Ople: RP’s UN Security Council seat in the bag

The country’s bid for a non-permanent seat at the powerful United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is in the bag, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople said yesterday.

In a statement issued from Bangkok, Thailand where he was attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Ople said the Philippines has already secured the support of 139 countries, more than the required number of votes to get a UNSC seat.

A two-thirds vote or around 132 from the 197-member UN General Assembly is needed for the country to secure a seat in the UNSC, he explained.

Ople quoted reports from Ambassador Lauro Baja, Philippine permanent representative to the UN, indicating the country has enough commitments from other member countries to win a UN Security Council seat.

"The Philippine will help shape the UN agenda for global peace and sustainable development for the duration of its term. This is a great honor to our country and people," he said.

Ople noted the Philippines is the unanimous choice of the 52-nation Asian bloc to replace Syria, the lone outgoing Asian representative to the UNSC.

The country has been campaigning for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC since last year during the term of retired Philippine representative to the UN Alfonso Yuchengco.

The seats of five countries — New Guinea, Mexico, Bulgaria, Syria and Cameroon — are set to expire in December this year and another five — Germany, Pakistan, Spain, Chile and Angola — will expire in December 2004.

The five permanent, veto-wielding members of the UNSC are the United States, China, France, Russia and Britain.

The Philippines, even before it actually assumes a seat in the UNSC, has been very vocal about the decisions of the council, particularly in the US campaign for the UN to play a greater role in rehabilitating post-war Iraq.

Ople said he welcomes the decision of the UNSC to adopt Resolution 1511 which resolves the UN should strengthen its vital role in Iraq by providing humanitarian relief, promoting economic reconstruction for sustainable development.

Under the UN resolution which was principally sponsored by Cameroon, the US, Spain and Britain, member states as well as international and regional organizations are called upon to contribute to the training of the Iraqi police and security forces.

The resolution also invites the Iraqi Governing Council to present by Dec. 15 a timetable for the drafting of a new constitution and the holding of democratic elections afterwards.

Ople earlier stated the Philippines, for its part, is willing to send additional humanitarian aid to Iraq once the UN makes the request.