Fresh from 2-year tenure, Turkey to try again for spot on UN security council

Turkey will again seek a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced Saturday. In October 2008 Turkey was elected a non-permanent member to the Council for a two-year tenure which started in January 2009 and will conclude next week, on Dec. 31. Davutoglu said at a ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party meeting in Konya that not long after its membership ends, Turkey would try again for a seat. But UN rules may complicate Davutoglu's plan. Chapter V, Article 23 of the UN Charter states, "A retiring member shall not be eligible for immediate re-election." Davutoglu said that Turkey's two-year tenure was widely seen as making a mark on the UN. "Over the last two years, we have represented humanity and conscience," Davutoglu said. "We have represented the human quest for security and freedom. We have not represented the interests of any other country or group. We have only represented our principled and honored world view." He added that during the last Security Council meeting, top officials from several countries asked him when Turkey would again seek a seat. "They told me that Turkey would absolutely win more than 153 votes this time," he said. "We won that number in 2008, and it was a record high number of votes. We will run again, and we will win again." Turkey last served on the council in 1952-1953.