Russia wants UN Security Council expansion by common consent - deputy FM

NEW DELHI, September 16. /TASS/. Russia believes it is necessary to expand the United Nations Security Council by common consent among its member states, Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Wednesday. "Russia acknowledges the need to expand the UN Security Council given that a whole range of regions and continents, primarily Asia, Africa and Latin America, are not represented in this structure," Gatilov told TASS. "We consider it would be certainly reasonable to resolve this problem. But it should be solved through reaching common consent among its member states to this or that variant of Security Council expansion." The diplomat explained that "the issue has been under discussion at the United Nations for 16 years", noting ongoing debates not only on the council’s expansion but also on UN reform in general. "Of course, the idea of expanding Security Council membership attaches particular attention since it is the council that bears responsibility for maintaining peace and security, assesses the situation surrounding acute regional conflicts, takes relevant decisions and is regarded as one the UN’s central bodies," Gatilov said. He recalled that there were at least two approaches towards the council's expansion. The most discussed proposal is sponsored by Germany, Japan, India and Brazil - the so-called Group of Four (G4) nations aspiring to permanent membership. This plan would expand the council from 15 to 25 members by adding six permanent members without veto power - one for each of the G4 nations and two for Africa - and four non-permanent seats elected for two-year terms. Another proposal, advanced by the Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group, calls for adding 10 non-permanent members, who can be re-elected. Argentina, Italy and Pakistan are among the most prominent supporters of this plan. Both groups want to add 10 more seats to the 15-member council, "but there is no agreement among member states so far", Gatilov said, adding that discussions were continuing. He said Russia "will be ready to support any variant of Security Council expansion that will be approved by an overwhelming majority of member states", noting that a two-thirds majority of votes, traditionally required for any council reform, was not enough. This was a sensitive and important issue for all members of the UN, he said. "We hope our partners will realise the importance and complexity of this problem, and no state will be forcing a decision during the current UN session," Gatilov added. Read more