Malaysia Optimising Membership In UNSC - Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is optimising its membership in the United Nations Security Council to promote the preservation of peace and security based on moderation and peaceful consultation, said Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican. He said as a non-permanent member of the council for the 2015-2016 term, Malaysia took the President's seat of the Security Council in June 2015 and August 2016. "Among the initiatives which were highlighted when Malaysia was president was the open debate on children and armed conflicts, as well as an open briefing and unofficial interactive dialogue to promote peace," he said in reply to a question from a member of parliament, Hasan Malek in the Dewan Rakyat (Malaysian Parliament) on Wednesday. Hasan had wanted to know about Malaysia's contributions and achievements as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Reezal Merican added that Malaysia had successfully held an open debate on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction which increased global awareness on the issue. He said Malaysia had also chaired three official meetings, on the situation in Gaza in July 2015, the issue of protection for Palestinian residents in May 2016 and illegal settlements by Israel early this month. The meetings were Malaysia's contribution to the Security Council to ensure the Palestinian issue always received attention so that it could be resolved, he said. --BERNAMA