Austria enters UN-Security Council
Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ursula Plassnik: “This is a great vote of confidence from the international community”
During the recent elections of the UN Security Council on October 17th, Austria was elected one of the 5 non-permanent members for the next 2 year term of 2009/2010. During the first voting round Austria already obtained 133 votes, which insured the necessary 2/3 majority. Together with Turkey, Mexico, Uganda and Japan they won the elections for this term. The next elections will be in 2009 to replace the other 5 non-permanent members for the 2010/2011 term which now are Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Croatia, Libya and Vietnam .
The permanent members of this Council, also known as “veto” power are China , USA , France , Great Britain and Russia .
Austrian Foreign Minister, Ursula Plassnik, affirmed that the country would do everything in their power to live up to this expression of confidence and firmly pursue their main objectives in de UN, which include open dialog, defense of human rights and the exercise of legitimate rights as well as the disarming of nuclear threats.
The Security Council has primary responsibility, under the Charter, for the maintenance of international peace and security. It is so organized as to be able to function continuously, and a representative of each of its members must be present at all times at United Nations. More information about the functions of this Council can be found under http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/unsc_background.html.
We would like to thank the governments of all the countries that supported us during these elections and assure them our greatest effort to accomplish the established goals.
