When the US declared last month that it was ready to withdraw its decade long opposition of Libya to the United Nations’ Security Council, it was certain that Libya would get the prized seat.
Since the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in which Libya was supposed to have play a crucial role, the US has always regarded the North African nation with cynicism and contempt and have always opposed any call for the nation to get a seat at the Security Council.
But since Libya’s rise to prominence and the status of a leader in African in the last few years, US force against it has somewhat tempered in its tone. Libya has increasingly extended its support to the global war on terror and has even ventured out to settle the long running Darfur conflict in Sudan. So much so that African leaders today consider Libya as one of the most vital pieces in the African jigsaw.
Libya is one of the two African nations to have won seats at the Security Council for two years. Burkina Faso was the other and the duo would occupy their positions in the 15-member body from January 1, 2008. Vietnam is the other endorsed Asian nation that stole another seat.
Libya, Burkina Faso and Vietnam all won in the first round of voting but the fight for seats from Latin America and Eastern Europe stretches to the second round. The five new members of the Security Council are the nonpermanent member nations of the Security Council and would serve only for two years after which they would be replaced.
Image Source: Blog Turntable
Source: Yahoo News
