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TOKYO : Japan will again bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2008 after Mongolia agreed to stand down as a candidate from Asia, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday.
Japan's two-year tenure as a non-permanent member ended on December 31 and China has blocked Tokyo's longstanding goal of winning a permanent seat on the powerful body.
Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar, scheduled to visit Japan at the end of February, told Abe by telephone that his government would withdraw from the race for one of two non-permanent seats for Asian countries in 2009-2010, officials said.
"In response to Mongolia's goodwill, we wish to fulfil our responsibility," Abe told reporters after the telephone talks.
"We really feel grateful that Mongolia has made such a decision based on the relations of friendship and trust with Japan," Abe said.
"I want to offer sincere thanks for the president's leadership and to the Mongolian people."
Japan has placed top diplomatic priority for decades on winning a permanent seat on the Security Council, whose five members reflect the dynamics of World War II.
Japan jointly campaigned for permanent seats with Brazil, Germany and India. But China, the only Asian country with a veto-wielding permanent seat, scuttled Japan's bid in 2005, accusing it of not atoning for past aggression.
Abe, who became prime minister last September with a drive to build an "assertive" nation, said: "It makes a big difference being on the council because otherwise you cannot make any statement or learn about what has been discussed."
As a chair of the council, Japan played a key role in forging a resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea's nuclear test last year.
"The resolution was adopted as Japan took the leadership," Abe said.
Each year, the UN General Assembly elects half of the 10 non-permanent seats on the council to a two-year term. No country can serve consecutive terms. Each regional group names candidates.
Iran, which is a diplomatic pariah for many countries, has also expressed interest in the 2008 race for Asia's non-permanent seat to replace Indonesia.
Qatar currently has Asia's other seat.
Japan, the world's second largest economy, has held a non-permanent seat nine times. - AFP/de
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