US and China kill British proposal for UN Security Council reform

Source: The Washington Post | By Colum Lynch

Having invited the foreign ministers of the four other permanent Security Council nations to London to discuss enlarging the 15-nation council, Britain on Monday called off the Wednesday meeting after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and China’s foreign minister declined to attend, according to key U.N. members.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband had hoped to press for agreement on adding as many as six new members to the council. But the United States and China resisted the initiative on the grounds that it would prove politically divisive at the United Nations, where there are sharp differences over who should serve on an enlarged Security Council. “The Chinese killed it, and the Americans were not very positive,” said a Security Council diplomat.

The proposal underscored the degree to which the British hope to use the attendance of the world’s big powers at this week’s Group of 20 financial summit in London to address a host of international problems. U.N. diplomats said they still expect discussion on the sidelines of the G-20 summit about other global issues, including North Korea’s plans for a rocket test in coming days.

Expansion of the Security Council has been the subject of off-and-on negotiations at the United Nations for more than 15 years. There is broad agreement that the council, which has included 15 nations since 1965, should be expanded to account for the rise of new political and economic powerhouses.

But there is no agreement among U.N. members on who should get into the exclusive club. A group of four regional powers — Brazil, Germany, India and Japan — has campaigned to establish six permanent new Security Council seats without veto power. Under the initiative by the so-called G-4, each of those countries would get a seat; the two other seats would go to an African and an Asian country. But the plan foundered in 2005 when key regional rivals and the United States, China and Russia voiced opposition and African states demanded two seats with veto rights. Veto rights are currently held by the five permanent members: the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia.

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1 Response to “US and China kill British proposal for UN Security Council reform”


  1. 1 loveandlightgodbless April 1, 2009 at 6:14 am

    G20 Summit in London;Prayers & Good Wishes, 2 April 2009; God Bless

    Prayers are amazing. This precious gift is always with us

    Let us all pray for the G20 Summit in London where the Leaders of the World accompanied along with Strategic Decision Makers meet

    That they form a coalition; a mutual understanding based upon a Vision for the Global Economy

    A Vision that is based upon Values Based Principles and grows from strength to strength to overcome the challenges being faced globally with Wisdom

    Seek the grace of God to fill the Universe with a Vision of Happiness & Wisdom always
    When the World prays together; the wishes seek to manifest

    When the World is Happy, we are all Happy. In one another’s Happiness is our true Happiness; Development; Prosperity & Progress

    Let us gratefully acknowledge; appreciate and express our sincere thanks to God for everything always;

    Protocol; Etiquette, Be Appreciative; Be Grateful; Be Meaningful; Be Purposeful; Be Respectful and Be Responsible always Please

    Express thanks to God time and again always, For the Health and Wellness,
    For the Wonderful Families; Friends, For the Inspiration & Wisdom, For Fulfilling our Needs, For Showing us the way, For the Courage, For the Natural Resources,
    For always being near us, For the lamp of peace; love; faith and hope that glows in all our hearts, For God’s graceful and loving presence, For God’s Blessings,
    For Guidance through the challenges, For the Trust in us, For knowing what is best for us always, For permitting the Love and Light of God to shine through our lives

    Prayer; May One and All be Appreciative; Grateful and Thankful

    Happiness

    May Happiness be showered on One and All; May One and All be Healthy;

    May One and All be Loved & Respected; May One and All have Well-being

    May One and All realize that their Happiness is linked to others Happiness;

    May One and All recognize that when the World is Happy, they are Happier;

    May One and All discover the true meaning of Life is that Life is Precious

    May One and All be Resourceful & Talented; May One and All Achieve and Excel;

    May One and All be Considerate; Creative; Meaningful; Purposeful and Responsible;

    May One and All Love Nature; The Environment & Humanity;

    May One and All Respect One Another; May One and All Inspire One Another;

    May One and All realize that they each have a very meaningful and special purpose in Life;

    May One and All believe that they are the precious Gems of this Universe;

    May One and All realize that Life is Beautiful; Precious, Meaningful and Purposeful;

    May One and All be a Symbol of God’s Loving Love and Light; Radiating Joy for others;

    May One and All be Blessed with Happiness, Prosperity; Progress& Wisdom always

    Thank you for your prayers for the World; they are immensely appreciated and reciprocated with utmost appreciation and gratitude

    Trust in God and Faith in Ourselves, May God Bless You and Your Families with a Vision of Happiness and Wisdom always

    When the World is Happy, We are all Happy; In one another’s Happiness is our true Prosperity, Development and Greatest Happiness

    May Universal Appreciation; Happiness; Consideration; Compassion; Respect; Peace; Love; Cooperation; Inspiration; Gratitude; Economic Development, Stability; Prosperity, Progress & Wisdom prevail always

    Love & Light;

    God Bless,

    Vashi

    ©2009 Vashi Ram Chandi


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