US rejects draft resolution

The resolution does not serve to strengthen the United Nations, says US.

The US has said it will not support the framework resolution moved by India, Brazil, Japan and Germany seeking six new permanent members on the UN Security Council, reports Xinhua.

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Addressing the General Assembly, Ambassador Shirin Tahir-Kheli, senior adviser to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for UN reform, said on Tuesday the resolution presented by the four countries, known as the G4, should not be voted upon at this stage.

"I ask all countries to again very carefully consider the resolution before us and to ask the critical question: does this resolution serve to strengthen the United Nations? We believe it does not," she noted.

"We will work with you to achieve enlargement of the Security Council, but only in the right way and at the right time," she said. "We urge you, therefore, to oppose this resolution and, should it come to a vote, to vote against it."

The G4 framework resolution proposes increasing the number of Security Council members to 25 from the current 15 by adding six new permanent members and four non-permanent members.

The G4 countries are aspirants to permanent seats on the council.

The two-day debate in the General Assembly concluded late on Tuesday. A Security Council reform proposal requires two-thirds or 128 votes to be approved by the 191-member assembly.