Following two days of official silence, Israel\'s Foreign Ministry has finally reacted to the decision by the United Nations to allow Syria to sit on the Security Council. A statement released by the Ministry this afternoon said that the choice is a \"total distortion, a badge of shame for the United Nations and its institutions.\" Earlier, unnamed government sources have severely criticized the move, calling it \"pure cynicism,\" \"an absurdity,\" and \"nonsensical.\"
An overwhelming majority of 160 out of 178 countries voted in a secret ballot on Monday to allow Syria to sit on the Council - despite the UN Charter\'s stipulation that countries should be included on the council based on their \"contribution to international peace and security.\" Syria is the headquarters and financial backer for several Palestinian, Lebanese, and other terrorist groups, and has been designated by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terrorism. The United States did not oppose Syria\'s candidacy.
\"It is really a sheer absurdity and nonsense to have Syria as a member of the Security Council,\" said Israeli Ambassador to the UN Yehuda Lancry.
The Security Council is composed of fifteen members, five of whom - the U.S., the U.K., China, France, and Russia - are permanent and have veto power. Syria, Mexico, Guinea, Bulgaria, and Cameroon will begin their two-year terms on Jan. 1, 2002, joining Colombia, Ireland, Mauritius, Norway and Singapore, which conclude their two-year terms on Dec. 31, 2002.
An overwhelming majority of 160 out of 178 countries voted in a secret ballot on Monday to allow Syria to sit on the Council - despite the UN Charter\'s stipulation that countries should be included on the council based on their \"contribution to international peace and security.\" Syria is the headquarters and financial backer for several Palestinian, Lebanese, and other terrorist groups, and has been designated by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terrorism. The United States did not oppose Syria\'s candidacy.
\"It is really a sheer absurdity and nonsense to have Syria as a member of the Security Council,\" said Israeli Ambassador to the UN Yehuda Lancry.
The Security Council is composed of fifteen members, five of whom - the U.S., the U.K., China, France, and Russia - are permanent and have veto power. Syria, Mexico, Guinea, Bulgaria, and Cameroon will begin their two-year terms on Jan. 1, 2002, joining Colombia, Ireland, Mauritius, Norway and Singapore, which conclude their two-year terms on Dec. 31, 2002.