July 23, 2000
Leaders from the Group of Eight (G-8) major powers reiterated the need Sunday to reform the powerful U.N. Security Council so the United Nations can meet the challenges of the 21st century.
In a joint communique they said they 'will continue to work for a strengthened, effective and efficient United Nations and remain convinced that reforms of the United Nations, including the Security Council, are indispensable.'
The G-8 leaders said they hope their debate in Okinawa will 'provide a positive contribution' to the U.N. Millennium Summit in New York in September at a time when the U.N. 'rises to the challenges of the new century.'
Currently, there are five permanent Security Council members with veto powers: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. Japan is arguing for the expansion of the council to include it and other countries.
Reform of the council has been contemplated for the past several years by a special task force set up under the U.N. General Assembly.
But no visible progress has been made due to sharp differences over such matters as the size of a possible membership increase and whether to grant new permanent members veto powers.
The leaders from the G-8 nations -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the U.S. -- held their annual summit in Okinawa from Friday to Sunday.
