Obama's support for Security Council seat for India spotlights failure of council reform


UNITED NATIONS - President Barack Obama's support for India's bid for permanent membership on the U.N. Security Council put the spotlight on the failure of the United Nations to reform its most powerful body.

Despite widespread agreement that the Security Council needs to reflect the 21st century world — not the international power structure after World War II — the 192-member General Assembly has been unable for three decades to agree on a reform proposal.

The gridlock was evident during a debate Thursday: Supporters of three rival proposals to reform the council showed no signs of budging.

Since 1979, the U.N. has been talking about expanding the 15-member Security Council. But every proposal has been rejected, primarily because of rivalries between countries and regions more concerned about their own self-interests than the improved functioning of the United Nations.

The Security Council is powerful because it is responsible for maintaining international peace and security and can authorize military action and impose sanctions, so membership is coveted.

The five permanent members — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France — have veto power, so their unanimous support is essential for any reform to be adopted. The 10 non-permanent members represent all regions of the world and are elected for two-year terms.

Many countries on Thursday called for compromise to try to reach agreement on a proposal to reform the council's composition.

"What we need is political will from all of us, large and small, developing and developed, permanent and non-permanent, in order to achieve the result that could garner the widest possible political acceptance," Egypt's U.N. Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz said, speaking on behalf of the 118-nation Nonaligned Movement of mainly developing countries.

But supporters of the main rival reform proposals showed no signs of budging.

The so-called Group of Four — India, Japan, Germany and Brazil — pressed their case for permanent seats.

[Source: Star Tribune]