Thursday, August 4, 2005
CNN
African leaders discuss U.N. role
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) -- Leaders from across Africa debated how best to secure their continent a greater role on the U.N. Security Council Thursday at an African Union summit, with Nigeria's president calling for compromise.
The main issue before us is to decide either that Africa will join the rest of the world, or the majority of the rest of the world, in bringing to a conclusion a demand for U.N. reform, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said. Or if Africa will stand on a non-negotiable position which will certainly frustrate the reform efforts.
He said that while the 53 African members of the United Nations make up an important block, it would be impossible for the continent to impose its views on the other 138 U.N. states.
At least eight presidents, eight prime ministers, one vice president and 19 Cabinet ministers attended the extraordinary meeting, with representatives from all 53 African nations to take part, an AU statement said.
Representatives from Japan, Brazil, Germany and India -- known as the Group of Four -- were also in Addis Ababa for the meeting. The four need Africa's help to push through their own proposals for reforming the Security Council.
There is widespread support for enlarging the council to reflect the world today rather than after World War II when the United Nations was formed. But all previous attempts have failed because of national and regional rivalries.
Reform proposals
The Security Council currently has 15 members, 10 elected for two-year terms and five permanent members who have veto power.
The Group of Four has proposed a 25-member council, adding six permanent seats without a veto and four non-permanent seats. Group of Four members hope to win four of the permanent seats with the other two earmarked for Africa. One of the non-permanent seats would also be set aside for Africa.
South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt are the leading African contenders for the permanent seats.
The African Union has proposed expanding the council to 26 members -- adding six permanent seats with veto power and five non-permanent seats. A third proposal by a group called Uniting for Consensus would add 10 non-permanent seats.
Issues relating to Africa's conflicts occupy about 70 percent of Security Council agenda and time, Obasanjo said, in recommending the Group of Four position. To have Africa's representation on that council to be increased from three to six will be a quantum leap forward.
The Group of Four have been trying to reach an agreement with the AU to win the two-thirds support of U.N. member states needed to change the Security Council.
Even if a compromise is reached in Addis -- and the Africans are believed divided -- it could founder at the U.N. At the United Nations on Tuesday, China's ambassador announced his country and the United States would work together to block the Group of Four's plan.
China opposes a permanent seat for Group of Four member Japan and wants more developing countries on the council. The United States, meanwhile, supports Japan's bid but only wants two or so new permanent council members.
Anne Patterson, the U.S. deputy ambassador to the U.N., urged the Group of Four, the African Union and Uniting for Consensus on Tuesday to hold off on council expansion and focus first on more urgently needed reforms.