Vietnam calls UN Security Council membership landmark

"The very large number of votes for Vietnam illustrates the international community's trust in and strong support for Vietnam," said Le Dung, spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Vietnam, a country that was closed to much of the world for decades, was elected unanimously Tuesday to serve as a non-permanent member of the 15-nation Security Council.

Also elected to serve on the UN's highest decision-making body was Libya, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica and Croatia. They begin their two-year terms on January 1.

The Security Council is the most powerful institution within the United Nations. It has the power to impose sanctions and send peacekeepers to trouble spots around the world.

Unlike the five permanent council members - the United States, China, Britain, France and Russia - the non-permanent members do not have veto power.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, in remarks that appeared on a government website, called the vote a landmark achievement for his country. 

"Being a non-permanent member of the UNSC is a chance for us to further heighten the image and position of Vietnam, a country that loves peace and effectively contributes to the mass fight of mankind for peace, independence, prosperity, democracy and social development," he said.

Dung added that Vietnam was making final preparations to join UN peacekeeping efforts, which would be a first for the South-East Asian nation.

"Vietnam supports and is always willing to contribute to the process of comprehensive disarmament and supports the policies to eliminate terrorism by all means," the prime minister said.//DPA