Global Policy Forum

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan moved the target date for expansion of the Security Council from September to December on Wednesday, an acknowledgment that the controversy would not be solved soon.

Annan pushed for expansion of the 15-member council in March, arguing that it reflects the balance of power in 1945. He had wanted a deal by September, when world leaders are to approve new approaches to development, security, human rights and UN management in the 21st century. "If they are not able to resolve it before the summit, the issue is not going to die. They will have to pursue it and I hope resolve it before we all go away for Christmas," Annan told reporters after a luncheon with Security Council members.

His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said Annan hoped for a provision in the summit document committing members to council enlargement by the end of the year, an apparent acknowledgment that the issue was deadlocked over the summer.

The issue is the most contentious in the United Nations, with countries in each region opposing leading contenders to try to get their own chance to sit on the council, which decides on matters of war and peace, sanctions and peacekeepers. Momentum for change was crippled last week after the 53-member African Union refused to join forces with Japan, Germany, Brazil and India's bid for permanent council seats. A vote by the four has been postponed several times, but Japan's UN Ambassador Kenzo Oshima told reporters: "All options are open. We do not rule out any options concerning voting." Annan said "the vast majority" of UN members wanted council reform but were debating over ways to do it. "I am one of those who believes that the reform of the UN will not be complete without the reform of the Security Council," he said.

The council currently has 10 nonpermanent seats, rotating for two-year terms, and five permanent members with veto power—the United States, Russia, Britain, China and France, considered World War II victors. To begin the council expansion, the 191-member General Assembly must approve any change by a two-thirds vote, with each members casting one vote. The last step in the process is a UN Charter change, which must be approved by national legislatures, and here the current five permanent members have veto power.

The United States says it would go for "two or so" more permanent members for a total of five or six additional seats. China opposes Japan and all the plans. Britain and France support the four aspirants and Russia's position is unclear.

The African Union as well as Japan, Germany, Brazil and India want to add at least 10 seats to the 15-member council, six of them permanent ones. But the African Union has insisted on veto rights for new permanent members, which the four aspirants dropped because of lack of support. The AU also wants an extra nonpermanent seat.

A third plan, backed by about 20 nations in the Uniting for Consensus group, including Italy, Canada, Pakistan and Mexico, would add 10 nonpermanent seats for varying periods of time.

And another plan, contemplated by UN General Assembly president Jean Ping, would add five or six seats for 10- or 12-year terms. But this compromise is still in its infancy and has not been widely discussed.

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