June 19, 2006
Venezuela for balancing UN Security Council

(Prensa Latina) - "Venezuela aims to enter the Security Council to balance UN decisions, Venezuelan ambassador Francisco Arias Cardenas said.

'Let's be a nation that seeks equilibrium, justice and democratization to balance decisions in the Security Council and benefit most states', the Venezuelan diplomat told Prensa Latina.

The election of the Latin Americana and Caribbean country to fill the post Argentina will leave on the Security Council next year is expected for October, during the 61st General Assembly's sessions.

The Security Council is made up of five permanent members (United States, Great Britain, France, Russia and China) with privilege of veto, and 10 non-permanent members representing geographical areas, renewable every two years.

Caracas' ambitions of re-entering the Security Council are currently facing a furious campaign by the US government, which is trying to discredit the Bolivarian Republic, and press Latin American and Caribbean states to vote in favor of Guatemala.

Venezuelan diplomacy is responding to Washington's hostility and pressure with a face-to-face offensive in almost all foreign affairs ministries of the world and in this international institution to explain reasons for its Security Council aims".