January 7, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 6, 1426

TOKYO, Jan 6: Japan said on Friday it had decided against sponsoring the latest bid by Brazil, Germany and India to reform the UN Security Council because it doubts they will win sufficient support.

“We decided not to be one of the countries making the joint proposal since we don’t think it’s profitable to submit it again at this moment,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told a news conference.

“There is no possibility that they can gain support from two-thirds of the members” of the UN General Assembly, Abe said.

“While pursuing consultation with the United States, we are going to continue making an effort to realize reforms,” he added.

The latest proposal is similar to that presented last year by Brazil, Germany, India and Japan — the so-called Group of Four — which failed to secure the necessary two-thirds majority in the UN General Assembly.

The countries have proposed to boost the council’s membership from 15 to 25, with six new permanent seats and four new non-permanent seats.

The proposal ran into opposition from the United States and China, both permanent members of the council along with Britain, France and Russia.

In Brazil, Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said that, despite Japan’s decision not to participate this time, the three countries co-sponsoring the resolution would continue to consult with Tokyo on the issue.

On Thursday, Japan said it was drawing up its own new UN proposal that it hoped would be acceptable to the United States, its primary ally, in the aim of securing a prestigious permanent seat on the Security Council.

Japan, the UN’s number-two contributor after the United States, renewed its complaints last month that it pays too much to the world body, after Secretary General Kofi Annan said Tokyo should not slash its contribution despite losing its bid for a permanent Council seat.—AFP