Turkey to take helm of security council for one month

Turkey, currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, will take over the council's presidency today for a second one-month term, during which time it will head two high-level UN meetings. President Abdullah Gul will chair a UN meeting on Sept. 23 on peacekeeping, and a statement prepared by Turkey is expected to be adopted at the end of that meeting. The second meeting, on the global fight against terrorism, will be held on Sept. 27 with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as chair, and it, too, is expected to adopt a statement. Turkey has headed the council's Counter-Terrorism Committee since the beginning of the year, and previously held the term presidency in June 2009. The Security Council will convene tomorrow to draw up September's schedule. Turkish Ambassador to the UN Ertugrul Apakan will also hold a press conference about the remainder of Turkey's council membership, set to end on Jan. 1.