Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

U.S. Rejects Latest Proposal To Expand UN Security Council

13 July 2005 (RFE/RL) -- The United States has come out in opposition to the draft resolution by Brazil, Germany, Japan, and India to expand the 15-member United Nations Security Council to 25 seats.

Shirin Tahir-Kheli, a U.S. State Department adviser on UN reform, on 12 July urged the UN General Assembly to reject the proposal, which she said does not have wide support and would further divide UN member states.

She said the U.S. Senate would be likely to veto the proposal even if it received the approval of the General Assembly.

Countries including Russia, Pakistan, China, and Canada also oppose the proposal from Brazil, Germany, Japan, and India - but the proposal has been supported by France and Britain.

Under the submitted draft, Brazil, Germany, Japan, and India would each receive permanent, but non-veto-holding, seats on the Security Council.

(Reuters/AP/AFP)

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