G-4, UFC fail to agree on UNSC expansion

A meeting between G-4 and the Pakistan and Italy-led 'United for Consensus' (UFC) failed to narrow down their differences on Friday.

The G-4 countries seeking permanent membership of the UN Security Council, including India, have failed to narrow down their differences with a group led by Pakistan and Italy on the expansion of the world body's top organ.

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However, the Group of Four (G-4) comprising India, Japan, Germany and Brazil continued intensive consultations with potential co-sponsors and other member states on the framework resolution they plan to move on expansion of the UNSC and expect to maintain their deadline of tabling it by third week of June.

A meeting between G-4 and the Pakistan and Italy-led 'United for Consensus' (UFC), which opposes expansion in the permanent membership, failed to narrow down their differences on Friday.

At the meeting convened by UN General Assembly President Jean Ping, the G-4 maintained that UFC has offered nothing new which could form the basis for a discussion.

Ping told reporters after the meeting that he had urged both groups not to take any precipitate action till June 21 when he plans to start consultations on the draft document drawn up by him to be presented to the summit of world leaders at the United Nations scheduled for mid September.

Diplomats of G-4 said Ping's suggestion was that their resolution should not be put to vote till June 21 but that would not prevent them from tabling it.

China, on whose support UFC -- also known as Coffee Club -- is counting, did not attend the meeting despite being invited by Ping.