ABSTRACT
The Charter of the United Nations contains provisions relating to the maintenance of international peace and security. These provisions do not concern lawful or unlawful use of force but relate to measures which may be taken to prevent or terminate the threat of, or the use of, force. The system laid down in the UN Charter confers the main responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security upon the Security Council. Under Chapters VI and VII of the UN Charter the Security Council decides what type of diplomatic economic or military measures must be taken to prevent or to terminate threats to international peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression. To take that decision a unanimous vote (ignoring abstentions) of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council-the US, the UK, France, China and Russia-is required.
