Five new UN Security Council members elected

By IANS,

United Nations: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Gabon, Lebanon and Nigeria were Thursday elected as new non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for two-year terms starting Jan 1 next year.


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The five countries ran unopposed in their respective regions when voting took place at the UN General Assembly Thursday morning in New York. This marks the first time since 2004 that there had been a Security Council election with no contested seats.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has never served on the 15-nation Security Council, and Lebanon has not been a member since 1953-1954.

Gabon and Nigeria succeed Burkin Faso and Libya in the African group. Brazil will replace Costa Rica in the Latin America and Caribbean category.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will take over the seat for Eastern Europe from Croatia, while Lebanon will succeed Vietnam in the Asian group, Xinhua reported.

Council elections are conducted by secret ballots in the General Assembly, and winning candidates requires a two-third majority of ballots of members present and voting. Formal balloting takes place even when there is only one declared candidate per available seat.

The Security Council, the world body’s most powerful organ, is responsible for decisions on issues of war and peace, sanctions against nations and peacekeeping. Its decisions can be legally binding on all UN members.

The council has five permanent members – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. Because of their staggered two-year terms, half the council’s 10 non-permanent seats change hands every year.

The 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council are filled by regional groups for two-year terms and five non-permanent members are elected by the 192-member General Assembly every year.

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