Chavez Accuses U.S. of Waging 'Dirty War' Against Venezuela's Bid for Seat on Security Council
President Hugo Chavez on Sunday accused Washington of waging "a dirty war" to keep his country from winning a seat on the U.N. Security Council. The United States is supporting Guatemala in an effort to stop Chavez from winning a seat on council a platform to voice opposition to what he calls Washington's "imperialist" policies. The U.S. has said that Chavez, whose government maintains friendly ties with North Korea and Iran, would be a disruptive force on the 15-member council.
Chavez, a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, has warned that Washington could attempt to drag out Monday's vote for days, weeks or even years if neither candidate garners the required two-thirds majority to win a seat on the council.
"Go forth with the bayonet! Venezuela is going the Security Council," said Chavez, encouraging Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations, Francisco Arias Cardenas, on the eve of the vote.
Both Venezuela and Guatemala say they have a majority of votes in the 192-member General Assembly. If neither side is able to muster the two-thirds majority, however, the 33-nation Latin American group might decide to put up another candidate.
The vote for the rotating seat, one of 10 on council, is a secret ballot, and countries aren't obliged to make known their preference, though much of the Caribbean and South America have voiced support for Venezuela. The 53 countries in the African group are expected to tilt toward Venezuela, while Asia's 54 nations are said to be split.
Guatemala allegedly has the support of Colombia, most of Central America, and Europe.
Chile will abstain Monday in the vote for the non-permanent seat, presidential spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber said Sunday night. He said President Michelle Bachelet decided not to support either Venezuela or Guatemala.
The 10 non-permanent seats on the council are filled by the regional groups for two-year stretches. The other five are occupied by the veto-wielding permanent members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.