India’s candidature for one of the non-permanent seats at the United Nations Security Council was unanimously backed by the Asia-Pacific group of the world body on Wednesday. The group includes countries like Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Vietnam.
The Indian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN, Syed Akbaruddin, thanked all the 55 countries of the Asia-Pacific group for their endorsement.
A unanimous step.
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) June 26, 2019
Asia-Pacific Group @UN unanimously endorses India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat of the Security Council for 2 year term in 2021/22.
Thanks to all 55 members for their support. 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/ekNhEa19U1
The UN General Assembly each year elects five non-permanent members to the UNSC. The elected countries then hold the seat for a term of two years. At the 18th session of the UNGA in 1963, it was decided that the non-permanent members will be elected based on this pattern
- Five from African and Asian States;
- One from Eastern European States;
- Two from Latin American States;
- Two from Western European and other States.
Currently the UNSC comprises of Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Indonesia, Kuwait, Peru, Poland and South Africa as the non-permanent members and China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and the United States of America as the permanent members.
The terms of Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Peru, and Poland will end in 2021 and the UNGA will elect five different members instead. Since the first four fall under the category of African and Asian states, four seats will open up for countries of this region. India will be contesting for one of these seats.
India has held a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for the years 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985, 1991-1992 and 2011-2012.
China's support for India's candidature is seen as a major boost in the bilateral ties. In May, China had lifted its hold on naming Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist—a long-pending demand of India.
Pakistan's support also assumes significance as it came amid the prevailing tension between the two countries after the Pulwama terror attack. New Delhi has rejected Islamabad's offer for dialogue saying terror and talk cannot go together.
