Pakistan seeks support for UNSC seat, US Opposes

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Even if pakistan get the seat they vote as per china says.

So you mean to suggest that indirect Chinese criticizm of Pakistan holding up the FMCT progress is 'disingenuous'?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

WRT to permanent UNSC membership (and yes I know that is not what the Chinese support refers to, though trust the ToI to massacre a story) - if Pakistan gets its security situation under control and increased economic growth, it could become a contender to represent the 'Muslim World' in the UNSC, along with Turkey, though Indonesia might try as well.

Heck, put all three in, since we have three European nations in the UNSC.

 

[Omar1984]

Pakistan‚ a six-term candidate for the Asian seat on the Security Council‚ faces a challenge from Kyrgyzstan. PHOTO: AFP

NEW YORK: India’s hopes of getting backing from China for a seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) were dashed on Wednesday when the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it was considering Pakistan instead for the non-permanent seat, The Times of India reported.

China attaches great importance to Pakistan’s request for a non-permanent seat on the UNSC, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

This follows after India’s attempt in September this year to obtain a permanent seat in the UNSC had finally fizzled out due to lack of support from other member states, after an intensive six-year campaign.

Pakistan voiced its desire to have a seat on the UNSC at the 66th General Assembly session in September.

China supports Pakistan playing a bigger part in maintaining international peace and security, Jiang said at a daily press briefing, noting that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners.

UNSC consists of five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United States and Britain, and 10 other non-permanent members that are elected for two-year terms.

An election scheduled for Friday will determine the new non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, a UN official told reporters.

Earlier United Arab Emirates (UAE) too extended its support to Pakistan for its candidacy for a United Nation’s Security Council non-permanent seat.

Meanwhile Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Abdullah Haroon says he was confident of country’s success in the elections on Friday.

Pakistan‚ a six-term candidate for the Asian seat on the Security Council‚ faces a challenge from Kyrgyzstan. Those elected‚ will replace Lebanon‚ Bosnia & Herzegovina‚ Brazil‚ Gabon and Nigeria‚ whose two-year terms end on December 31, 2011.

Earlier in 2010, US President Obama had hinted on supporting India’s demand to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council while Beijing had welcomed India’s election as a non-permanent member of UNSC but didn’t disclose its intentions about supporting New Delhi’s case for a permanent member. China is the only one of the five permanent members of UNSC that has not announced its decision to support India.


UNSC election 2011: India disturbed by China’s support for Pakistan – The Express Tribune

 

[Omar1984]

From an indian news source Comments are equally as funny as the article

China backs Pak bid for non-permanent UNSC seat, India upset


BEIJING: India's hopes of obtaining Chinese backing for a seat in the United Nations Security Council came up against a rock with the Chinese foreign ministry saying on Wednesday that it was seriously considering Pakistan's case for the coveted place.

China attaches great importance to Pakistan's request for a seat on the UN Security Council, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said. She said Beijing is in favour of Pakistan playing a bigger role in maintaining international peace and security. China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners, Jiang noted at a news briefing.

Beijing welcomed India's election as a non-permanent member of UNSC last year but it has not revealed its mind about supporting New Delhi's case for a permanent member. China is the only one of the five permanent members of UNSC that has not announced its decision to support India.

New Delhi has been hoping to bring it around but the latest statement giving credence to Pakistan's case may prove to be a serious hurdle.

The statement comes in the midst of rising differences between the United States and Pakistan, which rose after top US military leaders said Islamabad cannot be relied upon as a partner in the fight against terrorism. Beijing is trying to assure Pakistan of its continued support at a time when western nations are losing faith in it.

Pakistan became the latest country to announce its aspirations for the UNSC seat when it raised the demand during the 66th UN General Assembly session in September. At that time, many observers suspected Beijing may have encouraged Pakistan to make the claim. The latest statement seems to support this view.

The official news agency, Xinhua, noted that Pakistan's foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar recently said that UN Security Council reforms "must be worked in a manner that will reinforce the confidence of the peoples of the world in this body and enhance its credibility and effectiveness."


China backs Pak bid for non-permanent UNSC seat, India upset - The Times of India

 

[Jackdaws]

I wonder why India is so obsessed with this UNSC seat? It is not as if the UN has done anything of note - the Americans pretty much do what they want in a unipolar world. It is just a matter of prestige - nothing else.

 

[VelocuR]

UAE to support Pakistan's UNSC non-permanent seat bid



ISLAMABAD: United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday extended its support to Pakistan for its candidacy for a United Nation’s Security Council non-permanent seat.

UAE’s ambassador Essa Abdulla Al Basha Al Nuaimi, who called on Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at the PM House on Wednesday. The two discussed matters ranging from flood relief efforts to and issues of bilateral trade.

Gilani said Pakistan was looking forward to become a member of the Council of Gulf Countries to become partner with others for promoting the cause of peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

The Prime Minister also appreciated the generous assistance of the UAE government during natural calamities in Pakistan including the devastating earthquake, last years’s floods and in the aftermath of the rains in Sindh providing relief items and supporting rehabilitation.

The Prime Minister appreciated the work done by UAE now underway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which would go a long way in improving the quality of life of the people of the province.

The Prime Minister thanked the UAE government in the completion of the development projects in Southern Punjab and especially in Rahim Yar Khan from where his son was elected unopposed.

The Ambassador said 2.5 million Pakistanis in the UAE are contributing in the country’s economic development and the host government considered it valuable in every sense of the word.

He said people of UAE and the government value the relations between the two brotherly countries as it provided sound basis for relations on the long terms basis.

The Ambassador said his government was planning an exhibition in Karachi in the near future in which a large number of members of the business community would participate providing good opportunity to them to understand the dynamics of trading in this part of the region.

 

[darkinsky]

true USA, still many pakistanis love USA

 

[indianspetsnaz]

Pakistan should be given a non permanent seat with that they can only vote or abstain from security council resolutions so whats the harm? India on the other hand is a good aspirant for a permanent seat on the security council pretty much every nation but Pakistan supports this

the sad thing is India was offered a permanent seat 60 years ago but Nehru and his dumb a$$ refused it we were offered a golden bar but Nehru did not take it but should there be reform of the UNSC India will get a seat for sure.

each continent should have representation on the UNSC with the exception of asia due to its diversity and large population the UNSC permanent membership should be like below

1) USA
2) Britain
3) China
4) Russia
5) India
6) France
7) Brazil
8) Japan
9) Germany

 

[notorious_eagle]

I dont know why are people getting so worked up about this. The first and single priority of this PPP Government should be a stable and prosperous Pakistan, all these things fall second. If we are strong internally, than we will be able to deal with these external issues with much more strength. I only wish that this Government actually allocate this much attention and focus to our domestic problems rather than trying to solve these foreign problems.

 

[Omar1984]

I dont know why are people getting so worked up about this. The first and single priority of this PPP Government should be a stable and prosperous Pakistan, all these things fall second. If we are strong internally, than we will be able to deal with these external issues with much more strength. I only wish that this Government actually allocate this much attention and focus to our domestic problems rather than trying to solve these foreign problems.

With U.S. giving an eye on Pakistan's territory over this past year, Pakistan needs a platform to let the world know about Pakistan's viewpoint. U.S. is obviously trying to stop that, that's why its trying to stop Pakistan from reaching that needed platform. Kyrgyzstan and US have no conflicting interests in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan is more than happy with Karzai. Pakistan and US have conflicting interests, this seat in the UN can help Pakistan communicate with the world regarding Afghanistan and our region.

Maybe most western nations will follow U.S. and support Kyrgyzstan's bid over Pakistan's bid, but Turkey, Middle Eastern, African, and East Asian countries can support Pakistan.

Who knows about a tiny country like Kyrgyzstan anyways. That whole country is the size of our Lahore.

 

[Hulk]

sorry earlier I got confused with Pakistan asking permanent seat, if it is temporary seat. I have no issue, India should support them. I do not want to oppose for the sake of it.

 

[Omar1984]

Bid For UN Security Council Seat Pits Newcomer Kyrgyzstan Against Veteran Pakistan

Pakistan's Munir Akram: "I think the comparisons in the contribution that are made and can be made by the two countries are very stark and very clear.”

October 19, 2011
By Nikola Krastev

UNITED NATIONS -- Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan are both vying for the same seat on the UN Security Council.

On October 21, the United Nations General Assembly will elect five nonpermanent members to the Security Council for two-year terms that begin in January. Both Islamabad and Bishkek want to replace Lebanon on the 15-member council's Asia and Arab bloc seat.

Kyrgyzstan, a UN member state since 1992, declared its aspirations for a Security Council seat as far back as 1997, but it is the first time Bishkek has formally put forward its bid.

By contrast, Pakistan, the world's sixth-most populous country, has been in the UN since 1947 and already served six two-year terms on the council. As one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping force, it's seen as a heavy favorite. But it also has a frayed relationship with Washington, where administration officials have recently complained publicly about Islamabad's lack of cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

In its favor, Kyrgyzstan hosts both U.S. and Russian air bases and has the region's first female president, Roza Otunbaeva. Working against it is its failure to prevent major ethnic clashes last year and what international critics say were the ethnically biased prosecutions that followed.

Last-Ditch Effort

In a last-ditch effort to persuade the Central Asian nation to withdraw its candidacy, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Khar visited Bishkek on October 18 and met with Otunbaeva, apparently to no effect. Hours later, Otunbaeva's office released a statement, confirmed by Kyrgyz diplomats at the UN, saying the Central Asian nation would remain a candidate for the Security Council seat.

Munir Akram, who was Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN from 2002 through 2008 and served two terms as president of the Security Council, told RFE/RL that gaining a seat on the council would be a political and diplomatic success because it would elevate that country's influence in world affairs.

He judged Pakistan's chances of regaining a seat on the Security Council as "excellent."

"Pakistan is a very large country [and] it has vital national interest in the issues on the agenda of the Security Council," Akram said. "Kyrgyzstan, I think, has never as such made vital contributions to international peace and security. Pakistan is the largest troop contributor to [UN] peacekeeping operations. I think the comparisons in the contribution that are made and can be made by the two countries are very stark and very clear.”

Kyrgyz Accomplishments

For his part, Talaibek Kydyrov, Kyrgyzstan's permanent representative to the UN, told RFE/RL that while Pakistan is a formidable opponent, he thinks his country's chances are "good."

Talaibek Kydyrov: "We have many common interests."​​"

We are sending each year a certain number of peacekeepers to serve in a score of African countries. We’ve gained experience in peace-building and have contributed to preventive diplomacy [activities]," Kydyrov said. "There is a regional UN center for preventive diplomacy located in Ashgabat. We have experience in postconflict development."

Kyrgyzstan has also been an active participant in the work of the UN Human Rights Council, he added.

Otunbaeva announced Kyrgyzstan's intention to seek a seat on the Security Council in her speech to the General Assembly on September 22.

"The Kyrgyz Republic as a member of the group of landlocked countries, of the group of small countries with economies in transition, and as a young democracy with a multifaith population, supports the need for wider representation of all categories of countries in the Security Council," she said.

Ambassador Kydyrov added that if elected, Kyrgyzstan -- with a population of some 5.5 million -- will represent the interests of all small and landlocked countries who are members of the UN.

“We are stressing the fact that Kyrgyzstan is a small, developing, landlocked, mountainous country. More than half of the UN member states are small, developing countries," he said. "We have many common interests, so in this regard we are focusing on gaining support among the small, developing countries.”

Backroom Diplomacy

Winning a seat on the council requires the support of two-thirds of the 193 General Assembly UN member states who are present in the hall during the ballot. There is no veto power in a General Assembly vote.

Considerable backroom diplomacy and jockeying for position takes place in the run-up to Security Council elections. Alliances are forged and promises of support are secured in exchange for past or future favors. Kyrgyzstan has waged a quiet but vigorous diplomatic campaign to gain supporters, with the help of staff from Bishkek's European missions who have been temporarily reassigned to the UN.

The prevailing view among UN diplomats is that Pakistan has a higher level of support within the General Assembly than Kyrgyzstan. But Bishkek's resistance to pressure to withdraw has led to speculation that it has the support of one or more influential UN member states.

Pakistan's Akram said that Kyrgyzstan's adamant resistance to various offers to withdraw from the race implies exactly that.

"There are suspicions in Pakistan, and among Pakistanis, as to why this is so -- whether Kyrgyzstan has been encouraged and supported in its insistence by some major powers, whether neighboring countries or larger powers far away from Pakistan," Akram said.

Still, he added, any vote in the General Assembly is hard to predict because members don't announce their decisions beforehand and alliances can, and do, sometimes fall apart at the last minute.

The October 21 vote is an annual election for five of the 10 nonpermanent seats on the council. Among those competing for the European seat this year is Azerbaijan.

The remaining five are permanent, veto-wielding members Russia, China, the United States, Britain, and France.



Bid For UN Security Council Seat Pits Newcomer Kyrgyzstan Against Veteran Pakistan

 

[mautkimaut]

True India should support Pakistan for the seat in UN as well.both should become members

 

[Pak_Sher]

Pakistan should protect its interests and that is the need of the hour.

 

[indianspetsnaz]

I dont know why are people getting so worked up about this. The first and single priority of this PPP Government should be a stable and prosperous Pakistan, all these things fall second. If we are strong internally, than we will be able to deal with these external issues with much more strength. I only wish that this Government actually allocate this much attention and focus to our domestic problems rather than trying to solve these foreign problems.

its not your gov'ts fault your military in particular your army runs your country what they saw is law not what the gov't says if the Pak gov't actually was in control of the country your situation internally and externally would be peaceful just saying