Membership of U.N. Council a challenge, says Singapore

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, OCT. 14. Singapore has described its entry into the United Nations' Security Council in the non-permanent category as a ``challenge''.

Thanking members of the U.N. for their ``overwhelming support'' to Singapore, the Foreign Minister, Prof. S. Jayakumar, said: ``We announced our bid for the seat five years ago. I do not see Singapore bidding for a seat in the UNSC for many years to come.''

``This is therefore a very rare opportunity for Singapore to experience first hand the work of the Security Council. In addition to being a member, Singapore will also serve as President of the Council for the month of January 2001,'' the Foreign Minister said in a statement.

Prof. Jayakumar warned that Singapore should not see its election to the Security Council in a false sense of having ``arrived''.

``We are a small country with limited capability, having to survive and operate in an uncertain world. Our election to the Security Council does not alter this fact,'' he said.

He said Singapore's entry represented a challenge.

``The UNSC is the world's most powerful multilateral organ on security issues. The reality of course is that the Permanent Five countries, each with its veto power, play the dominant role in the UNSC. However, many non-permanent members before us have made useful contributions to the work of the Security Council. We will try our best to do the same,'' he added.

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Section  : International
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