Global Policy Forum

By Evelyn Leopold

Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday urged nations "to calm down" when debating enlargement of the U.N. Security Council, a contentious task he hoped would be resolved in time for a U.N. summit in September. The U.N. General Assembly resumes its debate on Tuesday on a draft resolution submitted by Brazil, Germany, Japan and India that would enlarge the 15-member council by 10 seats. It is the first expansion resolution to come before the Assembly after 12 years of discussion.

But without a compromise with the 53-member African Union, which has a similar proposal, the resolution from the four nations seeking permanent seats has no chance to reach the two-thirds vote needed in the Assembly. A third proposal by some 20 nations would add only 10 nonpermanent seats for varying terms.

Debate over the expansion has drawn some undiplomatic language. Pakistan called the four countries which submitted the resolution "seekers of special privileges and power," while Brazil called arguments to delay "beguiling." Asked whether the debate would derail his other reform proposals, Annan said, "We are at a very early stage, and I think we should calm down and better not get all excited about it."

"These are mature men and women who are dealing with a very serious issue," Annan said. "And I hope no one is going to want to play a "spoiler,' to be blamed for lack of progress."

Annan has put forth an ambitious reform program on development, security, human rights and internal institutions, and he wants more than 170 world leaders to adopt it at a U.N. summit in September. Among his proposals are enlargement of the Security Council, which he says reflects the balance of power in 1945 when the world body was founded. Of the council's current members, five are veto-wielding permanent members -- the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China. Ten other nations rotate in two-year terms.

The United States says a maximum of five new members should be added, but it has not put forward its own draft resolution. China objects to Japan and the entire process, Russia has no clear position and Britain and France support the resolution by the Germany, Japan, Brazil and India, known as the Group of Four or G-4. The United States, Russia and Britain speak on Tuesday. China and France addressed the Assembly on Monday.

The Group of Four want to add 10 new seats to the 15-member council: four permanent seats for themselves, two for African nations, plus another four nonpermanent seats. The African Union wants 11 additional seats, six permanent and five nonpermanent. In addition, the African Union insists on veto rights for all permanent members, whereas the G-4 dropped this demand due to a lack of support. The G-4 measure instead says a decision on the veto should be considered in 15 years.

But no vote is sure. Algeria, for example, which publicly supports the African Union proposal but earlier backed a rival plan, insists no compromise is possible with the G-4. If other North African countries agree, the strategy appears to be to squash all proposals that would add permanent seats to the Security Council.

The first step is to get a framework resolution through the General Assembly by a two-thirds vote, without specifying candidates. The second would be to name candidates. The last step is to change the U.N. Charter through national legislatures. Here the current five permanent council members have veto power.

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