Guatemala and Venezuela Drop Out, Panama In as Compromise

Panama will be the next member of the UN Security Council. Guatemala and Venezuela had been contesting the non-permanent seat for 47 rounds of voting before each agreeing to bow out. Guatemala had received more votes in almost every round, but never could garner the two-thirds majority required. In the end this is really a win for the US, seeing as all they wanted was to prevent Venezuela from obtaining the position. US – Venezuelan relations are highly strained right now, as seen in President Hugo Chavez’s speech to the UN just over a month ago in which he called President Bush “the devil.” It was this very speech that may have cost Venezuela much needed votes in its bid to obtain the seat. Panama was supposedly chosen as a compromise because “It’s a country that unites South America and Central America,” said Guatemalan Foreign Minister Gert Rosenthal. For information more check out the BBC.