Saturday, September 23, 2006

UN Security Council Reform - ITALY Deserves Seat !!!

The ANNOTICO Report

 

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was set up after the end of WWII, 60 years ago, with FIVE (5) Permanent Members,  ALL Victors in WWII, and reflecting the world powers at the time, with VETO Powers:  US, Britain, France, Russia, and China.

 

There is widespread recognition throughout the world that the constitution of the UN Security Council is in need of Reformation.

 

Currently there is a battle raging between the "Group of Four" (India and other G-4 countries) -- India, Japan, Brazil and Germany  AND "Uniting for Consensus" (UfC), led by Italy and Pakistan.

 

The "Group of Four" are those who want to Enlarge the Number of Permanent  members to NINE, that would JUST include themselves!!!!

"Uniting for Consensus" led by Italy who feels justifiably excluded, and agrees with Pakistan that More Permanent Members with the same number of Rotating Members would further concentrate Power in a Few hands.

 

Italy would seem "outgunned" here, BUT Italy has an advantage of some "hidden agendas" working in their favor.

 

Interestingly ONLY Italy and Canada who ARE Members of the "G8" are NOT being consider as Permanent UN Members.

 

The "G8" together, represent about 65% of the World Economy. It was originally the "G6" (the 5 Permanent Members, plus Italy, and Japan, minus China). Canada and Russia joined later.

 

Italy has the  SEVENTH (7) largest GDP in the World, behind USA, Japan, Germany, China, Britain & France.

Italy is AHEAD of  Canada, Spain, South Korea, Brazil, India, Mexico, Russia, Australia in that order.

 

 

How can India and Brazil have the AUDACITY and UNMITIGATED GALL to feel that they should Not only have PREFERENCE over ITALY, but EXCLUDE ITALY!!!!??????

 

How could Germany and Japan be Complicit in this ??? !!!!!!! 

 

Because Nothing is about FAIR. !!! it's about natural Allies, natural Adversaries, Political and Pragmatic choices for Advantage, Jealousies, and so many other factors. If you get a chance, Google "UNSC Reforms". It's fascinating.

 

Please Note: 113 Countries have served as Rotating Members: In descending order those countries serving the most times are NINE: Japan, Brazil; EIGHT; Argentina, SIX: Canada, Columbia, India, Pakistan; FIVE: Egypt, Germany, ITALY, Netherlands, Poland. FOUR: Australia, Belgium, Chile, Denmark,Norway, Panama, Peru, Romania, Spain,Syria, Venezuela, Yugoslavia. 89 other countries have served ONE to THREE terms. 76 Countries, mostly smaller in size or GDP have never served.

 

Also Note those countries that have served more, an equal number, or just one less than ITALY.  Should Italy feel disrespected????

 

SEE UNSC MEMBERSHIP: http://www.un.org/sc/members.asp

 

 

KOFI  ANAN's PROPOSED REFORMS FOR UNSC:

(Which do NOT include Italy, but the "Group of Four" plus an Eastern European country, and two African Nations, and another Asian Nation)

 

Kofi Annan is proposing two options for change, either, firstly, the addition of six Permanent Members and three more rotating members, or alternatively a new category of membership, namely eight Members serving four years instead of two, plus one extra two-year rotating Member. In either case membership of the Security Council would increase from 15 to 24 members

His first option would mean 11 Permanent Members and 13 members rotating over two years. His second option would mean 5 Permanent Members, 8 Members serving for four years and 11 serving for two years.

Whether or not the six new, additional Permanent member proposed in terms of the Secretary General[1]s first option, would have a VETO, is an issue yet to be decided.

There is no question of changing the status and power of veto of the existing five permanent members. Each could, and probably would, veto any such move. Indeed, each could veto any wider changes that it dislikes.

 

 

 

Pakistan, Italy look for Support on their Viewpoint on UNSC Reforms

 

The Hindu

Saturday, September 23, 2006 : 0245 Hrs

New York, Sept 23. (PTI): Pakistan and Italy, leading a group of nations that opposes the attempts by India and other G-4 countries to seek permanent seats in an enlarged UN Security Council, have been trying to drum up support for their viewpoint among the members of the world body.

The two countries, proponent of expansion of the Council only in the non-permanent category, organised a dinner meeting here on Wednesday for the entire membership of the UN.

Their diplomats said their aim is to develop a consensus to reform the Council, but also asserted there would no compromise on their stand on expansion of the UNSC.

The dinner, co-hosted by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi at a hotel here, was billed to explore new ideas for way forward on the Council reform. The UNSC has five permanent members with veto power -- China, France, Russia, the UK and the US. Another 10 countries rotate for two-year terms.

After the dinner meet, Musharraf said the purpose of the event was to start the process towards a "Negotiated, agreed and comprehensive" reform of the Security Council and not necessarily to make any decisions.

Pakistan and Italy are members of the "Uniting for Consensus" (UfC), which last year fought attempts by the "Group of Four" -- India, Japan, Brazil and Germany -- to seek permanent seats in an enlarged Security Council.

Replying to a question, Musharraf said members of UfC remained opposed to inducting new permanent members on the Council as that violated the principle of sovereign equality. "We are against creating new centres of power."

During the animated discussion, Musharraf said, a number of thought-provoking ideas were thrown up. He declined to identify those ideas, but said they augured well for the Council reform.

Prime Minister Prodi also said that Wednesday's event marked the start of a process and a lot more work needs to be done to accomplish the objective.

Earlier, in his welcome address to the delegates, the Pakistani President said, "We believe that, today, when the Council's role is central to the maintenance of international peace and security, it is incumbent upon member states to make a serious and sincere endeavour to achieve an early agreement on this vital issue.

"Italy, Pakistan, and other like-minded countries are convinced that the reform of the Security Council, to be effective and implementable, will have to be achieved by the widest possible agreement."

NOTE: Currently the 10 Rotating countries serving  two-year terms, are: Argentina, Congo,Denmark,Ghana, Greece, Japan, Peru, Qatar, Slovakia, and Tanzania.  

 

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