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Africa sticks to own plan on UN reform
Africa on Thursday rejected overtures from U.N. Security Council aspirants Brazil, Germany, Japan and India to back their proposal for reforming the world body in charge of matters of war and peace, reported Reuters. African Union (AU) leaders meeting in Addis Ababa voted to ratify their own plan for reforming the council -- which still reflects the balance of power in 1945 -- rather than endorse an alternative proposal from the so-called Group of Four (G4). They also agreed to set up a commission of 10 African heads of state to push their stance on the world stage. "I confirm that they are sticking with the original position to have two permanent seats with the veto (for Africa) and are organising a high-level delegation to push the issue for Africa," Swaziland delegate Clifford Mambo said. A formal AU communique was due later on Thursday. Earlier, AU chairman Olusegun Obasanjo had urged leaders from the 53 nations to negotiate with others outside Africa or face blocking the whole process and losing out. "Let us be under no illusion. Africa stands to lose more than any other region," Nigerian President Obasanjo said, noting the Security Council spends 70 percent of its time on African conflicts and the world was increasingly focused on development. Representatives from Brazil, Germany, Japan and India were on the sidelines of the summit in hope of winning the crucial African backing for their plan to enlarge the council. However, their lobbying came to naught. "AFRICA HAS COME TOGETHER" "Africa has come together once again with a consensus to fight for the African position," Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin said. "The African position is for two permanent seats with veto. Africa is going to engage with all other member states to push its case." The council's current 15 seats include 10 chosen by regions who rotate for two-year terms and five permanent members with vetos: the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain. The G4 plan calls for 10 new members, made up of six permanent members without veto powers -- four for themselves and two for Africa -- and another four seats rotating for two-year terms. The AU wants the council to be enlarged to 26 seats. Its proposal for six new permanent seats is in fact the same as that of the G4, except that it would give the new members veto rights. The AU also wants one extra non-permanent seat. Nigeria is in favour of a compromise discussed last month among African and G4 foreign ministers. But several AU nations, especially in North Africa, vigorously oppose that. In Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are the leading contenders for the two proposed permanent seats. In New York, Algeria's United Nations ambassador, Abdallah Baali, told reporters "there was a clear overwhelming majority" at the AU summit to endorse the position first worked out in Libya last month. Japan's U.N. Ambassador Kenzo Oshima told reporters he was not informed on the AU outcome. But he said, any "delay is a very difficult thing."
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