UNSC seat: Rice sounds Natwar in weekend call

Hectic consultations are underway between Washington and the G-4 countries on the issue of expanding the UN Security Council (UNSC), with US...

Hectic consultations are underway between Washington and the G-4 countries on the issue of expanding the UN Security Council (UNSC), with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice holding regular telephonic conversations with her counterparts in India, Germany, Brazil and Japan.

Rice is understood to have called up External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh over the weekend to discuss the issue as well as India’s efforts to gain entry to the UNSC along with the other G-4 members. The four countries have aligned themselves in a combined effort to push their case for permanent membership of the UNSC.

It is learnt that Rice spoke to each of her her G-4 counterparts to get to know their views and discuss their plans in the run-up to the UN General Assembly session in September.

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The G-4 has circulated a draft resolution calling for the addition of six new permanent members with veto powers in the UNSC.

While the MEA was silent on what transpired between Rice and Natwar Singh in the conversation, sources said Washington has been firming up its position on UN reforms and is now involved in consultations with New Delhi on the issue.

Shirin Tahir-Kheli, advisor to Rice on UNSC reforms, was in New Delhi last month, and held talks with National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan as well as officials in the MEA.

The US so far, has been inclined towards a consensus-based approach to the issue, while India—along with Germany, Brazil and Japan—has been pushing for a vote in the UNSC. The G-4 draft resolution has by now been passed on to over 70 countries, so as to have a final draft ready in time for the start of the UN General Assembly session.

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Meanwhile, Tokyo has been optimistic about Washington’s support for its UNSC bid, despite strong reservations voiced having been voiced by China. It is believed that Rice spoke to her Japanese counterpart Nobutaka Machimura late on Friday, as part of her consultations with the G-4 countries.