Cuba Opposes Selective Expansion of UN Security Council

[magbana]

"Cuba Opposes Selective Expansion of Security Council

HAVANA, Cuba, March 5 (acn) At the United Nations Thursday Cuba rejected any partial or selective expansion of the Security Council, or any increase in membership that would detrimentally affect underdeveloped countries.

Cuban News Agency

The warning came amid intense debate regarding UN reforms relating to permanent and non-permanent membership, reported Prensa Latina news agency.

Rodolfo Benitez, advisor to the Cuban diplomatic mission to the UN, stressed that the only reasonable way to address the issue would be through fair representation of Third World countries.

Since its creation 60 years ago the Security Council has been composed of five permanent members with veto power (USA, UK, France, Russia and China), and ten non-permanent members from different geographical areas, appointed every two years.

Cuba is in favor of an expansion at both levels, to rectify the lack of representation of African, Asian and Latin American countries, said Benitez.

All new seats created, including permanent ones, should have the same prerogatives and rights as the current members, without establishing selective or discriminatory criteria, the Cuban diplomat said.

Benitez emphasized that Security Council reform can not keep being postponed or ignored because, without it, there will not be genuine reform of the UN."
http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2009/0305cubaopposes.htm