Murray McCully supporting NZ role at UN

Foreign Minister Murray McCully said Middle East issues would be high on the council's agenda. Photo / Getty Images

Foreign Minister Murray McCully is heading to New York to support New Zealand's presidency of the United Nations Security Council.

New Zealand holds the presidency for the month of July, which means it is chairing all Security Council meetings and taking a lead on its work on international security issues.

Mr McCully said Middle East issues would be high on the council's agenda this month, in particular the recent nuclear deal between Iran, the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany.

The minister said earlier this week that New Zealand would do whatever it could to expedite any Security Council action in relation to the historic agreement.

"This historical accord is a positive outcome for the region and we will do all we can as President to help implement the agreement," he said.

Other agenda items included security challenges in Syria, Libya and Yemen, though Mr McCully said there would also be an opportunity to raise issues which were important to New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.

On July 30, New Zealand's representatives will host an open debate on security challenges to small island developing states (Sids).

"This will encourage the Council to consider these issues and will also provide an opportunity for Sids from the Pacific, Caribbean and other regions to have their views heard by the Security Council directly," Mr McCully said.

He also planned to gold meetings with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UN advisers, and other ministers.