UNITED NATIONS, Oct 18 (KUNA) -- In connection with today's elections by the General Assembly of five new Security Council members, a diplomat told KUNA that Saudi Arabia is expected to be elected next October as a non-permanent member of the Council for the first time for the period 2014-2015.
Saudi Arabia will occupy an Asian seat in the Council. It will also represent the Arab world. Morocco, which occupies an African seat and has been representing the Arab world, will leave the Council on December 31st, 2013.
The so-called Arab seat in the Council alternates between Asian and North African states every two years.
The diplomat argued that Saudi Arabia is expected to run unopposed, since it has already been endorsed by the Asian group, and it is among the 20 countries in the Assembly which have never been members of the Council since the UN creation.
The elections will take place in mid October 2013.
The General Assembly on Thursday elected Australia, Luxemburg, Argentina, Republic of Korea, and Rwanda to serve as non-permanent members of the Security Council for the 2013-2014 term. (end) sj.mt KUNA 182212 Oct 12NNNN