OTTAWA (AFP) — Canada may abandon its bid for a two-year-term seat on the UN Security Council in 2010-2012, to avoid potential embarrassment in the event it fails, a local paper said Wednesday.
Canada has previously won election to the UN Security Council every 10 years, and said in 2001 it would seek another two-year term when the election is held in 2010.
But, according to the daily Globe and Mail, Canadian diplomats harbor "serious concerns the bid might fail."
The government is expected to decide this week whether to brave potential embarrassment or quit the race against Portugal and favorite Germany for one of two regional spots on the UN's most powerful body.
"My cabinet has not made a decision on the campaign," Prime Minister Stephen Harper told parliament, adding such a decision now is "premature."
Neil Hrab, a spokesman for Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier declined to comment.
According to the Globe and Mail, Germany is a shoo-in for one of two seats up for grabs. It has long sought a permanent Security Council seat and is a major contributor to the UN's budget.
Meanwhile, Portugal is said to have gained much support for its bid from smaller nations opposed to a UN system that arguably favors bigger countries.
The Security Council has 15 seats, including five permanent seats held by the United States, China, Russia, Britain and France, and 10 rotating seats elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.
Canada's bid is in a regional category with countries from Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Observers told the Globe and Mail, Canada's recent foreign policy shifts -- firming its pro-Israel position, being too close to Washington, concentrating its international aid, and lack of movement on climate change -- have made it harder to win broad international support for its bid.
During question period, opposition Liberals suggested the ruling Conservatives had over the past two years "diminished our place at the United Nations" and accused the government of "turning its back on the world."
"Canadians don't want to see their influence being diminished in this world because of the narrow ideology of this prime minister," Liberal leader Stephane Dion said.
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