Babacan: Turkey To Start Its Mission In Unsc On January 1

ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said on Sunday that Turkey, which was elected non-permanent member to UN Security Council, would start its mission on January 1, 2009.
Babacan held a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport in his return from the United States.
Babacan said that the result of this election was based on three important issues. He said that these issues were political and economic reforms fulfilled in Turkey, success in foreign policy and introduction of these successes to the world with a good communication.
Babacan said that he held meetings with foreign ministers of nearly 150 countries since he started his term in office 14 months ago, adding that he asked support of these countries for Turkey's non-permanent membership to UNSC.
Babacan said that 151 of 192 countries --80 percent-- supported Turkey in the secret voting.
He said that Security Council was an important organ of the UN, and its decisions had sanctions.
He said that UNSC had 15 members, five were permanent, and the rest 10 were elected as non-permanent members.

(GC)
(DIP)