CAIRO: Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Friday that Egypt has always been among the first supporters of a demand to enlarge the African membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), according to reports from the State Information Service.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said Africa should have permanent representation on the international council, aside from the already existing temporary members. The would-be permanent members must have the same veto right as the current UNSC members, Aboul Gheit added.
Africa is the continent with the lowest representation on the council – both in terms of the number of seats as well as the status associated with those seats. None of the African representatives holds the veto right. Consequently, African nations are seeking a better position at the UNSC.
The reports also included instances of Egyptian participation in African affairs. Aboul Gheit instructed the Egyptian Fund for Technical Cooperation with Africa to send two aid consignments to Guinea. The first would include food-stuff and the second medicine.
Aboul Gheit also hailed efforts exerted by African parties to restore stability to the African country, a Foreign Ministry statement said on Friday. He also welcomed the appointment of the new Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate who would help ending the general strike and achieve stability.
Clashes erupted in the West African country of Guinea to protest against a newly-named prime minister.
