The Government of Finland proposed Finland's candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the Security Council for 2013-14 from the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) in 2002. The election will take place in autumn 2012.
The United Nations (UN) founded in 1945 is the only international organisation the membership of which covers almost all the nations of the world and whose field of activities is comprehensive and multi-sectoral. The UN enjoys a high degree of legitimacy.
The international operational environment has changed, which has entailed great challenges to the UN. This change is characterised by the re-forging of the relations between the superpowers, the emergence of new financial and political epicentres of power from amongst developing countries, and, first and foremost, the emergence of new global threats to security. In addition to the UN's traditional tasks related to crisis management, development and human rights, the organisation is expected to seek solutions to issues such as the climate change, the spreading of contagious diseases, terrorism, crime, natural catastrophes and migration which constitute threats to comprehensive security. Global challenges can be addressed only by pursuing close multilateral cooperation; the UN provides the best framework for such cooperation. In today's world, the UN plays a role more important than ever before.
Finland joined the UN in 1955 when the world was in the middle of the Cold War. The membership strengthened the position of such a small country in international politics, and the UN became an important part of Finnish foreign policy. Finland wishes to make the world a safer and fairer place through intensified international cooperation. Finland exerts influence on decision making within the UN primarily through the General Assembly and also by applying for a seat in the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council.
The Security Council is one of the UN's main organs, and according to the UN Charter, primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security is conferred on it. When necessary, the Security Council may authorize the use of force for the restoration of peace or the prevention of a threat to peace. The instruments available to it include diplomacy, political positions, peacekeeping operations, sanctions, and, as a last resort, the use of force. The Security Council also plays a central role in the implementation of the obligation of protection consolidated in the Summit of 2005.
According to the Charter, the Security Council shall be organised so as to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations. The Security Council has five permanent members (Great Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States) and ten non-permanent members. Non-permanent members are elected for a term of two years at a time by an election in the General Assembly. The vote is secret, and winning requires the two thirds of the votes cast. Each autumn, an election is held to elect successors for the 50 % of the non-permanent members who are due for retirement. There is great competition indeed for the seats of non-permanent members, and the number of candidates within electoral categories may exceed the number of seats becoming liberated. Finland belongs to the Western European and Others Group for which two seats are liberated every other year.
Competition for the Security Council's rotating seats is demanding indeed, and winning an election requires, today, active campaigning of several years. Finland's strengths include our solid profile in the UN: during our country's 50-year long membership, Finland has been an actor bigger than its size in this global organisation. Finland has gained the reputation of an active, versatile and reliable actor. Our country has played an active role, i.a. in issues related to human rights and development, in certain sectors of disarmament and in work aiming at strengthening international law. Finland has applied a comprehensive and long-term approach to the activities of the international community, which is strength of Finland's. For example, Finland has participated in UN peacekeeping activities since 1956. Over 50 000 Finnish peacekeepers have served in more than 30 different operations. Finland continues to be a reliable supporter of UN peacekeeping activities, and it has competence in the fields of both military and civilian crisis management. In civilian crisis management, Finland counts as one of the key forerunners in the world.
Finland offers the Security Council her experience and expertise in peacekeeping and peace building. We also wish to contribute to the dialogue on comprehensive security; to us, security is based on economic and social development, so international security cannot be addressed as a phenomenon detached from the two. Finland wishes to carry her responsibility as a member of the international community; our candidacy for a seat in the Security Council is a reflection of this objective.
The Security Council remains an instrument of crucial importance to Finland whether or not we win a seat in it. Finland must remain active and predisposed to thinking ahead in questions that are dealt with by the Security Council and that the European Union, and Finland as a part of it, would wish to be dealt with by it. Finland will promote the unity of the EU countries in the Security Council in cooperation with every Presidency of the Union.
Below please find links to the six UN official language versions of the “Finland to the UN Security Council in 2013–2014” web publication.
Content administrator Unit for UN and General Global Affairs
Updated 10/5/2009