Turkey seeks Pacific Countries' support for seat on UN security council

A Turkey-Pacific islands' foreign ministers meeting began yesterday in Istanbul. Addressing the gathering, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan brought up Turkey's financial aid to underdeveloped countries in the Pacific island region and asked the countries to support Turkey's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2009-2010. During the meeting, Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Samuel Abal expressed strong support for Turkey's candidacy. Saying that small Pacific island countries face many challenges and problems in the globalized world, especially climate change caused by other countries, Abal added that his country admires the growth and development Turkey has shown in recent years. After the first session of the meeting, Babacan told reporters that most of the countries present support Turkey's UN Security Council bid. Asked about Turkey not having signed the Kyoto anti-global warming pact, Babacan said, "The decision to approve or not approve this protocol is up to individual countries, and Turkey is evaluating the terms of this protocol. Each country can have a different approach to the issue." He added that Turkey is stronger on environmental issues than many European countries.