Lebanon, Nigeria, Gabon, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brazil were elected today to serve two-year terms on the UN Security Council, dpa reported. The five newly elected countries will begin their terms on January 1, respectively replacing outgoing Vietnam, Libya, Burkina Faso, Croatia and Costa Rica. The election was carried out in the 192-nation UN General Assembly, which requires a two-thirds majority of votes to get elected. Lebanon obtained 180 votes, Nigeria 186 votes, Gabon 184 votes, Bosnia 183 votes and Brazil 182 votes. The council, the UN's highest panel with authority to make decisions on issues of world peace and security, is composed of five permament members with veto power - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain - and 10 countries elected for two-year terms. The other countries serving on the council in 2010 will be Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda. Membership on the council for non-permanent members rotate among countries in the world's five regions. The five countries elected Thursday ran unopposed. They were selected by countries in their regions as the official candidates. Bosnian Foreign Minister Sven Alkalaj, whose country was elected a council member for the first time, said Sarajevo expects to work with others on the council to further peace in the Balkan region. "We are running for the Security Council because Bosnia and Herzegovina has a unique experience that fits the institutional memory of this UN body," Alkalaj said. Alkalaj said his country, 15 years after the conflict pitting Serbs against Muslims, remains a topic on the agenda of the Security Council. "Bearing in mind our painful experience, Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UN Security council will not hesitate to work when a crisis knocks on the door," he said. "We are also on the firm and peaceful path toward Euro-Atlantic integration," he said.
