Thursday, June 9 2005 07:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Germany, Brazil, India and Japan would forgo their veto rights for at least 15 years if they are accepted as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), according to a draft proposal made public yesterday (Jun 8, 2005).

The countries - nicknamed the G-4 - are lobbying for a permanent position on the UNSC and circulated a revised draft of their proposal, which includes expanding the Council from the current 15 members to 25.

The revised draft, distributed to journalists, is almost identical to an earlier proposal circulated on May 16 calling for six new permanent seats - four for the G-4 and two for unnamed African nations - along with four non-permanent seats.

According to the text the new permanent members "should have the same responsibilities and obligations as the current permanent members".

However "the new permanent members shall not exercise the right of veto" until a review 15 years after the measure is approved, the text read.

The Security Council currently has five members with the right to veto - China, the United States, France, Britain and Russia - as well as 10 non-permanent members.

The G-4 nations plan to put their motion to the General Assembly if they are certain they will get the support of two-thirds of the 191 UN members so that it will be passed.