Monday, June 13 2005 17:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: As part of the intense diplomatic activity on the G-4 framework resolution on expansion of the UN Security Council, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh today (Jun 13, 2005) spoke to his British and German counterparts.

Singh discussed with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer different aspects of the resolution for which India along with its other G-4 partners-Brazil, Germany and Japan, are seeking support.

Earlier, Singh had spoken to the Foreign Ministers of Japan and Brazil, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said in New Delhi.

All the four G-4 countries have pledged to mutually support each other's candidature for a permanent seat in the Council.

Faced with opposition from several member countries, India and other G-4 countries last week dropped their demand for veto power in an expanded Security Council for 15 years if they are accepted as permanent members of the world body.

In a new compromise draft, they proposed increasing the strength of the Council from 15 to 25 members with six new permanent seats, thus hoping to join the elite group.

The draft keeps the principle of veto for the new permanent members intact but they would not exercise it until the question of its extension has been decided by a review conference after 15 years.

Singh left early this morning with United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi who is on a five-day visit to Russia at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.