October 8, 2001

UN General Assembly Election to Non-Permanent Seats on the UN Security Council

On October 8, the United Nations General Assembly elected Bulgaria, Cameroon, Guinea, Mexico and Syria to non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council for 2002-2003. As is our longstanding practice and policy, we do not disclose how we voted in any of the elections. The United States expects to work constructively with the newly elected Security Council members, who will join the Council on January 1, 2002. They will replace Bangladesh, Jamaica, Mali, Tunisia, and Ukraine.

According to the United Nations Charter, non-permanent members are elected "with due regard being specially paid...to the contribution of Members of the United Nations to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the Organization (including human rights), and also to equitable geographic distribution."

Syria was elected as the uncontested candidate of the Asia regional group for the seat apportioned to that group for 2002-2003. The United States will continue to express our concerns regarding terrorism with the Syrian government. The United States will also continue to expect Syria to meet its obligation to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, to fulfill all Security Council resolutions and to contribute to international peace and security, responsibilities that are only increased by its membership on the Security Council.