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Venezuela Gets Security Council Seat; Turkey Fails
By SOMINI SENGUPTAOCT. 16, 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/17/world/americas/venezuela-gets-security-council-seat-turkey-fails.html?_r=0
UNITED NATIONS -- Despite objections by the United States, Venezuela
secured a seat Thursday at the global table of high power, the United
Nations Security Council, while Turkey, a vital but complicated
American ally, was resoundingly defeated.
The results came midday after voting by the 193 member states of
the United Nations General Assembly. Turkey was in the running with
Spain and New Zealand for two of three rotating two-year seats on the
Council. New Zealand secured the necessary two-thirds majority of
votes in the first round. Spain won in the third round.
By lunchtime, the General Assembly Hall was awash in embraces and handshakes.
Turkey, which has sought to project itself as a regional power in the
Middle East, campaigned intensely for the Council seat, highlighting
in particular its role in the war against the Islamic State extremist
group. But Turkey has also come under scrutiny, particularly by
European countries, for what critics call its insufficient crackdown
on foreign fighters who have traveled through Turkey to join extremist
groups in Syria.
Analysts said Turkey's defeat also reflects the divisions in the
Middle East, as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and others jostle for power.
Turkey's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, rose from his seat as
soon as the results were announced and walked over to congratulate his
counterpart from Spain. On Twitter, he congratulated all five victors.
The Foreign Ministry's Twitter handle said nothing about the results.
Anadolu, the semiofficial news agency, quoted the foreign minister as
saying: "There may be some countries disturbed by our principled
stance, and there have always been those, who, after some time,
confess that Turkey's position was right. So, we could not abandon our
principles for the sake of getting more votes."
There were also three uncontested seats in the Council race. Angola
was chosen by the nations of Africa to represent the continent,
starting in January 2015. Malaysia was selected as Asia's candidate,
and Venezuela to represent Latin America. It secured 181 votes, and
may well use its perch on the Council for making anti-American
diatribes.
The United States swiftly condemned its selection. "Unfortunately,
Venezuela's conduct at the U.N. has run counter to the spirit of the
U.N. Charter and its violations of human rights at home are at odds
with the Charter's letter," said Samantha Power, the United States
ambassador to the United Nations, according to a statement. "The
United States will continue to call upon the government of Venezuela
to respect the fundamental freedoms and universal human rights of its
people."
In any case, the powers of the rotating, nonpermanent members of the
Council are limited. The United States, along with Britain, China,
France and Russia, are its permanent members. They have veto power.
By SOMINI SENGUPTAOCT. 16, 2014
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/17/world/americas/venezuela-gets-security-council-seat-turkey-fails.html?_r=0
UNITED NATIONS -- Despite objections by the United States, Venezuela
secured a seat Thursday at the global table of high power, the United
Nations Security Council, while Turkey, a vital but complicated
American ally, was resoundingly defeated.
The results came midday after voting by the 193 member states of
the United Nations General Assembly. Turkey was in the running with
Spain and New Zealand for two of three rotating two-year seats on the
Council. New Zealand secured the necessary two-thirds majority of
votes in the first round. Spain won in the third round.
By lunchtime, the General Assembly Hall was awash in embraces and handshakes.
Turkey, which has sought to project itself as a regional power in the
Middle East, campaigned intensely for the Council seat, highlighting
in particular its role in the war against the Islamic State extremist
group. But Turkey has also come under scrutiny, particularly by
European countries, for what critics call its insufficient crackdown
on foreign fighters who have traveled through Turkey to join extremist
groups in Syria.
Analysts said Turkey's defeat also reflects the divisions in the
Middle East, as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and others jostle for power.
Turkey's foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, rose from his seat as
soon as the results were announced and walked over to congratulate his
counterpart from Spain. On Twitter, he congratulated all five victors.
The Foreign Ministry's Twitter handle said nothing about the results.
Anadolu, the semiofficial news agency, quoted the foreign minister as
saying: "There may be some countries disturbed by our principled
stance, and there have always been those, who, after some time,
confess that Turkey's position was right. So, we could not abandon our
principles for the sake of getting more votes."
There were also three uncontested seats in the Council race. Angola
was chosen by the nations of Africa to represent the continent,
starting in January 2015. Malaysia was selected as Asia's candidate,
and Venezuela to represent Latin America. It secured 181 votes, and
may well use its perch on the Council for making anti-American
diatribes.
The United States swiftly condemned its selection. "Unfortunately,
Venezuela's conduct at the U.N. has run counter to the spirit of the
U.N. Charter and its violations of human rights at home are at odds
with the Charter's letter," said Samantha Power, the United States
ambassador to the United Nations, according to a statement. "The
United States will continue to call upon the government of Venezuela
to respect the fundamental freedoms and universal human rights of its
people."
In any case, the powers of the rotating, nonpermanent members of the
Council are limited. The United States, along with Britain, China,
France and Russia, are its permanent members. They have veto power.