UNITED NATIONS
Turkey is expected to win a seat on the UN Security Council in the upcoming election, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.
The vote, to take place in the General Assembly on Oct. 16, is for the 10 non-permanent seats on the 15 member Council; China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States have permanent seats with the power to veto resolutions.
Turkey needs to get two thirds of the votes, 129 out of 193, to be able to win a non-permanent seat. Cavusoglu said that the government is confident that it will be elected during the first round of the election. The minister is expected to come to New York for further talks with ambassadors to the UN from a number of countries.
Turkey was elected to the council for 2009-2010 term with 151 votes.
Turkey was a non-permanent member at the council between 1951-1952, 1954-1955, 2009-2010.
In 1961, Turkey shared a non-permanent seat with Poland.
Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 members, and each member has one vote. Under the Charter, all member states are obligated to comply with Council decisions.
www.aa.com.tr/en
