New York: India has opposed the suggestion that the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) be expanded only in the non-permanent category with provision for review after 10 years, calling instead for an increase in membership in both permanent and non-permanent segments.

India, which is not a permanent UNSC member, as well as a large number of other UN member-states have made known their strong opposition to the proposal made in the report of the task force comprising representatives of Bangladesh, Chile, Djibouti and Portugal and constituted by UN General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim.

The report was debated in the Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) this week.

Describing the proposal as just a tactic to scuttle real reforms of the UNSC, India and other nations asked what would change in a decade that would make taking a decision easier then. They called for confronting the issue right now rather than a deferment.

Denying the argument that the draft on the Security Council reforms being prepared by nearly 30 nations including India would hinder reforms, India's UN Ambassador Nirupam Sen warned that if a decision taken to start inter-governmental negotiations cannot be implemented by consensus, then clearly it would have to be implemented by "alternative means".

According to diplomats, those alternative means may include introducing a resolution in the UN General Assembly for expanding the UNSC by adding both permanent and non-permanent members.

Kerim's spokesperson said he was aware of the move and if the nations preparing it felt they have two-thirds majority, they could introduce it in the 192-member General Assembly.

The five permanent members of UNSC are China, France, Russian Federation, Britain and the US. The 10 non-permanent members are rotated every two years.

 

Source : IANS