Asking India and other countries aspiring for a permanent seat in the Security Council not to press for veto powers, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today sought to put the issue of the Council’s expansion in the context of larger reforms in the United Nations. Rounding of his three-day visit, Annan said countries like India should look to make the UN more representative of the current geo-political realities. ‘‘Let’s not get too involved with vetoes. Enlargement without veto will itself be a major step forward,’’ he said. Annan was, however, clear that the five permanent members are unlikely to do away with their veto powers. ‘‘It would be totally Utopian to believe that.’’ Annan agreed that India had a legitimate claim for permanent membership, but as the UN Secretary-general he could not have a preference for either of the two options or be seen as favouring any individual country. While the first option provides for six permanent seats with no veto powers and three new two-year term non-permanent seats divided among major regional areas, the second one entails no new permanent seats but proposes a new category of eight four-year renewable-term seats and one new two-year non-permanent seat. Though he named no country, Annan said nations which have made significant contributions to the UN would be contenders for permanent seats as and when the Security Council is expanded. While it was difficult to have complete unanimity among the 191 members, Annan hoped a ‘‘broad agreement’’ would emerge before the summit this September. Earlier, while delivering a lecture on the changing role of the UN, Annan said merely expanding the Security Council would not bring UN institutions in line with the realities of the 21st century. ‘‘I suggest that this should be done not only by enlarging the Security Council, but also by creating two new inter-governmental bodies — a Peacebuilding Commission. and a Human Rights Council..’’ He referred to the divisions in the UN when it discussed action against Iraq and suggested that the UNSC should adopt a resolution which will outline ‘‘the principles to be applied when the use of force is, for any reason, on the table’’. In the same breath, he also made out a case for the international community to adopt a comprehensive strategy against terrorism, which would start with a ‘‘clear definition’’ of the term, encompassing all deliberate attacks on civilians for political ends. Annan also hoped for active support from India to negotiations on Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty as he urged India to consider signing the CTBT.
