ARFD member: Armenia was wrong to pull out of UNSC race

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia shouldn’t have withdrawn its bid for UN Security Council (UNSC) non–permanent membership, considering Azerbaijan’s intention to participate in the race, ARF Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary group leader said, commenting on Baku’s UNSC accession.

“Were Armenia to run for UNSC, significant share of both Slovenia and Azeri votes would have gone to Armenia. Seeing as U.S. and Europe try to stay neutral where conflicting sides are concerned, neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan would have been elected to avoid tensions,” Vahan Hovhannisyan told a news conference in Armenia.

“Despite the Republican Party of Armenia and Foreign Ministry’s attempts to prove Baku’s accession isn’t dramatic, I beg to differ. Azeri UNSC non-permanent membership gives serious grounds for concern, and we’re soon to see the repercussions,” the politician said.

Azerbaijan has secured a seat on the UN Security Council in 2012-2013 after Slovenia withdrew from the race following 16 inconclusive rounds of voting. Azerbaijan's victory was confirmed when it received 155 votes in the 193-nation UN General Assembly, ensuring that it joins Pakistan, Morocco, Guatemala and Togo as temporary members of the 15-nation council in January.

The Security Council is the powerhouse of the United Nations, with the ability to impose sanctions and dispatch peacekeeping forces.