On October 15^th, 2004, Greece, along with Argentina, Denmark, Japan and Tanzania, was elected as a non permanent member to the Security Council. The last time Greece held a non-permanent seat in the Security Council was in 1952-1953.

It was a great honor for Greece to join the Council. Yet, along with membership came a demanding duty which Greece assumed with a deep sense of responsibility towards fellow members of the United Nations.

The Security Council bears “primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security”. This is no easy task to say the least. From 1990 onwards the Council has diversified its system of work as well as its agenda, while the workload itself has increased dramatically. It has become much more active and has recognized the interrelation of topics that did not traditionally make part of its field of activity.

During our two-year term in the Security Council, Greece was guided by the basic principles of our foreign policy: dedication to peace, respect for international law, democracy and human rights, eradication of poverty and hunger and the strengthening of international cooperation among all the peoples of the world.

We engaged in an open dialogue with every interested party on all topics the Council dealt with. Our goal was to be constructive in bridging differences and reaching mutually acceptable compromises. Before being elected we met with all members of the Organization. Their ideas and concerns are valuable. All of them asked for more transparency and more accountability. We recognized the need for more of both and will did our utmost to contribute to this end.

Civil Society has a very special role to play in this process. We considered the contribution of NGOs to the deliberations of the Council very important and we supported their work. Throughout our tenure we had frequent exchanges with them.

In close cooperation with the other members of the Security Council, and with respect of international justice and legality, we focused our attention and efforts on unstable regions, trying to work out lasting solutions that would primarily protect the safety of the peoples involved and would provide conditions for sustainable peace and development.

Members of the Council entrusted Greece with the Chairmanship of two important sanctions Committees, on Cote d’ Ivoire and on Sudan, as well as the Chairmanship of the Working Group on General Issues on Sanctions. We also held the vice-chairmanship of the Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee.

We were and continue to be committed to contributing with all our powers to the empowerment of the UN as the guardian of international law and to the peaceful coexistence and cooperation amongst peoples of the world.

This webpage contains information on Greece’s participation in the Security Council, its two monthly Presidencies in July 2005 and September 2006. It also contains information on the issues that the Council dealt with and relevant statements of the Greek representatives.  

Read More on "Greece in the Security Council"

Issues on the SC agenda 05-06
Monday, June 01, 2009

Greek Presidency of the Security Council, September 2006
Monday, June 01, 2009

On September 1^st, Greece assumed the rotating monthly Presidency of the Security Council. Following bilateral meetings of the Presidency with members, the Council adopted its provisional programme of work on September 5^th. Τhis page includes the monthly programme of work, a daily annotated agenda, documents adopted by the Security Council and a daily report on its work.

Greek Presidency of the Security Council, July 2005
Monday, June 01, 2009

On July 1^st, Greece assumed the rotating monthly Presidency of the Security Council. Following bilateral meetings of the Presidency with members, the Council adopted its provisional programme of work on July 5^th. Τhis page includes the monthly programme of work, a daily annotated agenda, documents adopted by the Security Council and a daily report on its work.

The Cyprus Issue
Tuesday, August 29, 2006

In July 1974, using as a pretext a coup against President Makarios, Turkey alleging a right of "intervention" as guarantor of the 1960 Constitution, invaded Cyprus, occupied 35% of its territory and forcibly expelled about 142.000 Greek Cypriots living there. These people, who became refugees in their own country, constituted 69% of the population of the area and about one quarter of the entire population of the island. In addition, about 1500 Greek Cypriots are still missing as a result of the invasion while some other 20000 Greek Cypriots, who remained in the occupied area after the invasion, were forced over the years to abandon their homes and join other refugees in the free areas. Today, less than 600 remain in the occupied north.

The Fight against Terrorism
Monday, June 01, 2009 Greece has always strongly and unreservedly condemned terrorism in all its forms and regardless of its motives or its origins. Terrorist acts are criminal and unjustifiable. The abhorrent terrorist attacks against the United States, Spain and other countries all over the world are in fact a criminal attack against our free societies, democracy and humanity as a whole and they should be envisaged as such. Combating terrorism is a crucial part in defending international peace and security. It is a global affair that the international community has to face with determination and solidarity through concerted action and multifaceted cooperation.

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