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Britain, France Seek Expanded UN Security Council
Sep 24, 2004
Britain and France want to add at least four new permanent members to the United Nations Security Council -- Japan and Germany, because they supply 28 percent of the U.N. budget, and Brazil and India, which together have one-sixth of all the world's people.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says the appointment of new permanent members should take place along with expansion of the Security Council from 15 members to 24 member nations.
The Security Council has had just five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- since the United Nations was formed at the end of World War II. Originally there were six non-permanent members -- nations that hold a two-year term on the Council -- but the number of non-permanent members was raised to 10 later.
Addressing the U.N. General Assembly Thursday, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Paris supports permanent membership for Japan, Germany, Brazil and India, and also wants an African nation to become a permanent member.
This article uses material from VOA.
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