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Turkey blunts NZ's Security Council bid
Turkey's decision to join the race for a United Nations Security Council seat might have lessened New Zealand's chances of winning one, but the Government says it is pleased with the support it is getting from other countries.
The council is made up of five permanent members - the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and the United States - with 10 temporary representatives elected by member nations.
Prime Minister John Key announced at the UN General Assembly in New York last year that New Zealand would make a bid for one of two Western Europe and Others Group seats in 2015-2016.
Spain had been the only other country in the running until last week, when Turkey announced it would also stand.
Turkey had previously made a commitment to support New Zealand in its bid for a seat.
A spokeswoman for Key said yesterday that Turkey's decision to run for a seat was disappointing.
"We have not raised the question of Turkey's vote since their announcement, and that remains a decision for Turkey to take," she said.
"For our part, we are pleased at the level of support already shown for New Zealand's candidature across the United Nations membership."
There were no plans for Key to meet Turkish ministers or officials.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully over the weekend spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who confirmed Turkey would be making a bid for a seat.
"He acknowledged that would bring them into competition with both Spain and New Zealand, both good friends of Turkey," McCully said.
"He emphasised this was in no way a reflection on Turkey's relationship with New Zealand or the friendship that he and I have."
McCully said he had conveyed his sense of disappointment with the decision, but had not spoken about whether Turkey would still be supporting New Zealand's bid.
"I'm operating on the assumption that Turkey will honour their commitment to New Zealand."
New Zealand previously said it would give its second vote to Spain, and McCully said he had made it clear that would not change in light of Turkey's decision.
"We regarded the commitments we entered into in this respect as important to our international reputation and we would not be reviewing our commitments."
McCully said New Zealand's chances of winning the seat were damaged by Turkey's entering into the race.
"If there had to be a contested race we would have chosen some competitors that were somewhat easier propositions than both Spain and Turkey," he said. "It's not too hard for people to work out who the little guy is in this context."
While other countries have previously been reported to have spent millions in fights to win security council seats, McCully said New Zealand would not be spending money on its campaign.
"We're not going to be spending any money on this race in the sense that I'm not asking for any budgetary provision to be set aside," he said.
"We cannot buy a seat on the security council, virtually everybody else has bigger pockets than we have anyway. But the idea that we might have to buy support is not something that either the Prime Minister or I have been prepared to contemplate."
Turkey blunts NZ's Security Council bid | Stuff.co.nz
Turkey's decision to join the race for a United Nations Security Council seat might have lessened New Zealand's chances of winning one, but the Government says it is pleased with the support it is getting from other countries.
The council is made up of five permanent members - the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and the United States - with 10 temporary representatives elected by member nations.
Prime Minister John Key announced at the UN General Assembly in New York last year that New Zealand would make a bid for one of two Western Europe and Others Group seats in 2015-2016.
Spain had been the only other country in the running until last week, when Turkey announced it would also stand.
Turkey had previously made a commitment to support New Zealand in its bid for a seat.
A spokeswoman for Key said yesterday that Turkey's decision to run for a seat was disappointing.
"We have not raised the question of Turkey's vote since their announcement, and that remains a decision for Turkey to take," she said.
"For our part, we are pleased at the level of support already shown for New Zealand's candidature across the United Nations membership."
There were no plans for Key to meet Turkish ministers or officials.
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully over the weekend spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who confirmed Turkey would be making a bid for a seat.
"He acknowledged that would bring them into competition with both Spain and New Zealand, both good friends of Turkey," McCully said.
"He emphasised this was in no way a reflection on Turkey's relationship with New Zealand or the friendship that he and I have."
McCully said he had conveyed his sense of disappointment with the decision, but had not spoken about whether Turkey would still be supporting New Zealand's bid.
"I'm operating on the assumption that Turkey will honour their commitment to New Zealand."
New Zealand previously said it would give its second vote to Spain, and McCully said he had made it clear that would not change in light of Turkey's decision.
"We regarded the commitments we entered into in this respect as important to our international reputation and we would not be reviewing our commitments."
McCully said New Zealand's chances of winning the seat were damaged by Turkey's entering into the race.
"If there had to be a contested race we would have chosen some competitors that were somewhat easier propositions than both Spain and Turkey," he said. "It's not too hard for people to work out who the little guy is in this context."
While other countries have previously been reported to have spent millions in fights to win security council seats, McCully said New Zealand would not be spending money on its campaign.
"We're not going to be spending any money on this race in the sense that I'm not asking for any budgetary provision to be set aside," he said.
"We cannot buy a seat on the security council, virtually everybody else has bigger pockets than we have anyway. But the idea that we might have to buy support is not something that either the Prime Minister or I have been prepared to contemplate."
Turkey blunts NZ's Security Council bid | Stuff.co.nz
