RP bid for UN Security Council seat gets boost from Powell

The Philippine bid for a seat in the United Nations Security Council was given a boost by United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople said yesterday.

In a statement, Ople said Powell congratulated him during a meeting in New York, where he is attending the 58th session of the UN General Assembly.

"In all my meetings with foreign leaders, the common refrain has been one of support for our bid and confidence in our abilities to carry out the duties of a member of the Security Council as stated in the UN Charter," Ople’s statement said.

Ople said the US is "looking forward" to working with the Philippines if it becomes a non-permanent member of the Security Council starting next January.

Ople refuted reports that the Philippine bid is in jeopardy because of its all-out support for the US attack and occupation of Iraq.

DFA spokesman Julia Heidemann said the Philippines is the only Asian country vying for a Security Council seat.

The term of five non-permanent members — Papua New Guinea, Mexico, Bulgaria, Syria and Cameroon — is set to expire in December.

Those of five others — Germany, Pakistan, Spain, Chile and Angola — expire in December next year.

A two-thirds vote from the 197-member General Assembly is needed to win a two-year term as non-permanent member of the Security Council.

The five permanent Security Council members are the US, China, France, Russia and Britain.

Meanwhile Ople said in a statement Powell assured him that the eight-hour state visit of US President George W. Bush on Oct. 18 will push through as scheduled.

"There is no truth to the rumors that the US has canceled the state visit of President Bush," read the statement.

"In fact, Secretary Powell told me that he had a meeting with President Bush this morning and that they discussed President Bush’s state visit to the Philippines."

Bush was looking forward to meeting with Mrs. Arroyo and was "quite excited" about his trip to the Philippines, Ople quoted Powell as saying.