Palace confident of UNSC seat for RP

Malacañang is confident that the Philippines will get a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

In a press briefing yesterday, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople has assured the Arroyo administration that he was able to secure the support of 139 countries for the Philippines’ bid for a seat in the UNSC. This is more than the required two-thirds vote of 132 of the 197-nation UN General Assembly.

Bunye said the Philippines is the unanimous choice of the 52-nation Asian bloc to replace Syria, the lone outgoing Asian representative to the UNSC this year.

He said the Philippines began its campaign for a Security Council seat during the term of Ambassador to the UN Alfonso Yuchengco.

"If successful in its bid, (this) will not be the first time for the Philippines to be elected a member of the UNSC. It has previously served in the UNSC in 1957, 1963 and 1980-81," Bunye said.

If elected to the UNSC, the Philippines will assume its non-permanent seat for two years beginning in January next year.

"(The Philippines) will help shape the UN agenda for global peace and sustainable development for the duration of its term," Bunye said. "The Philippines will also raise issues hounding developing countries, such as mass poverty, women’s and children’s rights, the clash among civilizations and health epidemics."

The UNSC has the primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. Its function falls under two main headings: The peaceful settlement of disputes and action with respect to threats to peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression.

The UNSC is composed of five permanent and 10 non-permanent members.

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

Five non-permanent members are elected each year by the UN General Assembly for a two-year term. These representatives are considered on the basis of "their contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the organization."

The UNSC ensures a composition that is based on "equitable distribution from African and Asian states, one from Eastern European states, two from Latin American and Caribbean states and two from Western European and other states."

The non-permanent UNSC members whose terms are set to expire in December are: New Guinea, Mexico, Bulgaria, Syria and Cameroon. Another five members have their seats until December 2004: Germany, Pakistan, Spain, Chile and Angola.