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China backs our stand on UNSC expansion: Pak
Pakistan has claimed that China supported its stand that expansion of the powerful organ should not be country-specific.
Pakistan, which is opposed to India's bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, has claimed that China supported its stand that expansion of the powerful organ of the world body should not be country-specific.
Pakistan was "completely satisfied" with the talks Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao had with the leadership on UN reform-related issues prior to his April 9-12 visit to India, Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri said.
"We are completely satisfied with the meetings... That we have had with the distinguished leadership from China. Pakistan and China have both adopted a principled position that the UN Security Council expansion should not be country-specific," he was quoted as saying by local daily 'The News' on Thursday.
Kasuri also claimed that China backed Pakistan's stand that a consensus should be evolved for the implementation of the UN reforms.
He noted that the joint statement issued at the end of Wen's India visit called for comprehensive UN reforms and increase in representation of developing countries.
"I have read this statement from New Delhi which is in complete cognizance of the Pakistan-China position. The major factor is that both China and Pakistan believe that UN reforms of the General Assembly and Security Council should not be divisive and instead be a process, which should work towards creating consensus.
"There should be no artificial deadlines or timelines. Pakistan's principled position is that there should be sovereign equality of nations," he said.
He said a close reading of the joint statement shows that both China and India agree that the reform of the UN should be comprehensive and multi-faceted and the emphasis should be on increase in representation to developing nations.
"I have no cavil or bone to pick with anyone in this regard. I also agree with the statement. Indeed greater representation is required for developing countries. Pakistan stand is that there should be no more centres of privilege and there should be no increase in permanent members of the UNSC.
"But whoever come up as semi-permanent members, they should have a four year-term, which should be renewable. This way a larger number of countries would serve the interests of their region and if they did a good job they would be re-elected. This way their strength could be increased," he said.
Kasuri, according to the paper, also claimed that 190 countries attended the meeting convened by UN's "Coffee Club" members on Monday to lobby against the expansion of the UNSC in permanent category. Pakistan, Italy and South Korea are among Coffee Club members.
"Pakistan all along, with many other important countries is taking keen interest in the UN.
Unfortunately, the expansion of the UNSC has taken away the attention from the UN reforms, question of development and working of the Security Council, which is detrimental to UN reforms," he said, adding that the media appears to have been "riveted" to the UNSC expansion.
