St. Vincent and the Grenadines has broken records by becoming the smallest nation to secure a seat on the UN Security Council. Elected alongside four other countries, the nation will serve as a non-permanent member starting January 2020. Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves highlighted the historic nature of this achievement and the importance of addressing climate change effectively.

On a recent Friday, the United Nations General Assembly held a secret ballot to elect five countries to serve on the UN Security Council. Among them, St. Vincent and the Grenadines has made history as the smallest nation ever to acquire a seat on this governing body. The other countries elected alongside St. Vincent included Estonia, Niger, Tunisia, and Viet Nam.

These five nations will commence their roles as non-permanent members of the Security Council in January 2020, succeeding Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Peru, and Poland. Each year, five countries are chosen for a two-year term on the 15-member Council, adhering to a geographical rotation established by the Assembly in 1963 to ensure equitable regional representation among different countries.

While Niger, Tunisia, and Viet Nam were elected without opposition, the elections were competitive for two seats. El Salvador contended with St. Vincent and the Grenadines for representation from the Latin American and Caribbean group, while Romania was outvoted by Estonia in the Eastern European group.

Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, spoke to the media outside the General Assembly Hall, calling the election a “historic occasion” for his nation, which has a population of approximately 110,000. He highlighted the country’s commitment to sustainable development and expressed concerns about the impacts of climate change, particularly as a Small Island Developing State vulnerable to rising sea levels.

Mr. Gonsalves emphasized the importance of working closely with fellow Security Council members while acknowledging the limitations and strengths of the UN system. A resolution passed by the General Assembly in 2014 changed the timing of elections for non-permanent Security Council seats from October to June, allowing newly elected countries more time to prepare before beginning their terms.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has notably made history by securing a seat on the UN Security Council as the smallest nation ever to do so. This election represents a significant achievement for the country, particularly in advocating for issues such as sustainable development and climate change. The Prime Minister’s remarks accentuate the nation’s commitment to collaborate with other Security Council members to address pressing global challenges.

Original Source: news.un.org

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