"I am pleased that this important aspiration of Lithuania's foreign policy was crowned with success, which is a result of long and steadfast diplomatic efforts. Now, Lithuania's task is successful implementation of the primary responsibility of the UN Security Council, i.e. maintenance of international peace and security", – said Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius.
Lithuania will seek to strengthen the influence of small states in the Security Council, and increase transparency and openness in the Council. Lithuania aspired for the membership in the most important global policy forum ever since 1996, when it for the first time formally submitted an application to the seat of the Eastern European Group at the Council. In its consistent pursuit for the goal, Lithuania gathered experience chairing the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the Community of Democracies, and the European Union. Lithuania was a successful contributor to the work of the managing bodies of major UN organisations: UNESCO and the Economic and Social Council, the IAEA, the World Health Organisation, the International Labour Organization and others.
The UN SC consists of five permanent and 10 non-permanent members: 15 members in total. Every year, the UN SC elects five new non-permanent members in accordance with the principle of equitable geographical distribution. This year the Assembly has elected the following new members for the term of 2014-2015: Chile (Latin American and Caribbean Group), Saudi Arabia (Asian group), Chad, Nigeria (African Group), Lithuania (Eastern European countries Group).
