MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela takes its seat at the UN Security Council replacing Argentina

“Under Chavez’s Bolivarian vision we will accomplish our task of defending the right to peace and sovereignty of the peoples of the world,” claimed Maduro

As of January first Venezuela is holding a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for two years (2015-2016). In such position, the government will have to take a stance on global issues, based on its “multi-center, pluri-polar world” approach.

 The election of Venezuelan to the Security Council took place on October 15 with 181 votes in favor at the UN General Assembly. Caracas is replacing Argentina, which held office until December 31, 2014.

On December 26, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appointed Rafael Ramirez, who was the foreign minister until that date, as the new ambassador to the UN. Ramirez will replace Samuel Moncada, who led since June 2013 the negotiations resulting in the country's non-permanent seat at the UN body for the fifth time in history.

“Under Chávez's Bolivarian vision we will accomplish our task of defending the right to peace and sovereignty of the peoples of the world,” claimed Maduro upon Ramirez’s appointment. His words were in line with the official stance of “facing US imperialism.”

Washington-Caracas tension is doomed to reemerge at the UN Security Council, where the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China hold permanent seats and right of veto to object any proposal made by Venezuela.

“For us, the Security Council will be a platform for action so as to be in line with global affairs,” said outgoing ambassador Moncada.

The Venezuelan government aims at “supporting, along with the Non-Aligned member countries of the Security Council, the draft resolutions drawn up by Russia and China on matters of common interest... such as the risks facing Syria or Libya,” stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an official document.

In fact, in addition to holding a seat at the UN Security Council, Venezuela will chair the Non-Aligned Movement.

Mariano de Alba Uribe, a lawyer, expert in international law, and professor at Monteávila University, has warned that ”in a council where decisions are not made without the consent of its five permanent members, the Republic (of Venezuela) can just hope to deliver its anti-imperialist speech, and partner with China, and Russia when voting. Hence, Venezuela's challenge at the council will be trying to be relevant,” he noted.

Counterterrorism, the renewal of the 14 UN peace keeping operations, the fight against Ebola, the sanctions against Iran or Somalia, or the Ukraine-Russia conflict or the complex Middle East situation are some of the topics in Rafael Ramírez's agenda for 2015.

Since it strongly advocates a multi-polar world, Venezuela's agenda at home and abroad targets decolonization, including Las Malvinas (Falkland Islands) and Puerto Rico, the Sahrawi people's independence; and the acknowledgment of the Palestine State.