The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. The SC is one of the main organs of the UN.

The Council`s first meeting was held on January, 17, 1946 in London`s church. The Council may meet elsewhere than at the Headquarters; in 1972, it held a session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the following year in Panama City, Panama. Of course, the Headquarters located in New York is considered to be the main spot for the sessions to be held at.

The Council is composed of five permanent members (winners of the World War II): China, France, USSR (Russian Federation since 1991), the United Kingdom and the United States — and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly (with year of term's end), five of which are to be replaced by other members every year. The number of non-permanent members was increased from six to ten by an amendment of the Charter which came into force in 1965.

Each Council member has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of at least nine of the 15 members. Decisions on substantive matters require nine votes, including the concurring votes of all five permanent members. This is the rule of "great Power unanimity", often referred to as the "veto" power.

Under the Charter, all Members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council. While other organs of the United Nations make recommendations to Governments, the Council alone has the power to take decisions which Member States are obligated under the Charter to carry out.

Under the Charter, the SC has the right to:

* investigate any dispute, or any situation which might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute, in order to determine whether the continuance of the dispute or situation is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security (Article 34 of the Charter);
* make recommendations to the parties with a view to a pacific settlement of the dispute (Article 38 of the Charter);
* decide what measures not involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call upon the Members of the United Nations to apply such measures. These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations. It may take such action by air, sea, or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the United Nations (Articles 41 and 42 of the Charter).

Traditionally, the UN SC is considered to be an "elite” part of the organization.  Still, it is also considered as the most difficult one. Here in SC, member-states rarely come to a consensus because of the "veto” power wielded solely by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. It is hard to handle the work in the SC, but the delegates find it exciting and interesting.

The SC Presidium wishes good luck to all the delegates and fruitful work during the Zabaikal United Nations Model meetings!