20 November 2004	Saturday	07 Shawwal 1425

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov 19: A United Nations panel considering reforms in the working of the 15-member UN Security Council is expected to submit two proposals on the contentious expansion of the most powerful organ of the world body in December, diplomats and officials here told Dawn on Friday.

The report, likely to be submitted to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in December, calls for increasing permanent seats from five to 11 and non-permanent seats from 10 to 13. But the sources said it does not take any position on whether the new permanent members will be granted the veto power.

The second proposal recommends establishing eight fresh non-permanent member posts with a term of four years which can be rotated and also increasing the number of conventional non-permanent members by one to 11. It leaves intact the current five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. The advisory panel does not specify any countries in the report, according to sources.

Starting next week, though, the United Nations is to send special envoys to brief the report to Japan, Germany, India, Brazil, South Africa and other countries regarded as likely candidates for the new membership under the expansion, the sources said.

The advisory panel plans to submit the report to Annan on Dec 2 to help him compile his proposal in the form of a suggestion on UN reform. The proposed six new permanent seat holders would be two countries in Asia, two in Africa, one in Europe and one from Americas. Japan, Germany, India and Brazil are considered to be among major candidates, the sources said.

It is also likely that Japan will be chosen as one of the eight four-year non-permanent members in the other proposal. Vetoes are unlikely to be given to proposed new permanent or four-year non-permanent members. Japan and Germany have opposed allowing any differences in the powers of permanent members.

When asked to comment on the reform panels' recommendation, Pakistan's Deputy Permanent Representative, Masood Khalid, said "Pakistan and like-minded countries want the process of discussions by the 191 members of the United Nations to be transparent, participatory and inclusive."

"We want the reforms package to be adopted by a consensus," Mr Khalid said, adding "Pakistan is involved in discussions with like-minded nations to evolve one position on this vital issue."

He reiterated that Pakistan and members of the so-called "Coffee Club" are opposed to increase in the permanent seats of the Council, instead they want non-permanent seats to be increased in order to make the Security Council more democratic and transparent.

He noted that the UN Secretary General would make his own recommendations and send proposals to the member states. Mr Khalid pointed out, last week 12 envoys from member states led by Pakistan and Italy warned the UN General Assembly President Jean Ping not to push through the reforms package in a hurry as it would wreck the reform process in the United Nations.

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