Turkey seeks new UN Security Council term

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey says it will bid for a new term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement says Wednesday the country is eyeing a seat for the 2015-2016 period.

The statement said Turkey was seeking a new term to "provide significant added value to global peace and security in an era of critical and rapid change" in the Middle East and the Mediterranean.

Turkey, NATO's largest Muslim voice, held a non-permanent seat for two years between 2009 and 2010, during which it voted against a U.S.-backed measure to impose new sanctions on Iran because of its disputed nuclear program.

The country has contributed to U.N. peacekeeping efforts and has mediated peace talks in the past, including between Syria and Israel.