Switzerland assumes UN Security Council presidency for October

HAMILTON, Canada

Switzerland took control of the presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) from Slovenia for the month of October on Tuesday.

"We are fully aware of the fact that we take on this role at the moment of very great tensions. There is a serious risk of escalation in actually, several parts of the world," Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl said at a news conference.

Emphasizing the importance of listening to different voices and cooperating with partners, Baeriswyl said: "We also wish to see the Council doing better in preventing conflict and anticipating relevant developments."

On developments in Lebanon and the region, Baeriswyl stated Switzerland is closely monitoring the situation.

She noted that the Swiss have not been evacuated, though those who wish to leave have done so, but the situation could change at any moment.

The Security Council presidency will pass from Switzerland to the UK in November, followed by the US in December.