Poland in final push for place on UN Security Council

Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski travelled to New York on Wednesday on a three-day visit.

Polish foreign ministry spokesman Jakub Wawrzyniak said Waszczykowski’s trip was "the final stage of the campaign for Poland's candidacy for the UN Security Council and an opportunity to underline the political significance that Poland attaches to non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council.”

Poland has been engaged in a flurry of efforts in recent months to secure support for its bid for a seat at the table.

In order to gain a non-permanent place on the council, Poland needs a minimum of two-thirds (129) votes from states present and voting in the UN General Assembly.

The UN Security Council consists of five veto-wielding permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK and US), and 10 non-permanent members elected by the organisation’s General Assembly for a term of two years.

One non-permanent place goes to a country from Eastern Europe.

From the latter group, Bulgaria put itself forward as a candidate as well as Poland, but withdrew in December 2016.

(pk)

Source: MSZ/PAP