Tuesday, May 17 2005 07:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: India and three other countries demanding permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) today (May 17, 2005) circulated a draft resolution, calling for expansion of the Council from 15 to 25 members, with six new entrants having veto powers and four alternating members.

The draft resolution unveiled by India, Brazil, Germany and Japan -known as G4-(Group of Four) said the new entrants should have the "same responsibilities and obligations" as the current permanent members, including veto power over UNSC resolutions, sources said.

The text, circulated to diplomats from more than 70 countries at a meeting here, however, made it clear that the differences over veto power should not be a stumbling block in the way of expansion of the Security Council.

The Council should be expanded to better reflect contemporary world realities, the draft said, a day after New York Times reported that US has signalled it will not support the quest of G4 nations for permanent seats in the UNSC unless they give up their demand for veto power.

The four have decided to move a framework resolution in the UN General Assembly in June, before which they expect to muster required numbers in their favour - two-thirds of the 191 UN members.

Diplomats said there was no dilution in their original stand that new permanent members should have veto powers.

There have been reports that Japan, Germany and Brazil might agree to permanent membership without veto, but India was known to have never wavered from its stand on the issue.

The four today announced a timetable under which they expect the General Assembly to adopt framework resolution in June, elect new permanent members by mid-July and adopt the third resolution to amend the charter within next two weeks, surprising Pakistan and Italy led "United for Consensus" group, which opposes expansion in permanent category.

India, Germany, Brazil and Japan hope to complete the entire process well before the summit of world leaders at the United Nations in mid-September, which will consider Secretary General Kofi Annan's reforms proposals.

All the three resolutions would require two-thirds of majority of members present and voting. After the third resolution is adopted, the most difficult and laborious part would start - ratification of the amendment by two-thirds membership of the General Assembly according to their own legislative procedures.

The presence of more than 70 members, including Britain and France, at the meeting has encouraged the grouping as it shows substantial support among the membership of the United Nations, diplomats said.

The draft resolution circulated would now be discussed with potential cosponsors and it is expected that the process would be completed within next two weeks or so.