Thursday, May 19 2005 12:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The United States today (May 19, 2005) said it was ready to consider the proposal made by India and three other Group of Four (G-4) countries, seeking permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), but so far it has endorsed only Japan's bid.

In the wake of a draft resolution circulated by India, Brazil, Germany and Japan - known as G-4 - calling for expansion of the UNSC from 15 to 25 members, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Washington has so far not formulated its decision on the issue and it was imperative to move forward on the basis of a "broad consensus".

"As far as the Security Council itself, let me remind you, the only nation that we have endorsed is Japan. Our support does not indicate support for any particular option and we'll consider the various proposals that are out there, including the so-called 'Group of Four' that's been discussed," he said.

"But we've made no further judgements about who else should or should not be added to the Council, nor have we taken a position pro or con on any of these specific proposals at this point," he added.

He said the US will discuss various proposals put forward by countries and groupings on the issue.

"As we've said, we're talking about all the various proposals that are out there. There are other groups of countries that are putting forth ideas. We'll discuss these with the different countries. We'll discuss these with others. But at this point we've not taken a position on any of these particular proposal," he added.

Asked whether the proposal put forward by G-4 should be discussed or debated in the form of a resolution before the UN General Assembly, Boucher said it was for the four countries to decide.

"I think they're in the process of consultations at this point. They haven't formally put anything forward," he said.

Asserting that the goal of any reform in the Security Council has to be to enhance its effectiveness, he said, "We think it's important to move forward on the basis of broad consensus when it comes to the Council."

"The goal has to be to make the Security Council a more effective instrument for these times, and taking into account sort of the changes over the years may be part of that. But it is part of that. There are a lot of questions that enter into this and I think our focus will remain on effectiveness," he said when asked whether the US supports enlargement of the Security Council, Boucher said.

"...If we find that some of these proposals can make the Council more effective, then certainly that's where we'll throw our support. But at this point we haven't taken a position pro or con for any particular proposal," he said.

He said UN reforms were much more than the Security Council and there are other issues like management reform, making the world body more transparent and accountable, as well as reform of other bodies such as the Commission on Human Rights.

"We are prepared to move forward in areas where there is a broad consensus. There are also areas where agreement won't be reached quickly and easily and we'll work with others to achieve more difficult changes," he said.