Tuesday, July 5 2005 17:33 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tokyo: Japan today said the G-4 nations, seeking permanent seats in the UN Security Council (UNSC), would work together with African Union on the UNSC expansion plan before presenting it to the General Assembly.

Asked whether Brazil, Germany, India and Japan will try to reconcile its UNSC enlargement proposal with the AU's before presenting it to the General Assembly later this month, Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said "Yes, we Will, We're not moving in separate directions," he was quoted as saying by Kyodo news agency.

Machimura said he and his counterparts from the three other countries will talk on the phone after the 53 members of the AU decide on their position on enlarging the U.N. Security Council at its summit, which is under way in Libya.The AU leaders are expected to discuss a plan their foreign ministers came up to add six countries, two of which would be from Africa, as new permanent Security Council members and five others, including two from Africa, as non permanent members, the agency reported.

The G-4's reform proposal is in sync with that of the AU foreign ministers on the idea that six countries should be allowed into the council as new permanent members and two out of the six should represent Africa. But the G-4 seeks to add four countries, one of which would be from Africa, as non permanent members. The G-4 and the AU are also apart on the issue of veto rights to be given to new permanent Security Council members.

The G-4 proposes that veto powers for the new permanent members be frozen for 15 years. The AU foreign ministers insist the new members be given veto rights, it said.