The link between peace, security and the Security Council may not seem
to be obvious. And yet, not only is the Council the most powerful UN
agency, but it is also mainly responsible for the maintenance of international
peace and security. In other words, the Council is, to a certain extent,
the guarantor of international peace and security. The five permanent
members and the ten other members can impose economic sanctions, launch
military maintenance, peace-building and enforcement operations and
provide electoral assistance.
