NEW YORK - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan arrived in New York on Monday to seek support for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2009-2010.
Babacan is scheduled to meet Srgjan Kerim, the president of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as well as several geographical groups represented at the UN.
Babacan is also expected host a reception at the Turkish House in New York for permanent representatives of UN countries.
Three candidates, Turkey, Iceland and Austria are competing for two non-permanent seats to be vacant in September.
If it is elected a non-permanent member, Turkey plans to support UN reform process; exert efforts to make the organization more active in international arena; diminish poverty in the world till 2015; prevent international political crisis before they occur; try to solve problems through peaceful means; counter xenophobia, racism, discrimination, intolerance, extremism and violence; exert efforts to open new channels of dialogue among different cultures and religions; and spread environmental protection consciousness.
The UN Security Council is composed of five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and ten non-permanent members.
Ten non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms and are not eligible for immediate re-election.
(TÇ-GC)
(DIP)