On Thursday June 6th 2024, the UN General Assembly elected Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for a two-year term beginning on January 1st, 2025.
In a secret ballot, the elected countries secured the required two-thirds majority of Member States present and voting in the 193-member General Assembly.
Greece received overwhelming support, with 182 out of the 188 countries present voting in favor of its candidacy, representing an acceptance rate of approximately 98%.
The five new members will join the five existing non-permanent members, whose terms started on January 1st, 2024 (Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia), and the five permanent Council members, each wielding veto power (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States).
The Greek candidacy for the Security Council focused on three words starting with the Greek Delta: “Dialogue, Diplomacy, Democracy”. Three words with great meaning not only for Greece, but for the entire world. The emblem of Greece’s candidacy is the olive tree and its branch.
Dialogue: in Greek “διάλογος”. The act of exchanging reasonable arguments. According to Socrates, dialogue was the path to truth, the path to knowledge.
Diplomacy: in Greek “διπλωματία”. At its root, we find the world two, “δύο”. Diplomacy, of course, is based on dialogue. As peoples, as nations, using diplomacy through dialogue, we can overcome our differences. We can arrive at common solutions.
Democracy: in Greek “δημοκρατία”. It literally means power of the people. Born in ancient Athens, democracy is also based on dialogue, the open exchange of arguments in the “αγορά”. There are no silent democracies.
As for the emblem of the candidacy, since Goddess Athena planted the olive tree in Attica soil, it has represented peace and wisdom. It became the symbol of the Olympic Truce during the ancient Olympic Games, when all wars were in pause. A crown of olive leaves was the prize for the winner in the Olympic Games. It was the symbol of fair play. The olive tree is also a point of reference for Mediterranean countries and people throughout the centuries.
Greece advocates dialogue, diplomacy and democracy. It will focus on six main priorities:
(1) Peaceful settlement of disputes,
(2) Respect for International Law and the rules and principles of the United Nations Charter,
(3) Women, Peace and Security,
(4) Climate change and Security,
(5) Maritime security, and, last but not least,
(6) Children in armed conflict.
The information brochure with the basic pillars of the Greek candidacy can be found here.
