No Veto power for new Security Council members: Annan
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk Report

NEW DELHI (India): UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said on Thursday that P-5 countries will not accept the demand for veto powers made by India and other aspiring members for permanent seats.

However, the changes in the options for expansion of UN Security Council cannot be ruled out, said the visiting UN Secretary General while addressing a press conference here.

Wrapping up his three-day visit to India, Kofi Annan remained non-committal towards India’s claim for permanent membership of an enlarged Security Council.

UN Secretary General said “intense” discussions were taking place among member States on the two options proposed by him for expansion of the Security Council.

While the first option provides for six new permanent seats with no veto and three new two-year term non-permanent seats divided among major regional areas, the second one entails no new permanent seats but proposes a new category of eight four-year renewable-term seats and one new two-year non-permanent seat.

“I cannot as Secretary General have a preference for any of the options or express an opinion on which individual country or countries should be members of the Security Council,” Annan said

To a question as if there can be amendments to these options, Kofi Annan said “modifications of the proposals cannot be ruled out” and it was upto the members to decide on it.

He expressed that at the UN, consensus meant unanimity and it was difficult to get each of the 191 members to agree on the options for Security Council expansion.

Status Quo

Hence, he was for encouraging 'broad agreement' on either of the options so that a decision was taken, not deferred, Annan added. On veto rights, he said though many want removal of the exclusive rights of the P-5 in this regard, it was not possible to do so. So, status quo has to be kept.

UN Secretary General observed it was more important to have “effective” representation to make the Security Council more broadly representative of the international community as a whole taking into account current geo-political realities.

To a question whether he favoured his successor to the top UN post to be from Asia, Annan said the Secretary General is elected on a rotational basis. “There is a general sense that next time it will be from Asia,” he said adding, already there was a candidate from Thailand in the race.

Indo-Pakistan Relations

Lauding positive development in Indo-Pak relations, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan Thursday said discussions could be held with the two countries on the role of UN military observers stationed on either side of the Line of Control.

“We are extremely pleased that India and Pakistan are making steady and truly remarkable progress in their bilateral dialogue,” he said continuing the UN presence was all part of these efforts.

“Obviously, we need to discuss with parties concerned as the developments evolve on how we handle our presence and role of observers and what it should be,” he said.

Annan also appreciated India and China for forging a strategic partnership, which he observed would have a “salutary effect” on large parts of the world.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai has declared his candidacy and has the backing of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Of Nuclear Testing

Meanwhile, Annan urged India to sign an international treaty banning nuclear testing and support another that puts a cap on the production of fissile material needed for making atomic weapons.

In a public speech in New Delhi, Annan said he was pleased the international community had managed to successfully conclude a convention on nuclear terrorism earlier this month.

'I hope India will set an example by rapidly adhering to that convention, and will also soon sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, as well as giving active support to the negotiations on a fissile material cut-off treaty,'Annan said.●