GCC supports Malaysian bid for UN Security Council seat

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has announced its support for Malaysia’s candidacy to occupy Asia’s non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for 2015 and 2016.

Kuwait’s diplomatic attaché at the UN, Alyaa Abdullah Al-Muzaini, announced support for Malaysia’s bid on behalf of the GCC during the Asian group’s monthly meeting on Wednesday. Al-Muzaini said the GCC hopes that Malaysia will be successful in its bid to occupy the Security Council seat, pointing out that Malaysia would certainly enhance the council’s efforts to maintain international peace and security.

Elections for non-permanent seats at the Security Council take place in October. If elected, Malaysia will replace South Korea, whose membership expires at the end of this year.

There are five permanent members of the Security Council: China, France, Russia, United Kingdom and United States. Ten additional seats are allocated to temporary members that hold their seats on a rotating basis by geographic region for a period of two years.