Jordan officially presents request to UN seeking Security Council seat that Saudis turned down
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Jordan's foreign ministry says the kingdom has presented a request to the United Nations seeking candidacy for a Security Council seat that Saudi Arabia had turned down.
The Saudis' rejection of the seat — just 24 hours after it was elected — had stunned the world organization.
According to the Jordanian ministry statement Monday, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh telephoned U.N. chief Ban Ki-Moon late Sunday after sending Jordan's "official request" in writing.
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The General Assembly, which voted last month to give Riyadh the seat traditionally reserved for an Arab nation on the council, must formally approve Jordan as a replacement candidate. It's likely to be the only candidate, so Jordan's election is virtually assured.
Since joining the world body in 1955, Jordan has held the seat twice before.