In an effort to counter the campaign launched by India and other members of the Group of Four, which favours an expansion of the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan and Italy, opposed to the move, have called a meeting of 'like-minded' countries in New York on Monday to identify 'elements' for an alternative proposal.
Their aim, they claim, is to initiate a process that could 'help promote consensus on this vital issue'.
India, Japan, Germany and Brazil are strong contenders for permanent seats in the expanded Council. Pakistan has not directly opposed Indian candidature but has said the expansion should be only in the non-permanent category. Japan has run into trouble with China, and Italy opposes Germany.
At the Monday's meeting, Council diplomats said, Pakistan and Italy would try to promote their idea that any change in the structure of the Council should be through consensus. That would mean effectively scuttling the process, as it would be impossible to reach a consensus in the 191-member General Assembly.
India and other members of the G-4 plan to move a resolution for expansion of the Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories. They would move another resolution giving names of specific countries that should occupy the permanent seats. A third resolution would demand an amendment to the charter.
The latter two resolutions would require two-thirds majority of members present and voting.
Announcing Monday's meeting, Pakistan and Italy said the objective of the 'Uniting for Consensus Movement' is to provide opportunity to member states to 'engage in constructive discussions to explore new ideas for Security Council reform'.
Like-minded countries, the announcement said, share the conviction that the United Nations must be enabled to deal effectively with the challenges of the 21st century.
"To that end, effective multilateralism must be enhanced and the United Nations must be reformed preserving the institutional balance of the main bodies of the organisation.
"It is in that context that the Security Council reform is of vital importance to the entire membership," they said.
Stating that the UN's reform agenda can be promoted only in a 'spirit of compromise and consensus, particularly when it comes to achieving our common goal of more representative, democratic and effective Security Council', they said the way forward is 'not to deepen the differences among member states'.
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