UNITED NATIONS, Sept 16 (APP): The UN General Assembly on Monday night adopted by consensus a resolution under which the 192-member body decided to begin intergovernmental negotiations on expanding the membership of the Security Council not later than next February 28. After hours-long intense negotiations in the assembly’s panel tasked with making recommendations to reform the 15-member council, a compromise text was approved to accomplish the objective through what appears to be a dual-track approach as the 62^nd session came to an end.

By it’s terms, the assembly decided, building on the progress achieved thus far, in particular during its 2006 and 2007 sessions, as well as the positions of and proposals made by member states, to “continue immediately to address, within the (Open-Ended) Working Group, the framework and modalities in order to prepare and facilitate intergovernmental negotiations” on reforming the Security Council.

The Assembly further decided “to commence intergovernmental negotiations in informal plenary of the Assembly during its 63^rd session, but not later than 28 February 2009, based on proposals by Member States, in good faith, with mutual respect and in an open, inclusive and transparent manner, on the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council, seeking a solution that can garner the widest possible political acceptance by the membership”.

Diplomats from the Italy/Pakistan-led Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, which strongly opposes the induction of new permanent members and seeks expansion of the council in the non-permanent category only, did not appear to be fully satisfied over the outcome.

But they said that Monday’s resolution had validated the position they had taken in 2005 when the process began that the council’s expansion should come through a negotiated solution, not by voting which would only divide the membership. Another UfC point upheld by the assembly was that any decision should have the widest possible support of the membership. At the same time, they do have reservations over some aspects of the text.

The Assembly opens its 63^rd session Tuesday afternoon with a new president, former Nicaraguan foreign minister Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, who is to succeed Srgjan Kerim, a former Macedonian foreign minister.

The thorny issue of how to enlarge the 15-member Security Council to make it more representative and reflective of today’s global realities has for years divided the UN membership.

Last year a report by five “facilitators” stated that most UN members support council reform but could not agree on how to bring it about.

In July 2005, the aspirants for permanent membership—India, Brazil, Germany and Japan --  called the Group of Four—proposed the boosting the council’s  membership from 15 members to 25, with six new permanent seats without veto power and two for the African region as well as four non-permanent seats.

The UfC sought enlargement of the council to 25 seats, with 10 new non-permanent members who would be elected for two-year terms, with the possibility of immediate re-election.

The African Union’s called for the Council to be enlarged to 26 seats, one more permanent seat than the G-4 proposal. Its proposal for six new permanent seats was the same as the G-4’s, except that it would give the new members veto privileges.

The council has five permanent, veto-wielding members—Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. An additional 10 non-permanent members serve two-year term.

The “facilitators” gave no suggestion for a final solution, but noted that many members seemed willing to look for compromise.

Their report suggested moving forward in steps, with an “interim arrangement” that includes a “mandatory review to take place at a predetermined date.”

During the transitional period a number of configurations, including a repartitioning of seats on a regional basis and the most delicate, the veto-wielding power of the five permanent members, could be considered.