CAIRO
The Arab League's permanent observer at the UN, Ahmed Fathalla, has underlined Arab and African support for Egypt's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Fathalla described Egypt as the “Arab candidate” for a non-permanent seat on the council.
“Egypt enjoys the support of Arab and African countries in this regard,” he said. “An Egyptian role at the UNSC will serve African issues as well as Arab ones.”
Egypt hopes to secure a non-permanent seat for the UNSC’s 2016/17 session.
Jordan currently represents the 15-seat council’s only Arab member.
Elections for the seat will be held in October.
The UNSC has five permanent members: the U.S., Russia, the U.K., France and China. The council’s 10 other non-permament members are elected on a regional basis for two-year terms.
Egypt has served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC four times, the most recent of which was in 1996/97.
