Thais, Mongols eye UN Asian seat

Thailand and Mongolia are expected to vie for the non-permanent United Nations Security Council seat allocated to an Asian state for 1985-1986. Thailand has suffered in the past, in the eyes of nonaligned states, from its close association with the United States. But Thailand recently has pursued a more independent, nonaligned foreign policy. Mongolia is closely associated with the Soviet Union and is considered at the UN as an Eastern bloc country. Thailand needs two-thirds of the vote; Mongolia must only muster 50 votes to block Thailand.

Thailand was the first Asian country to recognize the US in 1833.