India hopes for resolution on UNSC expansion by summer

UNITED NATIONS, MARCH 22 (AGENCIES) India, Brazil, Germany and Japan- seeking permanent seats on an expanded UN Security Council- said they hope the General Assembly will adopt a resolution by summer that will give them seats on the UN's most powerful body.

But Pakistan, Italy and other middle-size countries are still pushing a rival plan to expand the 15-member council.

After 10 years of debate about Security Council reform, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the 191 UN Member states Monday that he wants a decision on council expansion before world leaders meet here in September to hopefully adopt the most sweeping overhaul of the United Nations since it was founded 60 years ago.

A joint statement by India, Brazil, Germany and Japan welcomed Annan's report and said the four countries would work with all member states to reach agreement on council reform based on model A.

This option would add six new permanent members and three non-permanent members. The likely candidates for permanent seats under this plan include Brazil, Germany, India, Japan and two African nations, with South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt the top contenders.
The other would create a new tier of eight semi-permanent members _ two each from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas _ who would serve for four years, subject to renewal, plus one non-permanent seat. This option _ called model B - is supported by Pakistan, Italy, South Korea and other middle-powers.