Thursday, July 28 2005 11:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Japan, the second largest contributor to the United Nations (UN), has warned that it would face intense domestic pressure to cut its grant to the world body, if it fails to secure a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Japan along with India, Germany and Brazil is bidding for a permanent seat in an expanded Security Council.

Though under pressure from various groups in the country, the Japanese Government has not yet decided what to do if its bid for the Council fails, its Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura told reporters here yesterday (July 27, 2005).

He recalled a recent town hall meeting in Japan where a speaker had said that Tokyo should reduce its contribution if it is unable to win the permanent seat.

If Japan is not able to become a permanent member, Machimura said, "That kind of thinking will rapidly proliferate. That is something I can easily anticipate. But the Japanese Government has not yet made any decision of what may transpire. We believe we can be permanent members of the Security Council."

Asked whether it was an implied threat to cut the contribution, he repeated the same answer.

Japan contributes 17 per cent of the world body's $1.2 billion annual budget and is the second largest contributor after the United States, which pays 22 per cent. Besides, Tokyo also contributes to various UN agencies.

Rejecting the allegation made by Italy that G-4 were using unethical methods and putting financial pressure on member States to force them to vote for their resolution, he said it is just a negative campaigning.