--- SEARCH ---
WEATHER
CHINA
INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS
CULTURE
GOVERNMENT
SCI-TECH
ENVIRONMENT
SPORTS
LIFE
PEOPLE
TRAVEL
WEEKLY REVIEW
Film in China
War on Poverty
Learning Chinese
Learn to Cook Chinese Dishes
Exchange Rates
Hotel Service
China Calendar
Telephone and
Postal Codes


Hot Links
China Development Gateway
Chinese Embassies

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the UN
Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland
Foreign Affairs College
G-4 Circulate Draft Resolution on SC Reforms

Germany, Japan, Brazil and India, which have campaigned jointly for permanent seats in the UN Security Council, circulated Monday a draft General Assembly resolution calling for an increase of six permanent seats in the council.

The draft, a copy of which was obtained by Xinhua, stipulates that the six new permanent seats would be divided equally among the four regions -- Asia, Africa, Western Europe as well as Latin America and the Caribbean.

The draft also proposes adding four elected non-permanent seats to the council, with each from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe as well as Latin America and the Caribbean region.

The council, the only UN organ whose resolutions are legally binding for the 191 UN member states, is currently composed of five permanent members with veto power and 10 elected members with two-year terms.

The draft does not contain a date for a vote on it in the General Assembly, nor does it mention any candidate countries for the proposed new permanent seats.

Under the draft, countries aspiring to be a permanent member in the council should submit their candidatures to the president of the General Assembly after the adoption of the resolution, and then the assembly would select the six new permanent members through a secret ballot.

If the number of states having obtained the required majority fall short of the number of seats allocated for permanent membership, new rounds of balloting will be conducted for the remaining seats until six states obtain the required majority to occupy the six seats, the draft says.

Germany, Japan, Brazil and India, known as the G-4, formally introduced the draft at a gathering of UN member states in the German mission to the world body later Monday afternoon.

In a sign that the G-4 has not yet given up their demand for the veto power, the draft says the new permanent powers should have the same responsibilities and obligations as the current permanent members.

The expansion of the Security Council has been one of the highest-profile part of the UN reforms, with the UN member states sharply divided over whether to expand the permanent membership.

Pakistan, Italy, South Korea and some other countries have been strongly opposed to an increase of the permanent seats on the grounds that such a change would further undermine the effectiveness of the council.

These countries, together with three existing permanent members-- Russia, China and the United States, have called for a "broad consensus" on the council's enlargement. They warned that forcing any resolution on the council reform through the General Assembly would cause divisions among the UN member states.

Italy presented a proposal to General Assembly President Jean Ping in early May, under which the council's seats would be expanded from 15 to 25, with an increase of 10 elected members.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2005)

Pakistan Favors Consensus in UN Reform
UNSC Permanent Five Hold Consultation in Beijing
Nations Lobby for Their Version of UN Reform
Timetable for UNSC Expansion Opposed
Four Bidders Propose Vote on UNSC Expansion
Annan Unveils Sweeping UN Reforms
4 Nations Bid for UN Security Council Seats
Print This Page
|
Email This Page
About Us SiteMap Feedback
Copyright © China Internet Information Center. All Rights Reserved
E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-68326688