in Afghanistan should undoubtedly be extended to provide security of the elections," Dumitru Prunariu said about the position of his country's leadership.

Prunariu stressed that Nato operated in Afghanistan under the UN aegis, and its contingent had to be increased in accordance with the UN mandate.

In 2003, Nato headed the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, which included representatives of the armed forces of 18 countries, including Romania. The latest Nato summit in Istanbul decided to increase the ISAF strength from the current 6,500 to 10,000 people.

Among the main tasks facing Romania during its UN Security Council presidency, Prunariu named observation of its commitments in the anti-terrorist fight, drug and slave trade, and counteraction to WMD proliferation. Besides, the fight against poverty and consistent progress towards international stability will receive special attention.

From July 1, Romania is presiding over the UN Security Council for the fourth time. Earlier, the country headed the UN Security Council in 1976-1977, 1990-1991, and in 1996.

On August 2005, the Russian Federation will take over the presidency.