UNITED NATIONS, July 8: The United States cautioned G-4 on Thursday that they are being overly optimistic in calling for vote on their resolution to expand the UN Security Council.
“I think next week is a little prompt,” Anne Patterson, the acting US ambassador, told reporters. “I think there’s going to be some general debate next week, but I don’t think we’d expect a vote for a couple of weeks on this resolution.”
The United States opposes the proposed resolution by Germany, Japan, Brazil and India, known as the G-4. It would be the first of several steps necessary to expand the council.
Meanwhile, India’s Foreign Minister Natwar Singh was quoted as saying that G-4 may not push for an early vote on the G- 4 resolution which seeks to expand UN Security Council by 6 permanent and 4 non-permanent seats.
China also reiterated its opposition to the just-tabled G4 draft resolution on UN reform since it had not incorporated Beijing’s concerns, especially its opposition to a vote on expanding UN Security Council membership.
“We have noted that there is no fundamental change in the draft resolution tabled at the UN by G4 countries,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao when asked to comment on the tabling of the resolution in the 191-member General Assembly by the G4.
However, Japan’s ambassador, Kenzo Oshima said he believed the G-4 framework resolution, submitted to the General Assembly on Wednesday, had a good chance of passage.
“As a result of our consultations and work with a number of countries — in fact with almost all countries — I think we have reasonable ground to believe that we stand a good chance,” Oshima told reporters. “We do not rule out any further consultations if that becomes necessary, but I think enough has already been done.”
