Article from Asahi Shimbun Newspaper
Tokyo, 31 January
Translated and posted to the Internet by Hirofumi Goto, Kyoto University
The President of the General Assembly, Ambassador Razali
Ismail of Malaysia, said in an exclusive interview with the Japanese
newspaper Asahi Shimbun that a comprehensive reform plan outlining
increased membership of the Security Council was being prepared for
presentation by April, and that the final draft of the plan would be
ready for political negotiations by June. Mr Razali, who is also
Chairman of the Working Group on Security Council Reform, emphasized his
intention to bring a conclusion to the Working Group's deliberations
before the end of the current session, even if it meant taking a
two-thirds majority vote.
Mr. Razali said the Working Group, which is already in its fourth year of talks, "should not be seen as a place for endless talk -- that would give the United Nations a bad image," and stressed the importance of a bringing a swift conlusion to the negotiating process.
The three reports which have been produced in the past by the Working Group were all produced on the prerequisite of consensus, and required approval of all member states. Mr Razali, whilst stating that consensus is the rule, admitted that it was "practically impossible" to achieve. He hinted that Charter provisions on important matters, which requires a two-thirds majority vote, might be activated in order to bring a conclusion.
If a two-thirds majority vote is actually taken, opposition by countries such as Italy, which argue against granting Germany permanent member status, could be overridden, giving a boost to the reform process.
More information on 1997 reform developments
