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Foreign minister heads to New York for UN Security Council election Shoukry is expected to hold bilateral talks with several foreign ministers to promote Egypt's bid for a Security Council seat during the visit
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry headed to New York Monday to take part in the United Nations Security Council election, scheduled to take place on 15 October, during the 70th session of the UN General Assembly. Member states will vote on the non-permanent UN Security Council seats for the 2016-2017 term, among which Egypt is a candidate. Shoukry's participation in the UNGA session comes in the context of Egypt's comprehensive plan to promote its bid for non-permanent membership in the Security Council, and to acquire international support, foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid stated. While in New York, Shoukry is expected to hold bilateral talks with several foreign ministers, as well as media talks, in which Egypt's view on various regional and international issues will be discussed. In an attempt to gain international support, Shoukry has conducted various meetings with senior UN officials, as well as foreign ministers from Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America, over the past months. Egypt has been pushing to become a key player in international security, and announced its bid for a non-permanent Security Council seat on the sidelines of the 2014 UN General Assembly in September. Egypt's efforts are not restricted to garnering votes for its non-permanent seat in the UNSC, but are also meant to propagate its vision and the objectives it aims to realise if it wins a seat, added Abu Zeid. During the meeting to celebrate 70 years since the signing of the UN Charter, Assistant Foreign Minister Hisham Badr said Egypt desires "comprehensive reform at the UN and [to] ensure a better representation of African and Asian interests". Egypt's vision focuses on maintaining peace and security, promoting stability and the peaceful resolution of conflicts, according to the Foreign Ministry statement Sunday. In an April visit to New York, Shoukry discussed Egypt's candidacy for the North Africa non-permanent UNSC seat, and described how it would "guarantee the presence of Arab representation in the Security Council". Egypt has acquired Arab support for its bid since the Arab League's ministerial meetings in March 2013, as well as African support, garnered during the African Summit in January 2015, Shoukry had stated during the April visit. Egypt was a founding member of the United Nations, and has been a non-permanent member of the Security Council on four occasions: 1946, 1949-1950, 1984-1985, and 1996-1997.
