AU, G4 discuss UN reform
David Masango
26 July 2005
Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has arrived in London to attend a meeting on the proposed reform of the United Nations (UN) system.
Dlamini-Zuma is set to join her counterparts from the African Union (AU) in their second interaction with the G4 nations - India, Brazil, Germany and Japan - to discuss UN reform.
The London meeting follows the meeting of African Foreign Ministers of the Committee of 10 and their counterparts from India, Brazil, Germany and Japan in New York earlier this month to discuss the prospects for common action between the AU and G4 on UN reform.
The G4 and AU foreign ministers agreed to establish a joint mechanism to explore ways to overcome differences in Africa's and the G4's positions on the reform of the UN system.
African leaders have endorsed the Ezulwini Consensus, which proposes two permanent and five non-permanent seats for Africa in a reformed United Nations Security Council.
The Consensus
proposes that the two permanent seats have all the privileges, including the right to veto.
It also proposes the strengthening of the UN General Assembly to "enable it to fully play its role as the most representative and democratic organ of the United Nations system and world Parliament."
The G4 countries want to enlarge the Security Council with six new permanent members and four additional non-permanent members.
Source: BuaNews
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