Viet Nam and Libya elected to two-year terms on U.N. Security Council

Viet Nam and Libya were approved by the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to serve two-year terms as non-permanent members of the Security Council, The New York Times reported the next day.

The two countries, once shunned by the West, ran unopposed for their regions, and were elected on the first ballot.

The Security Council comprises 15 members, and is the central decision-making forum within the U.N. The Council has the power to impose sanctions and pass binding resolutions, as well as send peacekeeping missions to countries around the world.

In order to be appointed, countries must receive a two-thirds majority vote by the 192-country General Assembly. Viet Nam was elected with 183 votes and Libya with 178.

This will be Viet Nam’s first time serving on the Security Council. Libya served on the Council in 1976-1977.

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