Thursday, June 9 2005 08:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: India, Japan, Germany and Brazil have introduced the framework resolution in the United Nations General Assembly seeking expansion of the 15-member UN Security Council (UNSC) by addition of six permanent and four non permanent members.

The resolution provides for the right of veto but says that the new permanent members would not exercise it until question of the extension of the right is decided by review meeting of the Assembly fifteen years after amendment to the Charter expanding the Council goes into force.

More than 160 members of the 191-member Assembly were present when four initiated the process of major reform of the Council yesterday (Jun 8, 2005) to make it more representative of the membership. Among the notable absentees were China and core members of the Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group including Pakistan, Italy and Mexico.

The Group of four (G-4) plan to put their resolution to vote by the end of June, the adoption of which would lead to the introduction of the second resolution giving specific names of the countries for permanent membership. Later, they plan to introduce a third resolution to amend the Charter.

Despite reports that the United States and China calling for delay in the introduction of the resolution, the four, who are seeking permanent membership of the Council, decided to begin the process immediately so that it can be completed by July end, weeks before the summit of the world leaders at the United Nations in mid September.

The members who attended the Assembly meeting did not object to the timeline given by the four. Nor did anyone object to the contents.