Berlin to Get Permanent Seat on UN?

The United Nations has proposed an overhaul of its top decision-making group, the Security Council, which may pave the way for Germany to get a permanent seat. The proposal, however, does not offer veto power to new members of the Security Council. Germany, together with Japan, India and Brazil, have for a long time made their intentions of seeking permanent seats clear. They have also called for Africa to be represented permanently at the UN's inner circle. Germany appears willing to sacrifice veto rights in return for winning permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. "A middle-sized power such as Germany does not need the right to a veto," a senior foreign policy aide to German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder told the Financial Times. Changes to the Council require a two-thirds majority in the 191-nation General Assembly and the agreement of all five permanent members. Russia has not yet indicated its position, while the Bush administration has made little secret of its displeasure about Germany's position, following its stance on the Iraq war.

(EUobserver.com)