Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan assumed a month-long presidency at the United Nations Security Council from May 1.

Azerbaijan became a non-permanent member of the 15-seat Security Council from Eastern Europe for two years for the first time after a hard-won victory last October. It was finally elected after Slovenia withdrew its bid and the UN General Assembly picked Azerbaijan in a 17th round of balloting.

According to the UN Information Center, the UNSC`s agenda in May mainly includes the situation in the Middle East and nuclear non-proliferation. The Council is also expected to hold a high-level open-door meeting devoted to anti-terror combat, which is due to be attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Developments ongoing in the Africa and Balkan regions will be tabled as well.

Azerbaijan`s ambassador to the UN, Agshin Mehdiyev, has told the UN Radio that the UNSC`s agenda for May has not yet been fully agreed, but it is beyond doubt that it will focus on the Israel-Palestine conflict, ways of countering proliferation of nuclear weapons, the combat against international terrorism, the situation in the Balkans and Syria.

Mehdiyev expressed hope that the UNSC would remain united in its support for UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan`s six-clause peace plan on the Syria crisis.

The ambassador said Iran`s nuclear program will not be discussed at the U.N. council in May.

Stressing that Azerbaijan is a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Non-Aligned Movement, Mehdiyev said his country has laid out its position on many issues of the UNSC agenda.

``If at some point our opinions coincide with those of other countries, it is wonderful,`` he said. ``If not, then we have our own principles and we are not going to back down.``