AU calls for two African UN seats
Richard Mantu
7 July 2005
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.
At the close of the African Union (AU) heads of state summit in Libya on Tuesday, about 40 African leaders adopted the Sirte Declaration, which reaffirms their "common position" to get Africa two permanent UN Security Council seats with all attendant privileges, including full veto rights.
The declaration also calls for a "comprehensive reform of the United Nations system."
The declaration proposes enlarging the UN Security Council from 15 to 26 member countries, with the 11 additional seats distributed to different continents - including two seats for Africa, two for Asia, one for Latin American and Caribbean states, and one for Western European and other states.
African leaders also called for five non-permanent seats in the enlarged UN Security Council - two from
Africa and one each from Asia, Eastern European states, and Latin American and Caribbean states.
Besides the allocation of seats, the Ezulwini Consensus proposes strengthening 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."
African leaders said they would like to concentrate their energies on getting the seats first, before consulting on who gets those seats.
"Africa will select the candidates for the United Nations Security Council when the time comes," said AU peace and security council commissioner Said Djinnit. "The priority now is on the need to secure the seats."
South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said the issue of Africa getting seats with privileges was a matter of principle, as all permanent members on the UN Security Council had veto powers.
"If it exists for others, then it should also exist for us," Dlamini-Zuma
said.
The Ezulwini Consensus setting out Africa's position on UN reform was drafted by a committee of 10 plus three foreign ministers.
At the Sirte summit, African leaders mandated the core group of 10 plus three foreign ministers to be expanded with five new members selected by Africa's regional blocs to negotiate with other world regions and stakeholders on Africa's UN aspirations.
Source: BuaNews

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