Iran condemns "unfair" UN decision

Source: Press TV, 20-10-2008

The Islamic Republic slams the UN decision to block its Security Council bid, saying the body pursues unilateral policies and not equality.

Iceland and the Islamic Republic of Iran failed to secure non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council during the UN General Assembly voting session on Friday.

The UN General Assembly, which convenes once a year to elect five of the 10 non-permanent members of the 15-nation council, voted for Japan, Turkey, Austria, Mexico and Uganda.

"Regardless of the results of the voting, Iran's main objective was to convey this message and express this logic that the present structure of the United Nations, particularly the participation of members in this organization, is not fair," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told reporters Monday in a press conference in Tehran.

Iran lost the Asian seat to Japan. Tokyo, which has so far served the body nine terms, last sat in the Security Council in 2006, while Iran, a UN founding member, has only held a seat for once (1955-1956).

The Iranian official said that since the establishment of the Security Council, 74 countries have been unable to even become a onetime member of the council with a large number of countries having only been a member once.

"This is a serious problem which shows the injustice and unfair treatment in this body," the spokesman added.

He went on to say that the nature of the body and the necessity for stability and peace call for the active participation of all its members and the division of its seats among them.

"After 54 years, Iran is resolute to win non-permanent UN Security Council membership and will follow up the issue. We have carried out a lot of studies in this regard," Qashqavi added.

During a session in Tehran a couple of months ago, foreign ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), heard Iran's call for justice, he said.

"There is no logical reason for Japan to monopolize the council's seat," he continued.

"If we were supposed to give in to demands by superpowers, we would not have a revolution in our country. We want to defend our rights and must therefore seek what we want, not their wishes," he said.