UNITED NATIONS: The “Uniting for Consensus” (UFC) group on Thursday warned the aspirants to the permanent seats, G-4 countries—Japan, Germany, India and Brazil, that their proposal to increase permanent seats in the UN Security Council would further heighten tensions and erode the universal support of member states for the United Nations.

Instead the UFC maintained that adding 10 non-permanent seats to the expanded Security Council is the only viable approach. Such seats will be open to all Member States. Any State that can generate the support of its peers in the General Assembly could be elected and re-elected to the Council.

In a letter addressed to the G-4, and copies circulated to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and UN General Assembly President Jean Ping, the Italian Ambassador said on behalf of UFC, “Offering permanent privileges to additional six countries, while excluding the representation of other equally qualified member States, aggravates an inequitable situation created in 1945 for very specific historical reasons.”

“If such a divisive proposal is brought to a vote, it shows universal support is the basic foundation of the organization’s credibility and legitimacy,” it said. In a point by point rebuttal to the G-4 proposal, the UFC observed that creating six new permanent members would be contrary to the UN Charter’s principle of sovereign equality. It will provide permanent presence on the Council to 11 States while consigning 180 other States to compete for 14 seats.

The Uniting for Consensus Movement suggested: i) One, considering the delicate issue of the SC reform, we all should continue the process of intensive consultations, under the auspices of the President of the General Assembly, and with the assistance of the Secretary-General, with a view to reaching the broadest possible agreement on Security Council reform. ii) Two, we should all work sincerely and constructively to reach the broadest possible agreement, at least on the main elements of Security Council reform, by the September High-level Event. iii) Three, until such a solution has been reached, the G-4, the Uniting for Consensus and others should not formally table any draft resolution on Security Council reform or other UN reform issues nor seek to press such proposals to a vote.