US warns UNSC aspirant nations not to seek veto
US officials have warned Japan, India, Gemany and Brazil that they will not support their bids to join the UN Security Council unless they agree not to ask for veto power, the New York Times reported yesterday, citing senior diplomats and administration officials.
The current five permanent Security Council members -- the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia, the victors of World War II -- each have veto power in council decisions dating back to the creation of the United Nations in September 1945.
Officials in the administration of President George W. Bush fear that giving the new members veto power might paralyse the Security Council, the Times reported.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "The Security Council is not like an aircraft, with first class, business and economy seats," Ryozo Kato, Japan's ambassador to the United States, told the newspaper.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has offered two models for Security Council reform.
Comments