CAIRO — Egypt is seeking international support for its bid for nonpermanent membership in the UN Security Council, and aims to drum up votes to get the North African seat for 2016-17 in elections due in October 2015.

Egyptian foreign policy circles on the African, Asian, European and Arab levels are taking part in this intense diplomatic campaign. The Foreign Ministry issued a booklet on Cairo’s activities and policies in the areas of international peace and security, outlining Egypt’s role in issues pertaining to the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian one.

The booklet, distributed by Egypt’s representatives during the meetings of the UN General Assembly in September, expresses its support for all UN efforts to establish peace in conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East, and mentions Egypt’s participation in 37 peacekeeping missions with 2,659 Egyptian soldiers and officers.

In addition to Egypt’s role in striving for international peace and security, the campaign also focuses on the development efforts that Egypt continuously calls for through its work under the umbrella of the UN, the African Union (AU) and the Arab League.

Ambassador Badr Abdel Ati, the spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, told Al-Monitor that Egypt deserves the seat at the Security Council. “Cairo has always been an active actor in international efforts related to peace and security — not only on the political level, as we also participated in peacekeeping missions in conflict zones,” he said.

Abdel Ati said Egypt has “clear support from a number of important and influential countries,” without elaborating which ones. He added, “The coming period will witness the launch of several movements to confirm the importance of the Egyptian candidature as well as Egypt’s regional role in achieving UN goals.”

Egypt’s stated intention to run for the UN Security Council comes five months after it resumed its activities in the AU — a year after the African Peace and Security Council suspended Egypt following the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi on July 3, 2013.

Abdel Ati said, “Egypt will present its candidacy to represent North African countries [at the UN] during the upcoming African summit that will be held in June [2015], prior to the Security Council elections.” He stressed, “There is strong support for the candidacy of Egypt from the African group at the UN.”

It is worth noting that Egypt has held a nonpermanent seat at the UN Security Council four times: 1949-50, 1961-62, 1984-85 and 1996-97.

A diplomatic source participating in the campaign who wished not to be named told Al-Monitor, “Our determination and the interest of the Egyptian government for a seat at the Security Council are linked to Egyptian national security, in light of the external threats haunting Egypt, especially the Libyan and Palestinian issues.”

“[President Abdel Fattah al-] Sisi’s administration is attempting to strongly return to the international political scene following the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt’s fight against terrorism, which needs the support of the international community,” he added.

The diplomat said Egypt is among the nations calling for reform of the UN Security Council, adding that Africa deserves a permanent seat.

“We still look forward to reforms to expand the membership in the Security Council. It is unreasonable for the African continent not to be a permanent member in light of its rising importance and growth on the international scene,” he added.

Observers note that Egypt’s success in obtaining this seat would be a major victory for Egyptian diplomacy and enhance Cairo’s relations with regional powers.

Hassan Haridy, Egypt’s former UN ambassador, told Al-Monitor, “Several positive indicators show that it will not be hard to get the seat. The government has now garnered strong international support. Cairo’s presence in the Security Council will add to both the Arab and African dimensions, as all problems that worry Arab countries will be presented, namely the threat of armed jihadist groups to Arab security.”

Haridy ruled out the possibility that “the delayed implementation of the road map and the parliamentary elections — both of which aim to restore the democratic path in Egypt — will affect foreign support for Egypt’s candidacy.”

“There is clear international recognition and support,” he said, adding, “Holding the parliamentary elections before the voting session at the UN General Assembly will surely have a positive impact.”

Egypt’s accession to the UN Security Council remains among the most important political goals for Sisi’s administration. The Egyptian government has been trying to open up to the world and create a new regional and international role, including building strategic alliances to deal with the pressing regional security issues.

Ayah Aman

Contributor, Egypt Pulse

Ayah Aman is an Egyptian journalist for Al-Shorouk specializing in Africa and the Nile Basin, Turkey and Iran, and internal Egyptian social issues. On Twitter: @ayahaman

BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN

The Turkish government got a big slap in the face last week when the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to turn down its application for a Security Council seat. In effect, the international community was rejecting Turkey’s hostile policies both at home and abroad.

Turkey’s new Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had arrogantly predicted securing the prestigious seat for their country. The night before the vote, Cavusoglu had hosted a posh party for UN Ambassadors at the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

After spending several days in New York to lobby personally the UN delegates, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu optimistically told the media: “We think all our nice efforts will, with the grace of God, be reflected onto the ballot tomorrow. Of course, this is a vote and all kinds of results may come out. But, we believe, God permitting, that we will get the result of the work we put in.”

Prime Minister Davutoglu was equally optimistic that Turkey would score a “historic victory.” Just two days before the UN vote, he proudly announced: “If we are elected, and we believe it’s a great possibility, we will be the first country in the world to be elected for a second time, after a five-year break. This shows Turkey’s importance.”

Unfortunately for the Turkish leaders, their expectations did not come true. Despite Cavusoglu’s intensive lobbying efforts and earnest wish for divine intervention, only 60 out of 193 UN General Assembly member states voted for Turkey, while its rival, Spain, received 132 votes, winning a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.

Why did Turkey lose in 2014 more than half the 151 votes it received in its successful bid for a Security Council seat in 2008? Here are the key reasons for Turkey’s failure to get elected this time around:

– The vigorous campaign by a large number of countries against Turkey’s membership: Armenia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Syria, and Saudi Arabia, among others.

– President Erdogan’s ongoing acrimonious feud with powerful Turkish Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, resulting in loss of General Assembly votes for Turkey from several African countries, where Gulen’s followers have an extensive presence. This is a major shift from 2008, when Gulen supporters had secured a large number of votes for Turkey.

– Turkish leaders’ poor judgment of deciding to reapply so soon after getting elected to the Security Council in 2009-2010. Turkey’s reelection would have deprived other countries from serving in that august UN body.

– Davutoglu’s self-aggrandizing neo-Ottoman yearnings had antagonized most Middle Eastern countries, turning his policy of “zero problems with neighbors” into zero neighbors without problems! Pew Research Center’s survey confirms that Turkey’s dismal standing throughout the Middle East has sunk to an all-time low.

– Erdogan’s autocratic rule at home, including the bloody quelling of protests at the Gezi Park, jailing journalists, and blocking Twitter and facebook. His dismissive words, “I don’t care what the international community will say,” had alienated countless people around the world. The vote against Turkey was UN members’ rebuke of Erdogan. Most delegates walked out of the hall during Pres. Erdogan’s pompous speech at the UN General Assembly in September.

– Tense relations with the United States and Western Europe over Turkey’s refusal to support the war against ISIS, and not defending Kurdish civilians who are being massacred by foreign Jihadists at a stone’s throw from the Turkish border. As a result, influential commentators called for Turkey’s expulsion from NATO and rejection of its application for membership in the European Union.

– Displeased with Turkey’s antagonistic stand, Pres. Obama sent a lowly charge d’affaires of the US Embassy in Ankara to attend Erdogan’s presidential inauguration on August 28.

By ignoring all these legitimate reasons for Turkey’s failure to win the Security Council seat, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu falsely attributed his country’s defeat to its reluctance to abandon “its values for the sake of getting more votes.” This ridiculous statement is made by the Foreign Minister of a country that has been pouring millions of dollars into the coffers of tiny island states around the world and poor African countries to buy their UN General Assembly votes.

Finally, the failure to gain a Security Council seat limits Turkey’s ability to exploit the powerful UN body to undermine the worldwide commemorative events next year on the Armenian Genocide Centennial.

Egypt launches campaign for UN Security Council

Why the UN Rejected Turkey’s Bid for a Security Council Seat