August 1, 2002	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21,1423

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UNITED NATIONS, July 31: With endorsement from the Asian group at the United Nations, Pakistan is poised to become a member of the powerful UN Security Council (UNSC) in January for a two-year period, diplomats said here on Monday.

The elections to the Council are scheduled to take place on Oct 10 and other nations in the running are Spain, Chile, Germany and Angola.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, Munir Akram, said: “ Pakistan is extraordinarily placed this year by the unequivocal endorsement from the Asian group as its only candidate. There is general expectation that Pakistan will be elected on Oct 10 when the UN General Assembly will elect the non-permanent council members.”

He said Pakistan mission was preparing to discharge its duties as the Security Council member for a period of two years.

Last time Pakistan served for a two-year period on the Council in 1993-1995. At that time Pakistan’s permanent representative was Jamsheed Marker, who went on to become UN Secretary General’s special envoy to East Timor.