India rejects increase in non-permanent UNSC seats

The member states made known their strong opposition to the proposal contained in the report of the task force comprising representatives of Bangladesh, Chile, Djibouti and Portugal during a debate on the document in the Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) yesterday. The task force was appointed by UN General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim.     

Describing it just a tactic to scuttle real reform of the Council, they asked what would change in ten years that would make taking a decision easier then. The interests of the states are not likely to change much during next ten years, they asserted and called for confronting the issue right now rather than deferring the decision.     

Rebutting the argument that the draft being prepared by some 30 nations including India would hinder the reforms, Indian UN Ambassador Nirupam Sen warned that if a decision taken to start inter-governmental negotiations cannot be implemented by consensus, then clearly it would have to be implemented by alternative means.     

Sen did not amplify what the alternative means could be but diplomats says it could mean bringing a resolution in the General Assembly for expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories.     

Replying to a question as to how the draft would play out, a spokesman of the General Assembly President told reporters yesterday he was aware of the move and if the member states preparing it feel they have two-thirds majority, they could move it in the 192-member Assembly. That's how system works.