Security Council reform shouldn't be guided by timetable, envoy says

BEIJING - The reform of the United Nations Security Council must promote a multipolar world with a strengthened international balance of power, democratic relations and a rational system, experts said.

Their comments came after China's statement that emphasized Security Council reform must take members' interests into consideration, and that the solution has to be a package deal.

Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, made that statement at the plenary session of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform on Wednesday.

No timetable should be set on the issue, Wang said, adding that China takes the same stand as the African countries on the reform of the Security Council.

"China supports the Council's reform under the circumstances of current international politics, in which developing countries, such as African countries, are emerging powers," Wang said.

Greater representation in the UN should be given to the developing countries, Wang said, especially African countries.

The legitimacy of the Security Council should not be challenged in the name of reform, for its legitimacy originated in the UN Charter, he said.

Last year, Japan, India, Germany and Brazil make clear their expectation that the UN Assembly would pass their package proposal of becoming the new permanent members of the Security Council before this September.

Japan also tried to push its own application for a permanent council seat with the United States' support.

A General Assembly vote only on a few countries' joint proposal is not going to help the reform and will end up in a split vote, said Chen Xulong, deputy director of the department for international strategic studies at the China Institute of International Studies.

"The US has been supporting the applications of new permanent council seats for what it called 'a couple of countries', such as Japan and India. It's unfair to other countries," Chen said.

The intergovernmental negotiations on reform began in 2009, and, as the seventh round begins in New York, there has still been no breakthrough.

"The UN needs to enhance its role to represent the new world structure and maintain its efficiency. And it will take a long time for all members to reach a common solution," said Jin Canrong, vice-dean of the School of International Studies at the Beijing-based Renmin University.

On Tuesday, China stepped into the rotating Security Council presidency for the month of March. Li Baodong, its permanent representative to the UN, will serve as president of the council this month.

Xinhua contributed to the story.

China Daily

(China Daily 03/05/2011 page7)