By NNN-KUNA,
United Nations : UN General Assembly on Friday elected Japan, Turkey, Austria, Mexico and Uganda to serve as non-permanent members of the Security Council for a two-year term beginning January 2009.
Japan got 158, Turkey 151, Austria 133, Mexico 185 and Uganda 181. The required vote is 128.
Iran, which is under sanctions for the last two years over its nuclear file, got 32 and iceland 87. They lost.
US envoy Alejandro Wolff told reporters following the vote that Turkey is a “close friend of the US. We’re thrilled with their elections and looking forward to working closely with them.” Commenting on Iran’s defeat, he said “it is encouraging and important for Iran to understand that its continued violation of council resolutions is very reflected in this very poor showing.
Hopefully, they will understand that this means that there is no support from the international community for that type of behaviour.” British envoy John Sawers told reporters that Turkey “has demonstrated through its development that democracy thrives in the Islamic world and Turkey also is in the region where there are many issues before the council. It’s going to bring real weight to the council’s considerations.”
On Iran’s poor score, he said it is a subject on the council’s agenda because of its nuclear programme.
“Its comprehensive defeat is a very important signal of the whole membership’s concern about Iran’s actions,” he said.