George W Bush has broached the issue of expansion of the UN Security council and specifically mentioned Japan being 'well qualified' to become a permanent member.
UNITED NATIONS: US President George W Bush has broached the issue of expansion of the UN Security council and specifically mentioned Japan being 'well qualified' to become a permanent member but did not refer to India, which is a strong contender.
Touching upon reforms of Security Council, Bush only mentioned Japan as a country that should have representation in the Council and said in general that 'other nations' should also be considered.
Reforms of the Security Council was one of the issues which Bush highlighted during his address at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
"Some have also called for reform to the structure of the Security Council, including an expansion of its membership. The US is open to this prospect. We believe that Japan is well qualified for permanent membership on the Security Council and that other nations should be considered as well," he said.
India, Japan, Germany and Brazil are strong contenders for permanent seats in the expanded Council.
"The United States will listen to all good ideas and we will support changes to the Security Council as part of broader UN reform," Bush said.
Bush's stand on the Council expansion came on a day when Britain said it is backing India, South Africa, Japan and Brazil for permanent seats.
"We think, very clearly, that the South Africa's of this world, the Japans of this world, the Brazils of this world, the India's of this world, have a very clear claim (for a permanent seat), and we will be arguing for UN reform," Foreign Secretary David Miliband said in an interview to the BBC on Tuesday.
Asked about whether Britain wanted Germany to gain permanent membership, Miliband did not address the question, though a British foreign ministry spokesman later told a foreign news agency "The UK supports Security Council seats for the so-called G4 of Japan, Germany, Brazil and India, and for Africa."
Miliband said that he would give a speech at the UN on Friday focussing on global inequalities, one of which he said was an inequality of power.
"I think it's perfectly legitimate for you to say that Britain is a privileged member of the UN as a result of our membership to the Security Council," he said.
"I think others have got a strong claim to join us there," he added.
The 61st session of the UN General Assembly, which concluded on Sept.17 favoured taking a final decision on expansion of the Security Council by the year end. The 62nd session of the General Assembly is already underway.
In a resolution adopted by consensus and without vote, the 192-member Assembly asked the 62nd session to take into account all options and elements including expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories and greater representation of developing countries including islands and small States.
Diplomats expect intense inter-governmental negotiations to begin almost immediately but whether it is able to reach a decision by the year end would depend on several factors.
One of the options mentioned in the resolution is increase in representation of developed and economies in transition to reflect the contemporary world realities.
The resolution was based on the recommendations of the facilitators appointed by the current Assembly President Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa.
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