Slovenia and Belarus clash over UN Security Council seat

Slovenia's and Belarusian permanent representatives to the UN faced off in a lively exchange in New York on 16 May as they presented their countries' rival bids for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in 2024-25. Both faced accusations about their countries running at the behest of other powers.

Valentin Rybakov said in his opening address that Belarus launched its candidacy in the Eastern European group in 2007, whereas Slovenia decided to join the race only in December 2021, even though it initially intended to run for the 2042-43 period.

Rybakov argued that...