Manama: Kuwait is anticipating the support of the international community as it seeks to win a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

“Kuwait looks forward to the support of UN member states for its candidacy for a non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2018-19 at the elections to be held in June 2017,” Prime Minister Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah said in a statement upon arriving in New York City late on Saturday.

The Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the UN. The council is made up of 15 members, making it the smallest of the principal organs. The group of 15 includes five non-elected, permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK and US) and ten countries that are elected and hold staggered two-year terms, which are not immediately renewable. Each year the General Assembly elects five new non-permanent members to the Security Council.

Under the election’s Rules of Procedure, there is an unlimited number of voting rounds until one candidate obtains a two-thirds majority of the present members.

According to Chapters 5-7 of the UN Charter, the council bears primary responsibility for the “maintenance of international peace and security.”

Shaikh Jaber will be representing the Emir Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah at the 71st UN General Assembly (UNGA).

In his statement, the Kuwaiti prime minister called on the international community to live up to its “historic responsibility” to preserve international peace, security and stability, as well as step up the fight against terrorism.

“Kuwait is keen on continuing its support to the UN so it can play an active role in helping many countries overcome crises and provide decent live for their people,” he was quoted as saying by the Kuwaiti News Agency (Kuna).

He added that Kuwait actively contributed to UN efforts to address international disasters and crises, as well as to development in many countries.

He stressed on the UN’s major responsibility vis-a-vis uncertainties and acts of terrorism that threatened security and stability in the Middle East.

Shaikh Jaber said that the UN General Assembly session this month was highly significant amid the increase of tension in several areas around the world.