Thursday, August 11 2005 13:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has asked member states to overcome their differences over expansion of the Security Council by the year-end, giving more time to members to resolve the contentious issue.

"If they are not able to resolve it before the September summit, the issue is not going to die; they will have to pursue it and I hope resolve it before we all go away for Christmas," he told reporters yesterday (Aug 10, 2005).

The 191 UN member states are deadlocked over the issue of reforms in the world body.

The vast majority of member States, he said, want to see a Council reform but unable to agree on the option or formula.

"I am still hopeful that they will reform the Council. I think the reform of the Council is long overdue," he added, stressing that the reform of the United Nations would be incomplete without expansion of the Council.

"So, I would urge member States to engage with each other and find a solution to this issue as soon as possible," he said.

As Annan put it, all member States want the expansion of the Council to reflect realities of the 21st century rather the end of the Second World War but national and regional rivalries have made it impossible to get the requisite majority for any one proposal.

India, Japan, Germany and Brazil, comprising G-4 and strong contenders for permanent seats, have proposed addition of six permanent members and four non-permanent members to take the strength of the Council to 25.

G-4's proposal has allocated two permanent seats to the Security Council to Africa but African Union is finding it difficult to select the candidates with several countries, including Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt, fighting for the two slots.

Any group single-handedly cannot get the requisite two-thirds majority needed in the 191-member Assembly and diplomats do not give much chance of any two groups coming together before the summit.

African Union seeks two permanent seats

African Union also seeks two permanent seats for itself but wants them with veto power which is opposed by a majority of the member States. G-4's proposal accepts veto in principle but defers it exercise by new members by 15 years when the Assembly would revisit the issue.

The third proposal is of Pakistan and Italy led 'Uniting for Consensus' group, which wants expansion only in the non-permanent category. The United States wants to limit the number of members to around 20 and does not want more two new permanent members, including Japan.

G-4-Au effort to put up a joint resolution, which would have had the possibility of getting two-thirds majority, failed even though the two are still talking.

Assembly President Jean Ping is also making efforts to bring about a consensus and diplomats say that some member States are proposing creating a new category of non permanent members with a ten year renewable terms.

Currently ten non-permanent members are elected for two years and they cannot seek re-election immediately after their retirement.