ESTONIA will head the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of June.
The council is made up of 15 permanent and non-permanent members and nations hold the presidency for one month each on a rotating cycle, in alphabetical order. The primary role of the organisation is to help maintain peace and security around the world.
The Republic of Estonia is located north of Latvia and south of Finland, sharing a border with Russia. The country was formerly part of the Soviet Union – but achieved its independence in 1991.
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A spokesperson for Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said during the nation’s presidency, they aim to “highlight the inextricable link between ensuring human rights and peace, security and conflict prevention”.
Estonia, which joined the council as a non-permanent member last year, also hopes to increase the council’s transparency and change working methods during June.
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President Kersti Kaljulaid, the first woman to lead the country, said her nation will also discuss the topic of Belarus with the council.
Protests have been taking place in Europe in recent weeks after a Belarusian journalist was placed in police detention following the diversion of his Ryanair flight from Greece.
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