* Congo objects to Rwanda’s election to Security Council
* Argentina, Australia, Luxembourg, South Korea also elected
* Rwanda’s foreign minister warns against cutting off aid
By Michelle Nichols and Louis Charbonneau
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 18 (Reuters) – Rwanda won a seat on the
U.N. Security Council on Thursday, despite accusations by a U.N.
panel that Rwanda’s defense minister commands a rebellion in
Democratic Republic of Congo, and warned countries against
cutting off aid over the charges.
Rwanda was unopposed in its bid for the African seat on the
council that South Africa will vacate at the end of December,
but still needed approval from two-thirds of the U.N. General
Assembly members present to secure the two-year term. It won 148
votes in the 193-nation assembly.
Argentina was also elected to the council unopposed, winning
182 votes. Australia won a seat with 140 votes, Luxembourg with
131 votes and South Korea with 149. Cambodia, Bhutan and Finland
failed to secure two-year seats on the council.
There are five veto-holding permanent members of the council
– the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – and 10
temporary members without veto power. Thursday’s election was
for the term from Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2014.
Rwanda’s government said that it would work with all members
of the council to ensure “it is responsive and reflective of the
views and aspirations of the developing world.”
Continued…
