Beijing, Washington to block G-4's UN plan
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-06 07:14

UNITED NATIONS: China and the United States have agreed to block a plan by Japan, Germany, Brazil and India to expand the UN Security Council, Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya said on Thursday.

Wang said the consensus was reached early this week during a meeting with new US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton, who has been making courtesy calls on his counterparts at the world body after assuming office.

The four countries, known as the G-4 or Group of Four, are aspiring to become permanent members of an enlarged Security Council.

"We have shared objectives for the UN reform and we have shared objectives for the Security Council expansion. But definitely both China and the US see that the process now being pushed by the G-4 is damaging the prospects of UN reform," Wang told reporters.

He said the two countries would work "in parallel" and step up efforts all over the world to prevent the G-4 from getting two-thirds votes in the General Assembly required for the adoption of its expansion proposal. An assembly resolution needs the backing of two-thirds of the 191 UN member states.

Wang said a main common objective for the US and China regarding the Security Council expansion is to prevent the UN membership from being divided and ensuring the council's effectiveness is not undermined.

He stressed that the G-4's proposal could damage the authority and effectiveness of the 15-nation council.

Under a draft resolution tabled by the G-4 in early July, the number of seats on the council would be increased to 25 by adding six permanent seats and four non-permanent seats. It also provides for a 15-year freeze on the exercise of veto power by the new permanent members.

The G-4 has been pushing for a vote by the General Assembly on its resolution before September. The group has tried to persuade the 53-nation African Union (AU) to support its draft.

The AU also introduced a resolution on the council enlargement. It proposes expanding the council to 26 members - adding six permanent seats with veto power and five non-permanent elected seats.

At an African Union summit on Thursday, it emphasized that "Africa's case is to get two permanent seats on the UN Security Council with veto power."

An Egyptian diplomat said the representatives from 53 African nations voted in favour of sticking to the group's original decision not to accept any Security Council reforms that did not expand the number of seats capable of vetoing resolutions.

Commenting on the outcome of the AU summit, Wang said it indicated clearly that the G-4 proposal is unpopular with the UN membership and cannot garner the support of a two-thirds majority.

If the G-4 puts its draft resolution to a vote without the support of African nations, they would certainly be defeated, he warned.

XINHUA

(China Daily 08/06/2005 page1)

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