Stenbock house, Tallinn, 13 October 2005 At today s government cabinet meeting it was decided that Estonia would run for membership on the UN Security Council in 2020 2021.
Membership on the UN Security Council, the main institution ensuring peace and security in the world, is a weighty and special responsibility for every state. The majority of the European Union member states have been or will soon be members of the Council.
Membership on the Security Council will give Estonia a unique opportunity to participate in decision-making concerning international peace and security, and will increase Estonia s influence and visibility in the international arena. The membership also tests the ability of each country to participate equally with the other members in settlement of issues within the competence of the Security Council. Successful performance of the member s obligations requires very thorough advance preparations by the state.
At the moment, it is difficult to predict the costs accompanying candidacy and membership obligations. In relation to membership, Estonia s permanent mission to UN in New York and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for example, will need to increase their workforce.
The UN Security Council is one of the six main bodies of the UN, and is responsible for ensuring international peace and security. The Security Council has five permanent members (China, France, Great Britain, USA and Russia) and ten non-permanent members elected from the General Assembly for two years.
Non-permanent members are elected so as to maintain a geographical balance: thus, three members of the Security Council must be from Africa, two from Asian, two from Latin-American, one from Eastern European and two from Western Europe and other regional groups of countries.
Sincerely,
Government Communication Office
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