New Delhi: India, Japan, Germany and Brazil today (Dec 2, 2004) welcomed the report of a high-level panel appointed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan proposing expansion of the Security Council and other UN reforms needed to face future threats and challenges.

"We support the call for a comprehensive approach. The interconnection of threats to international peace and security is more evident than ever before. In particular, we agree with the panel's view that development and security are closely linked," the four countries said in a joint press statement.

The four nations, which have joined hands to collectively work for UN reforms, said in order to comment on the proposals in detail, they will have to first consider the report thoroughly.

They said the expansion of both categories of Security Council membership, permanent and non-permanent, and the inclusion of developing countries in both, would remedy the Council's structural shortcomings.