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Venezuela, Guatemala Face UN Vote for Security Council Seat
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&c=658409&l=1009&ctl=146CB87:A6F02AD83191E1602A1C33DCB63C8AF19574F7DCC14957C0 Some UN officials
say it is the most tightly-contested Council race for a non-permanent
seat since the Cold War





U.N. Security CouncilVenezuela and Guatemala face a U.N. General
Assembly vote Monday for a non-permanent seat on the prestigious
Security Council.

The two nations are competing for the Latin American seat being
vacated by Argentina.  Some U.N. officials say it is the most
tightly-contested Council race for a non-permanent seat since the Cold
War.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a sharp critic of the Bush
administration, has traveled to numerous countries to rally support
for his bid for the rotating two-year seat. 

The United States has put its support behind Guatemala.

Western diplomats have expressed concern that Venezuela will use a
seat on the Security Council to challenge the United States in the
world body.

If neither Venezuela nor Guatemala is able to muster a two-thirds
majority, Latin American nations could decide to nominate another
candidate.

The Security Council has 15 seats, including five permanent members
with veto power - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and
France.  The 10 non-permanent seats are filled by the U.N.'s regional
groups for two-year terms.


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