Japan and Turkey on UN Security Council
Japan beat Iran for Asia’s non-permanent seat on the United Nation’s Security Council, on Friday. The race was not even close: only 32 countries voted for Iran, 158 for Japan.
This was good news for the United Nations, and especially the West, for a victory for Iran would have been a tremendous humiliation. Iran has publicly and openly scoffed at the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and refused to cooperate with it. If Iran would have won, the UN would have send the message that it considers itself irrelevant.
The two non-permanent European seats went to Austria and Turkey respectively. Turkey was supported by most Muslim nations, but also virtually every other befriended country . Iceland, the other European country competing, received 87 votes. A considerable amount, but not enough to be elected on the council.
Turkey received 151 of 192 votes and Austria 133.
It is for the first time since 1961 that Turkey occupies a seat in the council, which is considered a big deal: it helps one get more aid, friends, and influence.
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