The Hindu : International : U.S. rejects G-4 proposal

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 17, 2005

International

International

U.S. rejects G-4 proposal

Modest expansion of Council preferred

WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday favoured adding "two or so" permanent members, including Japan, to the United Nations Security Council but virtually rejected the proposal of India and three other countries to give up veto power for 15 years in return for their induction in the Council.

U.S. Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns told reporters here that "we will likely support adding two or so permanent members to the Security Council."

He did not indicate his country's preference for a country other than Japan for inclusion in the Council but said "the United States wants a modest expansion of the Council."

Mr. Burns said the U.S. opposed giving veto powers to the newcomers, saying the privilege should be reserved for the current five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.

India, Japan, Germany and Brazil, nicknamed the Coffee Club, had originally sought veto power as well if they are admitted as permanent members but in a revised draft proposal they said they would not demand veto for 15 years but would seek expansion of the Council from 15 to 25 members.

Mr. Burns said however the proposal by the Group of Four "is not very digestable. We think that it is very important that the Security Council enlargement should not be confined to debate on which part of the world should be represented."

— PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International