Italy and the Netherlands agreed Tuesday, June 28 to split their term on the UN Security Council after a tie in voting forced them to reach a compromise, AFP reports.

In the vote for five non-permanent seats, Kazakstan was elected for the first time, joining Bolivia, Ethiopia and Sweden which won spots during the secret balloting at the 193-nation General Assembly.

Under the agreement which will be put to a vote, Italy will serve on the council in 2017 and the Netherlands will follow in 2018.

Western European envoys were to meet Thursday to endorse the deal, which would then go to the General Assembly for a vote.

Kazakhstan beat out Thailand in a second round of balloting, picking up 138 votes against 55 for Thailand and winning the seat reserved for Asia.

Close to Russia, Kazakhstan gave up its nuclear arsenal after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

The newly-elected countries will take their place alongside the five permanent council members -- Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States.

The other five non-permanent members are: Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay.