List of members of the United Nations Security Council
Membership of the United Nations Security Council is held by the five permanent members and ten elected, non-permanent members. Prior to 1966, there were six elected members, while the permanent members have in essence not changed since the creation of the United Nations in 1945, apart from the representation of China. Elected members hold their place on the Council for a two-year term, and half of these places are contested each year. To ensure geographical continuity, a certain number of members is allocated for each of the five UN regional groupings.In addition, one of the non-permanent members of the council is an Arab country, alternately from the African or Asia-Pacific groups. This rule was added to the system in 1967 for it to be applied beginning with 1968.
United Nations Security Council Resolution 984
The permanent members of the Council (all of which possessed nuclear weapons) had given security assurances to non-nuclear countries that were part of the NPT, the first time this had occurred. The Security Council recognised the need to give assurances to non-nuclear weapons states, and that the permanent members of the Council will act, according to relevant provisions in the Charter of the United Nations, in the event that a country is threatened or attacked with nuclear weapons. It also recognised that the permanent member states would bring such incidents to the attention of the Security Council. Assistance would be given in any case, with investigations and appropriate measures to settle disputes and restore international peace and security. Measures would also be taken to provide technical, medical, scientific or humanitarian assistance in response to any requests from an affected country. Additionally, appropriate measures would be recommended with regard to compensation after instances of aggression and the intention of some countries to provide immediate assistance to an affected country was welcomed by the Council.