Sarkozy pushes for Africa, South America on Security Council

QUEBEC CITY – How can the world’s woes be solved without a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for an African nation, France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday at a summit of French-speaking nations.

“The global financial crisis must be an opportunity to push aside our bad habits and refuse to facilitate them,” Sarkozy said in a speech at the opening of the summit. But, “how can we imagine solving the huge problems of the world when our Security Council does not have a permanent member from Africa …or from South America,” he said.The Security Council is composed of five permanent members – the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain – and 10 non-permanent members.The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms and not eligible for immediate re-election.Some 30 leaders of French-speaking nations are attending the three-day summit of the Francophonie in Quebec City, the cradle of French civilization in the Americas, and the focus is dominated by the world’s financial woes.According to a draft final declaration seen by AFP, the francophone nations will commit to “hold an international summit” to come up with an “urgent and coordinated” response to the crisis.Nampa-AFPBut, “how can we imagine solving the huge problems of the world when our Security Council does not have a permanent member from Africa …or from South America,” he said.The Security Council is composed of five permanent members – the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain – and 10 non-permanent members.The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms and not eligible for immediate re-election.Some 30 leaders of French-speaking nations are attending the three-day summit of the Francophonie in Quebec City, the cradle of French civilization in the Americas, and the focus is dominated by the world’s financial woes.According to a draft final declaration seen by AFP, the francophone nations will commit to “hold an international summit” to come up with an “urgent and coordinated” response to the crisis.Nampa-AFP