UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said Wednesday that he did not wish to signify any preference for any of the three candidates competing for the two vacant seats in the UN Security Council.
In separate statements issued in Geneva and New York through his spokesperson, Ban Ki-Moon denied allegations that he had urged UN member states and diplomats to support Austria`s candidacy for have non-permanent seat on the Security Council.
"The Secretary-General is aware that Austria, Iceland and Turkey are contesting for these two seats for the period 2009-2010. He recognizes that they are all eminently qualified for the seats and he wishes each of them success in their effort to secure the support of member-states of the Organization. As Secretary-General, he does not wish to signify any preference for one over any other," said UN SG.
Turkey is competing for the two vacant seats reserved for Western Europe in the UN Security Council for 2009-2010. There are 5 permanent seats and 10 non-permanent seats in the Security Council. The elections for the non-permanent seats for the said period will be held on October 2010.
(OZG-EÖ)