Thursday, April 28 2005 13:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan today (Apr 28, 2005) said changes in the options for expansion of the UN Security Council (UNSC) cannot be ruled out but contended that the P-5 countries will not accept the demand for veto powers made by India and other aspiring members for permanent seats.

Rounding off his three-day visit, Annan was non-committal at a press conference in New Delhi on India's claim for permanent membership of an enlarged Security Council.

"Many countries consider India's aspirations (in this regard) as legitimate," he said and went on to add that "intense" discussions were taking place among member States on the two options proposed by him for expansion of the Security Council.

While the first option provides for six new permanent seats with no veto and three new two-year term non-permanent seats divided among major regional areas, the second one entails no new permanent seats but proposes a new category of eight four-year renewable-term seats and one new two-year non-permanent seat.

"I cannot as Secretary General have a preference for any of the options or express an opinion on which individual country or countries should be members of the Security Council," Annan, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders in New Delhi, said.

Asked whether there can be amendments to these options, Annan said "modifications of the proposals cannot be ruled out" and it was upto the members to decide on it.