Strong vote gives Japan a Security Council term

Japan has been elected to a nonpermanent seat on the Security Council with the highest support ever, 141 votes in favor, special Monitor correspondent Louis Wiznitzer reports. This indicates Japan's high standing in the esteem of the world community, but also results from the quiet and efficient efforts of its UN ambassador, Masahiro Nisibori. Also elected to the Council were Ireland and Spain, for Europe, and Uganda (which does not even have a government). Latin America's seat, still in dispute, may remain so for some time: Costa Rica's candidacy is challenged by Nicaragua, with Cuba -- having withdrawn its own candidacy -- supporting Nicaragua behind the scenes.