United Nations Security Council elections

  • Media release

I have today congratulated New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Foreign Minister Murray McCully on the election to the United Nations Security Council for the period 2015-16.

New Zealand's election comes at a time when the Security Council is dealing with an unprecedented number of serious threats to international peace and security and has mandated a larger number of peacekeeping missions and peacekeepers globally than ever before.

Australia welcomes the election to the Security Council of our close friend, neighbour and partner and we look forward to working closely with New Zealand in the years ahead, after our current term on the Council concludes at the end of 2014.

Australia also congratulates Malaysia, Spain, Angola and Venezuela on their election to the Security Council for 2015-16.

Before concluding our two year term, Australia will assume the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of November, following our earlier Presidency in September 2013.

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