Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela won coveted seats on the UN Security Council Thursday, but Turkey suffered a humbling defeat in its bid to join the world's "top table."
The five countries garnered the required two-thirds support from the 193-country UN General Assembly during three rounds of voting that ended with Turkey picking up only 60 votes.
Locked in a tight race against New Zealand and Spain, Turkey had dispatched Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on a high-profile mission to New York this week to lobby for votes.
Turkey's poor showing was seen by some UN diplomats as disapproval of Ankara's handling of the crisis sparked by the jihadist advance in Syria and the regime's authoritarian slide under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Angola, Malaysia and Venezuela were virtually assured to win seats, as their candidacies had been put forward by their region and they ran unopposed on their slates.
Venezuela won a resounding total of 181 votes, despite criticism from rights groups and the United States over its support for Iran, Syria and other hardline regimes at loggerheads with the West.
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro called the vote "a victory, a world record of support, love and confidence. One hundred eighty-one countries have said 'here we are, we support you.'"
"We should feel happiness and joy in our hearts that Venezuela is a beloved country in the world," he added, speaking in Caracas.
"To those birds of ill omen who say Venezuela is isolated in the world -- who is isolated? The country that received 181 votes?"
Rights groups have pointed to Venezuela's record on the UN Human Rights Council as a cause for worry and diplomats also expressed concern about its stance on the war in Syria.
US Ambassador Samantha Power urged Venezuela to work cooperatively on the council.
"Unfortunately, Venezuela's conduct at the UN has run counter to the spirit of the UN Charter and its violations of human rights at home are at odds with the Charter's letter," she said.
Angola won 190 votes, Malaysia picked up 187, New Zealand 145 and Spain 132.
- Turkey loses over Syria? -
Over the three rounds of voting, Turkey saw its support dwindle from 109 votes to 73 and finally to 60, surprising many who saw the regional player as a strong contender.
Often touted as a model for moderate Islam, Turkey has been under pressure to step up its involvement in US-led efforts to combat Islamic State fighters in Syria.
"We knew that it was going to be difficult for them, but everyone was taken by surprise," said a UN diplomat, who asked not to be named.
During its last campaign to join the council in 2008, Turkey won election in the first round with 151 votes, said the diplomat, who added that Thursday's result showed a loss of status.
After New Zealand's resounding victory in the first ballot, Foreign Minister Murray McCully called the outcome a "strong vote of confidence" in his country, following a 10-year campaign for the ultimate diplomatic prize.
A seat at the Security Council raises a country's profile several notches, boosts influence and provides knockoff benefits in bilateral ties.
The elections came at a busy time for the council, which is grappling with crises on many fronts, from the jihadist offensive in Iraq and Syria, to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine, conflicts in Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic and the faltering Israeli-Palestinian peace process are also at the top of the council's agenda.
The elected countries to the 15-member council will join the five permanent veto-wiedling powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- for a two-year term, starting in January.
Five other countries elected last year are mid-way into their term. These are Chad, Chile, Jordan, Lithuania and Nigeria.
As the most powerful body of the United Nations, the Security Council can impose sanctions on countries and individuals, refer suspects for war crimes prosecution, endorse peace accords and authorize the use of force.
It also oversees 16 peacekeeping missions in the world, with a budget of close to $8 billion.
The five countries will replace Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, Rwanda and South Korea.
Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela won coveted seats on the UN Security Council Thursday, but Turkey suffered a humbling defeat in its bid to join the world’s “top table.”
The five countries garnered the required two-thirds support from the 193-country UN General Assembly during three rounds of voting that ended with Turkey picking up only 60 votes.
Locked in a tight race against New Zealand and Spain, Turkey had dispatched Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on a high-profile mission to New York this week to lobby for votes.
Turkey’s poor showing was seen by some UN diplomats as disapproval of Ankara’s handling of the crisis sparked by the jihadist advance in Syria and the regime’s authoritarian slide under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Angola, Malaysia and Venezuela were virtually assured to win seats, as their candidacies had been put forward by their region and they ran unopposed on their slates.
Venezuela won a resounding total of 181 votes, despite criticism from rights groups and the United States over its support for Iran, Syria and other hardline regimes at loggerheads with the West.
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro called the vote “a victory, a world record of support, love and confidence. One hundred eighty-one countries have said ‘here we are, we support you.'”
“We should feel happiness and joy in our hearts that Venezuela is a beloved country in the world,” he added, speaking in Caracas.
“To those birds of ill omen who say Venezuela is isolated in the world — who is isolated? The country that received 181 votes?”
Rights groups have pointed to Venezuela’s record on the UN Human Rights Council as a cause for worry and diplomats also expressed concern about its stance on the war in Syria.
US Ambassador Samantha Power urged Venezuela to work cooperatively on the council.
“Unfortunately, Venezuela’s conduct at the UN has run counter to the spirit of the UN Charter and its violations of human rights at home are at odds with the Charter’s letter,” she said.
Angola won 190 votes, Malaysia picked up 187, New Zealand 145 and Spain 132.
– Turkey loses over Syria? –
Over the three rounds of voting, Turkey saw its support dwindle from 109 votes to 73 and finally to 60, surprising many who saw the regional player as a strong contender.
Often touted as a model for moderate Islam, Turkey has been under pressure to step up its involvement in US-led efforts to combat Islamic State fighters in Syria.
“We knew that it was going to be difficult for them, but everyone was taken by surprise,” said a UN diplomat, who asked not to be named.
During its last campaign to join the council in 2008, Turkey won election in the first round with 151 votes, said the diplomat, who added that Thursday’s result showed a loss of status.
After New Zealand’s resounding victory in the first ballot, Foreign Minister Murray McCully called the outcome a “strong vote of confidence” in his country, following a 10-year campaign for the ultimate diplomatic prize.
A seat at the Security Council raises a country’s profile several notches, boosts influence and provides knockoff benefits in bilateral ties.
The elections came at a busy time for the council, which is grappling with crises on many fronts, from the jihadist offensive in Iraq and Syria, to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Russia’s actions in eastern Ukraine, conflicts in Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic and the faltering Israeli-Palestinian peace process are also at the top of the council’s agenda.
The elected countries to the 15-member council will join the five permanent veto-wiedling powers — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — for a two-year term, starting in January.
Five other countries elected last year are mid-way into their term. These are Chad, Chile, Jordan, Lithuania and Nigeria.
As the most powerful body of the United Nations, the Security Council can impose sanctions on countries and individuals, refer suspects for war crimes prosecution, endorse peace accords and authorize the use of force.
It also oversees 16 peacekeeping missions in the world, with a budget of close to $8 billion.
The five countries will replace Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, Rwanda and South Korea.
