Paroubek: Czech Republic wants non-permanent seat on UN Security Council

Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has said the Czech Republic would like to fill one of the non-permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council in the years 2008 and 2009. Mr Paroubek was speaking in New York as the UN's annual General Assembly got underway; he said the Czech Republic could be awarded the place thanks to its participation in UN peace missions and its Democracy Fund, and the country's active role in defending human rights and the fight against international terrorism. He rejected suggestions membership of the Security Council would be too expensive for the Czech Republic.