RP now closer to UN Security Council seat

The Philippines is now close to securing a seat in the powerful United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as voting for non-permanent members begins in October.

Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lauro Baja Jr. said he is optimistic that Manila, the only Asian country vying for membership, will be elected to the 10 non-permanent seats in the UNSC.

"I think we were able to make a lot of progress in our bid for a Security Council seat," Baja said.

Baja hosted a reception last June 12 for 300 diplomats, mostly ranking UN officials and ambassadors which included Sta. Lucia foreign minister Julian Hunte, incoming president of the 58th UN General Assembly. Prominent members of the Filipino community in New York were also present during the reception.

Baja said Hunte took the occasion to consult him on the forthcoming UN General Assembly this September as well as the upcoming UN summit on HIV/AIDS.

"The incoming president also consulted us on revitalizing the General Assembly and the General Committees of which the Philippines is a member, being the chairman of the Sixth (Legal) Committees," he added.

Baja said Filipino diplomats "took advantage" of the June 12 reception to push Manila’s bid for a seat in the 15-member UNSC.

"I was able to discuss a number of issues in the Security Council with representatives of the five permanent members, as well as the incumbent elected members and incoming members," he said.

Manila is optimistic that it will take over one of the seats when incumbent UNSC non-permanent members will vacate their positions as their two-year terms expire on Dec. 31 following Baja’s election as chairman of the UN 58th General Assembly session’s Sixth (Legal) committee.

Permanent seats in the UNSC belong to the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia.