Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., February 22, 2008 Adar1 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:41 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 03:52 10/09/2007 Despite sanctions, Iran seeks UN Security Council seat By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Iran, nuclear program  NEW YORK - Iran plans to vie for one of the temporary seats on the United Nations Security Council, according to a low-key announcement last week in a routine informational document distributed by the Asia Group of member states. The same document announced Japan's candidacy for the seat, which is reserved for the region and will become vacant in September 2009. Diplomats at UN headquarters here say Iran has little chance of beating Japan, particularly in view of the Security Council sanctions imposed on Iran for refusing to halt its nuclear program. Advertisement There are five permanent Security Council members - the United States, Russian, Britain, France and China - and 10 non-permanent members, elected by the General Assembly on a regional basis for two-year terms. Each September, five of the 10 rotating seats are vacated. Senior Iranian officials recently began working through back channels to promote Iran's candidacy, diplomatic sources said. The sources added that the U.S. and its Western allies at the UN are not likely to sit idly by as Iran promotes its bid for Security Council membership. A year ago the U.S. succeeded in blocking Venezuela's election, because of President Hugo Chavez's anti-American policy. Two years ago, Syria's membership as representative of the Arab Group also aroused discomfort among key member states. However, Syria maintained a low profile, and its membership period was characterized by a lack of notable activity. Iran's announcement raised eyebrows among veteran diplomats. "This is an act of defiance aimed especially against the U.S. and the West," a senior diplomat told Haaretz last Friday. "This is a country against whom a resolution including sanctions was passed, and it continues to systematically violate Security Council resolutions and is involved in smuggling arms to Lebanon." Iran's announcement prompted reservations within the Asian Group as well, the same diplomat said. Israel will run for a seat on the Security Council in 2019, according to an announcement in a document distributed by the Western European and Others Group. So far, no other member state in that group has announced plans to oppose Israel. In the General Assembly elections later this month, Vietnam is up for election in the Asian Group, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic in the Latin American Group, Croatia and the Czech Republic in the Eastern European Group, and Burkina Faso and Libya in the African Group Bookmark to del.icio.us   The black sheep The U.S. freezes Assad's cousin's assets for trying to weaken Iraq and Lebanon. Pristina, Ramallah Yasser Abed Rabbo called on the West Bank to declare independence like Kosovo.   1.   Babies.. 03:59  |  Lisen 10/09/07   2.   Iran in the UN Security Council 08:36  |  Mike 10/09/07   3.   Iranian hypocrisy... 08:39  |  Ryan 10/09/07   4.   Wow! rational thought in the U.N.? 09:01  |  Denton 10/09/07   5.   They`ll get it too 10:49  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 10/09/07   6.   Not a bad idea,since it will create a certain balance in the ME 14:32  |  lakshmi 10/09/07   7.   4denton,with all the israel bashing it manages to get its partner 18:22  |  lakshmi 10/09/07   8.   That position is too small for Mullah`s 00:07  |  Yari 22/02/08

Today Online Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier Responses: 197 Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas Responses: 273 Iranian official: Countdown to Israel's destruction has begun Responses: 189 Shmuel Rosner: What the U.S. really wants is a total Gaza invasion Responses: 89 Israel Harel: Israeli Arabs creating state within Israel's borders Responses: 76 Rosner's Domain What America wants from an operation in Gaza Obama has a mainstream Democratic team (WTR) Guests: girls receiving a Jewish education is a given U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? More Headlines 03:15 Worried Rice to discuss Gaza with Olmert in Japan 03:19 Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams 00:59 EU resolution lambastes Israel over Gaza Strip isolation policy 21:58 Rights group slams Egypt for shooting African migrants on Israel border 00:05 Monopoly Website drops country names after Jerusalem row 03:24 Al-Aqsa militants wanted by Israel escape from PA jail 02:16 EU advisers to PA police seek $221 million for training, prisons 03:11 Hamas officials: Israeli missile kills at least 2 Gaza militants 01:06 Russia offers to host, finance Israel 60 anniversary events in Moscow 01:15 Serb rioters set fire to U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, clash with police Previous Editions Select Day 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb

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