Friday, May 27 2005 12:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Strongly opposing expansion of permanent membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC), Pakistan and Italy led 'Uniting for Consensus' (UFC) group has contended that any such move is "contrary to the UN Charter's principle of sovereign equality" and would jeopardise the proposals to reform the world body in other areas.

In a letter circulated yesterday (May 26, 2005), the group, also known as 'Coffee Club,' criticised the proposal, saying it would provide for permanent presence of 11 States on the Council while "consigning 180 other members to compete for 14 seats" and this would be contrary to the UN Charter's principle of "sovereign equality".

It said, "Offering permanent privileges to additional nations while excluding equally qualified member States will aggravate an inequitable situation created in 1945 for very specific historical reasons."

"If such a divisive proposal is brought to a vote, it would further heighten tensions and erode the universal support of Member States for the United Nations. Such universal support is the basic foundation of the Organization's credibility and legitimacy."

This was the group's first formal response to the proposal of Group of Four (G-4) comprising India, Germany, Japan and Brazil, to increase the permanent membership of the Council to 11 with addition of 6 members and of non-permanent members to 14 from the current 10.

G-4 promptly rejected the various contentions in the letter sent to them by UFC, saying there was nothing new in it and UFC has only reiterated its well-known positions on various issues.