UN SG says Turkey among three qualified candidates
Güncelleme Tarihi:
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said on Wednesday he did not wish to signify any preference for any of the three candidates competing for the two vacant seats in the U.N. Security Council. Turkey, Austria and Iceland are all eminently qualified, he said.
In separate statements issued in Geneva and New York through his spokesperson, Ban Ki-Moon denied allegations that he had urged U.N. member states and diplomats to support Austria's candidacy to have a non-permanent seat on the Security Council.
"The Secretary-General is aware that Austria, Iceland and Turkey are contesting for these two seats for the period 2009-2010. He recognizes that they are all eminently qualified for the seats and he wishes each of them success in their effort to secure the support of member-states of the Organization. As Secretary-General, he does not wish to signify any preference for one over any other," said the U.N. Secretary General.
Turkey is competing for the two vacant seats reserved for Western Europe in the U.N. Security Council for 2009-2010. There are five permanent seats and 10 non-permanent seats in the Security Council. The elections for the non-permanent seats for the said period will be held on October 2010.
Photo: AFP