Germany welcomes US backing for Japan to win special UN seat

Sun, 14 Nov 2010

Berlin - German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle praised US President Barack Obama on Sunday for casting his support behind Japan to obtain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Germany is itself seeking a similar permanent seat. Westerwelle had earlier praised Obama's support for India to win a seat too.

In a written statement in Berlin, Westerwelle said, "I welcome the support of US President Obama for a permanent Japanese security council seat. This underscores our efforts to obtain a security council that reflects the realities of the 21st century.

"Asia and Latin America are under-represented in the security council, as is Africa."

The council currently has five permanent members with the power to veto resolutions: the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China. Germany is to take up a two-year-only security council seat in January. Diplomats say changing the rules could take years.

Germany has linked up with India, Japan and Brazil to argue for UN reforms that would entail permanent seats for all four states.

On November 9, Westerwelle had also welcomed Obama's endorsement of India's campaign to obtain a permanent seat.

On Sunday, he said, "I hope the efforts for reform of the security council will gain new impetus from President Obama's recent remarks. Germany is also willing to adopt more responsibility in this."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/353475,win-special-un-seat.html.