UNITED NTIONS, May 3: Italy and Pakistan came up with two new proposals on Monday for expanding the UN Security Council that would give regional groups more power to choose candidates and dictate the length of their term. On behalf of the group of likeminded countries — united for consensus — Italy submitted the proposals to the UN General Assembly President Jean Ping which they maintained are aimed at making the body more representative and effective.

Italy’s UN Ambassador Marcello Spatafora who submitted the proposals told Mr Ping that he is doing so “in the spirit of building consensus” two alternative plans based on the secretary-general’s model.

They (the two plans) have no ‘national trademark’ behind, their aim being to generate creative thinking beyond A and B’ (Mr Annan’s models), and to promote an inclusive approach within broad and transparent consultations among all UN members ...” Ambassador Spatafora said in a letter to the General Assembly President.

The “Uniting for Consensus” group, which includes China, opposes enlargement of the Council in the permanent category. India, Brazil, Germany and Japan have staked their claim for permanent seats and are pushing for a vote in the 191-member General Assembly. They call themselves Group of 4.

They have proposed an addition of 10 non-permanent members to the 15-nation Council instead of nine envisaged in Mr Annan’s two models, one of which includes permanent members and the other longer-term seats. The “Green Model” of the Italy/Pakistan-led group envisages three additional members from Asia, three from Africa, two from Latin America, one each from Western and Eastern Europe, giving all the five regional groups almost equal representation.

The “Blue Model” suggests two longer-term (four or three years) re-electable seats plus one seat for two-year term from Asia and Africa, two longer term re-electable seats from Latin America, one or two from Western Europe and one from Eastern Europe.

The “Uniting for Consensus” group said that the “Green” and “Blue” models were worked out after intensive consultations as well as the inputs and feedback it received following the April 11 meeting of 119 countries.