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Angola, Venezuela, Malaysia, New Zealand elected UN Security Council non-permanent members

The four countries enlisted support of two thirds of delegates to the General Assembly in a secret ballot on Thursday
United Nations employees distribute ballots before delegates cast votes EPA/JUSTIN LANE
United Nations employees distribute ballots before delegates cast votes
© EPA/JUSTIN LANE

UNITED NATIONS, October 16. /TASS/. Angola, Venezuela, Malaysia and New Zealand have been elected non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council for 2015-2016.

The four countries enlisted support of two thirds of delegates to the General Assembly in a secret ballot on Thursday. Angola won 190 votes, Venezuela - 181, Malaysia - 187, and New Zealand - 145.

As of now, one more non-permanent member is yet to be elected. Two countries - Spain and Turkey - are vying for the seat. Neither of them managed to win the required 129 votes in the first round of voting. So, a second round of voting is ahead.

The voting will be repeated until either of the two states manages to score the required number of votes. There were instances in the history of the United Nations Organization when it took hours, days, and even weeks to elect non-permanent members. Thus, in 1979, The United Nations General Assembly could not make a choice from among Colombia and Cuba for more than two months until Mexico was elected in the 155th round of voting as a compromise solution.

Meanwhile, two unexpected candidates emerged during today’s voting - the Republic of Congo and Brazil were put on the ballot paper by delegates and scored one vote each.

The Security Council is the supreme body of the United Nations Organization tasked to maintain peace and international security. The chairman of the Security Council is elected from among its members for a term of one month. Marнa Cristina Perceval, Argentine’s Permanent Representative, is the incumbent President of the United Nations Security Council. Russia held presidency in June.

Under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, resolutions of the Security Council are binding on all member states of the United Nations Organization. Their violation is punishable by sanctions and even the use of military force. A resolution is passed by the majority of its 15 members unless one of its permanent member states - Great Britain, China, Russia, the United States, and France - use their right to veto.