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USA to consider G-4 proposal
3 Indians die in NZ mishap
Ex-India Caucus member on US House panel
Widespread support for South Asian human rights court
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USA to consider G-4 proposal
As India, Brazil, Germany and Japan launched their bid for permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council this week Washington said only Japan had its support.
“As far as the Security Council itself, let me remind you, the only nation that we have endorsed is Japan,” State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters on Wednesday. On Monday, the so-called “Group of Four” (G-4) circulated a draft resolution calling for the expansion of the Security Council. The group sought the creation of an additional six permanent and four non-permanent seats on the council. The other two permanent seats are sought for African nations. The draft says the new permanent members should have “the same responsibilities and obligations” as the existing veto-wielding permanent members - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. The proposal is one of at least six formulae for expanding the council being discussed at the United Nations. A panel appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan recommended two proposals, a group of more than 120 nations known as “United for Consensus” has circulated two models, and Italy has also made its own suggestion. Mr Boucher said Washington’s support for Japan did not indicate support for any particular option and added that the Bush administration would consider the “various proposals that are out there, including the so-called ‘Group of Four’ proposal that’s being discussed”. But, Mr Boucher said, the administration had “made no further judgments about who else should or should not be added to the council, nor have we taken a position pro or con on any of these specific proposals at this point”. A permanent member of the council, China has criticised the resolution saying that an expansion of the council would be “detrimental” to the process of UN reform. “To take such a move hastily will only intensify contradictions,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing on Tuesday. “There is still a very large gap between the positions of many countries and the core content of the draft resolution,” Mr Kong said. Meanwhile, Germany and Japan have indicated their willingness to give up their demand for veto rights in an expanded council. In Tokyo on Tuesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura told reporters that he was ready to be “as flexible as possible” about the planned resolution. The Financial Times quoted an internal German foreign ministry briefing paper as saying “the question of the veto ... should not be a hindrance to Security Council reform”. India has so far insisted that all new permanent members should have veto powers. The draft resolution itself also notes, regarding veto rights, that “new permanent members should have the same responsibilities and obligations as the current permanent members”. Diplomats said the use of the word “should,” rather than “shall,” was a sign to UN members that veto rights were not essential, the Times reported. A Washington Post report on Wednesday indicated that the US might be cool to Germany’s bid for a permanent seat on the council. The paper said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice thought there was a “very poor rationale for giving another member of the European Union a permanent seat.” France and Britain, both European nations, are permanent members of the council. Mr Boucher pointed out that UN reform “is much more than the Security Council”. “It’s not the only issue before us,” he said, going on to suggest a need for management reform, transparency and accountability at the world body. “We are prepared to move forward in areas where there is a broad consensus. There are also areas where agreement won’t be reached quickly and easily and we’ll work with others to achieve more difficult changes,” he said. The spokesman said Washington had recognised that the council needed to better reflect the realities of the current day, but he added, “I don’t think we’re committed to enlargement if it doesn’t make the council more effective.” |
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3 Indians die in NZ mishap
Wellington, May 19 The privately chartered tourist van was ripped in half yesterday when it hit the timber laden truck near the town of Morrinaville in the Waikato province on North Island. Police spokeswoman Kris McGehan said the eight were killed almost instantly and a ninth was seriously injured. Indian couple Vellore Thirumuthy (50) his wife, Suchitra Thirmuthy (42) and their daughter, Urmila Thirumuthy (18) died in the smash.
— AP |
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Ex-India Caucus member on US House panel
Washington, May 19 Representative Joe Wilson, former co-chair of the House Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, was appointed to the newly created Democracy Assistance Commission yesterday. The commission was created by a near unanimous vote on March 14 and follows up on President George W. Bush’s January 20 inaugural address where he called for spreading freedom and democracy around the world as a foreign policy objective. |
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Widespread support for South Asian
Bhurban (Murree Hills), May 19 The discussion on a South Asian parliament revolved around two papers presented by Professor S. D Moni of Jawaharlal Nehru University of New Delhi, who said the proposed parliament be created without delay, and National Assembly member Aitzaz Ahsan of the People’s Party Parliamentarians from Pakistan who said the ground for it was not ready. Prof Muni, whose view was supported by a majority of parliamentarians, said the “time had come” for what should begin as a nominated consultative body that could serve as a catalyst for regional cooperation and also help in conflict resolution, rather than being a legislative organ at this stage. He proposed that this parliament consist of 300 to 500 members and to guard against domination by India, because of its huge population or any complaint of being marginalised by equal representation of all countries, India should have a share of 25 to 30 per cent, Pakistan and Bangladesh 17 to 20 per cent, Sri Lanka and Nepal 10 to 12 percent and Bhutan and Maldives five to eight per cent. To begin with, he said, the body would adopt the SAARC agenda and avoid touching bilateral matters and internal situations of member countries but it should take up global issues such as regional concerns about the World Trade Organisation. Mr Ahsan, who also led a strong section in the conference, said that because of the heavy baggage of history, including unresolved disputes between India and Pakistan, “it would be unwise to talk of such a body, though it may happily come about some time in the distant future.” He cautioned that such an effort could be foiled by “strong and well-positioned” forces opposed to improvement of relations on both sides of the border, despite their being in “an abject minority”. “Any leap before the ground below is prepared and softened may lead to irreparable injury.” |
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