United Nations: The victors in Tuesday's election will give next year's Security Council a unique membership of global powers and important emerging countries that have been campaigning for reform of the United Nations (UN) most powerful body.
India, South Africa and Germany — powerhouses in Asia, Africa and Europe — won two-year terms that will put them on the council at the same time as Brazil and Nigeria, key players in Latin America and Africa.
For the first time, the Security Council will include these five countries that are seeking permanent seats and have been fighting to reform the UN body responsible for international peace and security so that it reflects the world in the 21st century, not the world after Second World War when the UN was founded.
Japan, which leaves the council at the end of the year, is also campaigning for a permanent seat. In Tuesday's secret ballot, the 192-nation General Assembly also elected Colombia and Portugal.
Canada, the big loser
The big loser was Canada, another major economic power which was in a three-way race for two Western bloc seats. It dropped out after Germany won in the first round by a single vote and Portugal was ahead by 35 votes in the second round. Ten of the Security Council's 15 seats are filled by regional groups for two-year stretches, with five elected each year. The other five seats are occupied by permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the US.
"It is important to note that some of the countries that are coming on are some of the most important emerging powers," Britain's UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said after the election. "We think that all of them will bring their own unique advantages and make this a very strong Security Council for the next two years."
The council, also for the first time, will include major regional powers — China and India in Asia, South Africa and Nigeria in Africa, and Brazil and Mexico in Latin America.
The outgoing nonpermanent members are Austria, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Uganda.
