Malaysia sees UN Security Council debate "necessary", "urgent"

Malaysia said Monday that the open debate of the United Nations Security Council is both " necessary and urgent" against the backdrop of the current world situation, and that it offers "a timely opportunity" for the UN and its Security Council to reflect on the achievements over the past 70 years and the challenges ahead.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman made the remarks while taking the floor at the debate, which opened here Monday morning with the theme of "Maintaining International Peace and Security: Reaffirm the Strong Commitment to the Purposes and Principles of the Charter of the United Nations".

Malaysia welcomes today's debate and believes that it affords a timely opportunity for the council to take stock of its achievements thus far, and to reflect on the challenges faced in its continuing mission of maintaining international peace and security, said the minister.

"Such reflection in our view is both necessary and urgent, given the increasingly complex and multidimensional nature of new and emerging threats and challenges to international peace and security that we -- as a global community -- face and must address together," he said.

The open debate was initiated by China, which holds the rotating presidency of the 15-nation council, and presided over by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Enditem