Egypt bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is centred on "reforming the United Nations and expanding the Security Council to become more democratic and representative of developing countries," Egypt's foreign ministry spokesman said Saturday. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri flew to New York Thursday to promote Egypt's bid for a UNSC for 2016-2017. Egypt is looking to push Third World issues and the resolution of regional crises, including Palestine, Libya and Yemen, Foreign Minister Spokesman Badr Abdel-Atti told state news agency MENA. During a meeting Saturday with permanent members of the Latin American and Caribbean Group, Shoukri explained Egypt is fighting terrorism as an international phenomenon and asked for the group's support in the upcoming UNSC elections in October. Egypt announced its bid to win the seat at the UN General Assembly in September 2014. It received the support of African states at the latest African Union summit in January 2015. The Arab Parliament has also expressed support for Egypt's bid. Jordan is currently the only Arab country sitting on the council among the 10 non-permanent members, who are traditionally elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly. Egypt sat on the Security Council as a non-permanent member in 1946, 1949-1950, 1984-1985, and 1996-1997.
