Libya and Viet Nam likely to join U.N. Security Council

Libya and Viet Nam are likely to be elected to nonpermanent seats on the United Nations Security Council as no leading Council members are expected to block their entry, Reuters reported Tuesday.

The only real obstacle would be if a two-thirds majority of the 192-state General Assembly voted against the bids.

Joining the Security Council would boost each country’s standing in the international community.

Viet Nam has never been on the Security Council before, while Libya served previously in 1976 and 1977.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered a speech to the General Assembly on September 27, saying his country “will work closely with other countries to reduce tension, prevent and peacefully settle conflicts in different parts of the world.”

If approved, Viet Nam would join Indonesia and China on the Security Council, which could be significant if the situation in Burma continues to attract international attention.

Some human rights and democracy groups have expressed concern over the possibility of membership for Viet Nam and Libya. A statement from the nongovernmental International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies expressed “deep concern that nondemocratic countries such as Libya and Vietnam are standing for election ... whilst continuing to commit serious human rights violations.”

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