France’s Chirac calls for action on enlarging UN Security Council

PARIS – French President Jacques Chirac said yesterday the world had delayed for too long an expansion of the UN Security Council, backing the inclusion on the key body of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan as permanent members.

“To take up the new challenges of collective security, to guarantee peace, the world needs a strong Security Council that better reflects today’s realities and balances,” the president told an annual gathering of French ambassadors based around the world. “It is time to go ahead with the enlargement, too long delayed, of this essential grouping.The proposals presented by Germany, Brazil, India and Japan meet the requirements of efficiency and of representation of different regions, notably Africa.”The 15-seat Security Council has only five permanent members with veto powers: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.A proposal by the by so-called G4 – Brazil, Germany, India and Japan – would boost council membership to 25, with six new permanent non-veto-wielding seats – one for each of the so-called G4 members and two for Africa – and four non-permanent seats.However the G4 plan is strongly opposed by two permanent members, China and the United States, and has also failed to secure the support of the 53-nation African Union.Chirac called for the reform to be passed by the time of a UN summit that is due to take place in New York from September 14-16 or failing that by the end of this year.- Nampa-AFP”It is time to go ahead with the enlargement, too long delayed, of this essential grouping.The proposals presented by Germany, Brazil, India and Japan meet the requirements of efficiency and of representation of different regions, notably Africa.”The 15-seat Security Council has only five permanent members with veto powers: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.A proposal by the by so-called G4 – Brazil, Germany, India and Japan – would boost council membership to 25, with six new permanent non-veto-wielding seats – one for each of the so-called G4 members and two for Africa – and four non-permanent seats.However the G4 plan is strongly opposed by two permanent members, China and the United States, and has also failed to secure the support of the 53-nation African Union.Chirac called for the reform to be passed by the time of a UN summit that is due to take place in New York from September 14-16 or failing that by the end of this year.- Nampa-AFP