Accra, Dec. 30, GNA - The Republic of Korea has welcomed Ghana's election onto the Security Council of the United Nations as a non-permanent member saying it offers an opportunity to bring the country's experience in international diplomacy to bear on matters within the purview of the Council.

The Republic of Korea said Ghana had over the years demonstrated immense knowledge and effort in addressing issues and it would work closely with Ghana and other countries on the Council to ensure that international peace and security were protected and maintained. Ghana's election onto the Security Council is for 2006-2007. Mr Lee Sang-Pal, the Korean Ambassador to Ghana, made the remarks when he presented computers and other office equipment worth 60,000 dollars to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.

He described the gesture, as his country's token of friendship with the people of Ghana, saying that 2005 had been a meaningful year in the relationship between the two countries.

"It was the period during which Korea supported the Buipe-Bolgatanga Petroleum Pipeline Project under the Korean Government's Economic Development and Cooperation Fund loan of 38 million dollars."

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Ghana would use her position on the Security Council to show that democracy had come of age in the country.

"We would stand firmly on the side of reason, good governance and democracy in advancing the basic principles of development," he said. He pledged that Ghana would continue to promote peace and freedom as the cornerstone of democratic accountability.