NEW DELHI: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan?s report suggesting sweeping reforms has set the stage for intense lobbying among member nations, with India and Pakistan on opposite ends yet again, for a permanent seat on the prestigious Security Council. India, Brazil, Germany and France have rushed to issue a joint statement supporting ?Model A? as the basis for expansion while the ?Coffee Club? ? which includes Pakistan, Turkey and Italy ? has met General Assembly president Jean Ping to insist on ?Model B.? UN undersecretary-general for communications and public information Shashi Tharoor told The Asian Age from New York that Mr Annan was ?pushing for a more representative? body and was keen that a decision be taken before the meeting of the UN General Assembly in September. He said that Mr Annan had deliberately refrained from suggesting a preference for Model A or B as he felt ?it would not be appropriate for him? to do so. The UN Secretary-General has expressed the hope that member nations will reach a consensus, and has spoken of a vote in case they fail to do so. Mr Tharoor said that this ?most important report? by Mr Annan looked at creating a ?more representative, more legitimate? Security Council so that its decisions would have a ?major impact.?
Model A provides for 11 permanent UN Security Council members, although it is still a matter of hectic debate whether the additional members, outside the privileged five, will have veto powers or not. The six new member nations which will find a permanent slot will almost certainly include India, Brazil, Japan and Germany, with a provision for two African nations for which currently South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria are in competition. Under this model, which is being actively promoted by India, there will be an additional three non-permanent members.
Pakistan is a prominent member of the ?Coffee Club,? which opposes this plan as ?unfair? and insists on Model B as the basis for UN Security Council reform.
This provides for eight semi-permanent members for a period of four years, subject to renewal, and one non-permanent seat. The smaller countries are particularly supportive of this model as they feel it is more representative than Model A, which will block the number of available seats, and make only a limited number available for those outside the permanent bloc. Interestingly, according to foreign agency reports, the ambassadors of the Arab League, Angola, Ghana and Morocco accompanied Pakistan, Turkey, Argentina, Columbia, South Korea, Algeria, Kenya, Mexico when they met Jean Ping to lobby for Model B.
India has secured the support of three of the five permanent members for its inclusion in the UN Security Council. Russia, France and Britain have reportedly no objections to India being included as a permanent member, although there is no real clarity whether they will all support the demand for veto power. China and the United States have maintained a steady silence on the issue altogether.
Pakistan?s support for Model B is largely perceived by the establishment here as an attempt to prevent India from becoming a permanent member of the Security Council. Mr Tharoor, when asked what the gain would be from a permanent seat without veto power, said that ?permanence? itself would be a gain as it would allow a member nation a full and enduring say in all major decisions. This would place Pakistan at a serious disadvantage when compared to India, which is almost certain to find a place in the exclusive body if Model A is adopted. Mr Annan might just find that he will have to organise a vote to resolve the controversy which appears to have divided the world body pretty evenly at this stage.
Mr Tharoor further said that Mr Annan?s call to all member nations to complete and sign a terrorism convention also endorsed the Indian position for a clearcut definition of terrorism, and a differentiation between terrorism and state terrorism. He said that Mr Annan had taken the view that there were sufficient international laws to regulate the behaviour of states and deal with state terrorism. And he was therefore keen to ensure sufficient international protection from terrorism and had made it clear, according to Mr Tharoor, that the right to resist foreign occupation could not justify the killing of innocents.
Mr Tharoor also clarified that Mr Annan?s proposal for a small elected Human Rights Council was prompted by the fact that the larger Human Rights Commission was a ?politicized body suffering from a credibility problem.? Mr Annan has suggested that the council be elected by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly as against the regional rotation system at present. The proposed council, Mr Tharoor indicated, ?would compensate for the declining credibility and professionalism? of the commission.?By arrangement with AsianAge/Delhi.
Model A provides for 11 permanent UN Security Council members, although it is still a matter of hectic debate whether the additional members, outside the privileged five, will have veto powers or not. The six new member nations which will find a permanent slot will almost certainly include India, Brazil, Japan and Germany, with a provision for two African nations for which currently South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria are in competition. Under this model, which is being actively promoted by India, there will be an additional three non-permanent members.
Pakistan is a prominent member of the ?Coffee Club,? which opposes this plan as ?unfair? and insists on Model B as the basis for UN Security Council reform.
This provides for eight semi-permanent members for a period of four years, subject to renewal, and one non-permanent seat. The smaller countries are particularly supportive of this model as they feel it is more representative than Model A, which will block the number of available seats, and make only a limited number available for those outside the permanent bloc. Interestingly, according to foreign agency reports, the ambassadors of the Arab League, Angola, Ghana and Morocco accompanied Pakistan, Turkey, Argentina, Columbia, South Korea, Algeria, Kenya, Mexico when they met Jean Ping to lobby for Model B.
India has secured the support of three of the five permanent members for its inclusion in the UN Security Council. Russia, France and Britain have reportedly no objections to India being included as a permanent member, although there is no real clarity whether they will all support the demand for veto power. China and the United States have maintained a steady silence on the issue altogether.
Pakistan?s support for Model B is largely perceived by the establishment here as an attempt to prevent India from becoming a permanent member of the Security Council. Mr Tharoor, when asked what the gain would be from a permanent seat without veto power, said that ?permanence? itself would be a gain as it would allow a member nation a full and enduring say in all major decisions. This would place Pakistan at a serious disadvantage when compared to India, which is almost certain to find a place in the exclusive body if Model A is adopted. Mr Annan might just find that he will have to organise a vote to resolve the controversy which appears to have divided the world body pretty evenly at this stage.
Mr Tharoor further said that Mr Annan?s call to all member nations to complete and sign a terrorism convention also endorsed the Indian position for a clearcut definition of terrorism, and a differentiation between terrorism and state terrorism. He said that Mr Annan had taken the view that there were sufficient international laws to regulate the behaviour of states and deal with state terrorism. And he was therefore keen to ensure sufficient international protection from terrorism and had made it clear, according to Mr Tharoor, that the right to resist foreign occupation could not justify the killing of innocents.
Mr Tharoor also clarified that Mr Annan?s proposal for a small elected Human Rights Council was prompted by the fact that the larger Human Rights Commission was a ?politicized body suffering from a credibility problem.? Mr Annan has suggested that the council be elected by a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly as against the regional rotation system at present. The proposed council, Mr Tharoor indicated, ?would compensate for the declining credibility and professionalism? of the commission.?By arrangement with AsianAge/Delhi.
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