Guyana seeking a seat on UN Security Council

Guyana is seeking election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term.

Guyana is joined by Algeria in seeking a seat on the UN Security Council and the elections will be held on Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd outlined Guyana’s vision and priorities for membership in the Council and expressed his country’s commitment if elected to the Security Council to the rule of law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

If successful, Guyana will be the second CARICOM country to serve on the UN Security Council after St. Vincent and the Grenadines had a two-year term that ended in 2022.

Todd said Guyana has always played an active role in United Nations and, as a small state, is ready to contribute to the work of the Security Council in partnership with all member countries for peace and prosperity.

Todd met with Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, Ahmed Attaf, in New York on Friday night.

A government statement said both ministers said, if elected, they are looking forward to working together on the Security Council.

Todd noted that, as developing countries with a common understanding of the challenges faced, the two countries can make a valuable and purposeful contribution to the Council and the United Nations as a whole.

Attaf, said that, if elected to the Council, this will be another opportunity for Guyana and Algeria to work together, noting that the two countries have a shared history in the Non-Aligned Movement and Group of 77 and China.

He acknowledged that currently, in the world, there is a complicated international order, including political and economic orders that have been severely shaken by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

He also stated that membership to the Council would allow for the promotion of issues of development and international cooperation as well as contributions to peace and security./ CMC