Tuesday, May 17 2005 17:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: In a major setback to India's quest for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, China today (May 17, 2005) criticised the G-4 countries for circulating a draft resolution, which it said will "fuel conflict" and "undermine" the reform process of the world body.

"So far we have found that there is still a great gap between the core aspects of this draft and the positions of various Countries, including China,"

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said that when asked to comment on the draft resolution circulated by the G-4 countries, India, Germany, Japan and Brazil, at a meeting at the UN. "So long as various parties have severe differences over the concrete reform plan, to bring about a draft hastily will only fuel conflict and undermine the reform programme of the UN," he said.

"The Chinese side hopes that all parties can start from the overall and long-term interests of member States and according to the purpose of the UN charter, conduct extensive consultations so as to bring about consensus of all parties," Kong said.

The G-4 countries demanding permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council circulated the draft resolution to diplomats from more than 70 countries at a meeting at the United Nations, calling for expansion of the Council from 15 to 25 members, with six new entrants having veto powers and four alternating members.

Kong also noted that China, one of the five veto-wielding members of the UNSC, has always supported the Security Council reform. Kong said that the reform should help the UN in three ways: it should enhance the authority and effectiveness of the Council, priority must be given to increasing developing countries' representation so that small and medium-sized nations can have more chances of participating in decision making of the UNSC.

It should also help to stick to the principle of "original balance" to incorporate various cultures and civilisations.

"The reform of the UNSC bears on the future of the UN and also on immediate interests of various countries. We should conduct democratic and thorough discussions to make decisions on the basis of consultations and consensus," Kong said.

Meanwhile, a senior Chinese official has warned that lack of "broad consensus" on the reform of the United Nations would derail attempts to revitalise the world body.

Calling for "broad consensus" on the UN reform, State councillor Tang Jiaxuan said that negotiations should be deepened on controversial issues. Tang warned the lack of consensus could hinder the reform of other issues as well as the preparation for the UN summit slated for September this year (2005).

Tang made the remarks yesterday (May 16, 2005), while meeting Ali Alatas, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's special envoy, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Alatas, Indonesia's former Foreign Minister, is in Beijing on a two-day visit to coordinate views of Asian nations with respect to the Secretary General's report on the proposed UN reform. Alatas is one of the five envoys Annan named to assist in promoting the comprehensive reform agenda for the UN summit slated for September this year (2005).