Singapore Supports Australia’s Security Council Bid

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http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2012/10/12/singapore-supports-australias-security-council-bid/

Australia’s bid for election onto the United Nations Security Council got a boost Thursday when Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave his backing and said it is essential to give Asia another voice on the world’s premier diplomatic body.

“We believe that Australia is an important part of the regional architecture and it is beneficial for the Asia-Pacific region to be represented at the security council,” Mr. Lee said.

The security council comprises five permanent members–Germany, Britain, the US, China and France–known as the P5, and 10 elected temporary members.

Five of the temporary seats are being rotated in an election scheduled for Oct. 18. As part of the “Western European and Others Group,” Australia faces competition from Luxembourg and Finland for a seat in 2013-2014. The country last served on the body in 1985-1986.

“All the bids are good, but we had to choose and in this case it was quite clear Australia was our best choice,” Mr. Lee said.