UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Thursday underlined the role of preventive diplomacy and pledged to "enhance the effectiveness" of the United Nations towards all stages of the conflict prevention cycle.

"The Council further expresses its determination to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations in preventing the eruption of armed conflicts, their escalation of the United Nations in preventing the eruption of armed conflicts, their escalation of spread when they occur, and their resurgence once they end," said a presidential statement that was read by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, whose country holds the rotating Security Council presidency for the month of September.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the general debate of the 66th General Assembly session, included several heads of state like Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon.

In the presidential statement, the Security Council reaffirmed actions undertaken within framework of conflict prevention by the United Nations.

The comprehensive conflict prevention strategy should include early warning, preventative deployment and mediation, the statement said.

"The Security Council underlies the overriding political, humanitarian and moral imperatives as well as the economic advantages of preventing the outbreak, escalation or relapse into conflicts," said the statement.

The statement also said that the prevention of conflict remains a "primary responsibility" of the international community, while also saying it is their responsibility to "protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity."

It also recognized that conflict prevention strategies should address root causes armed conflict, political and social crises in a "comprehensive manner."