New York: India took over United Nations Security Council Presidency for August on Sunday. During the presidency, India will organise three high-level signature meetings focusing on our priority areas--maritime security, peacekeeping, and counter-terrorism.

Ambassador of India to UN, TS Tirumurti said, "India has just assumed the presidency of The UN Security Council on 1st August. India and France enjoy historical and close relations. I thank France for all the support which they've given us during our stint in the Security Council".

The Ambassador said, "Security Council will also have several important meetings on its agenda, including Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, and the Middle East. Security Council will also be adopting important resolutions on Somalia, Mali, & UN Interim Force in Lebanon".

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Nikolay Kudashev, Russian Envoy to India, tweeted, "Truly impressed with the agenda, which embraces pressing global issues including maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism. Expecting fruitful and effective work".

India's former envoy to UN, Syed Akbaruddin said, "In 75 plus years , this is the first time our political leadership has invested in presiding over an event of UNSC. It shows that leadership wants to lead from the front. It also shows that India and its political leadership are invested in our foreign policy ventures".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to preside over a meeting of UNSC. Last time an Indian PM was engaged in this effort was the then PM PV Narasimha Rao in 1992 when he attended a UNSC meeting.