Japan will submit a draft resolution calling for enlargement of the UN Security Council to the UN General Assembly by the end of this summer, Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Tuesday.

"The draft resolution should be submitted to the General Assembly by summer," Machimura told reporters after a cabinet meeting, adding "it is a must to avoid longtime waiting on the submission issue, otherwise, the plan's power will fade away".

The foreign minister also welcomed suggestions and opinions from all sides. "We would like to listen to all suggestive opinions on the resolution anytime," he said.

Japan, Brazil, India and Germany, known as the Group of Four, announced last Tuesday that they would delay the submission of the draft resolution on UN reforms to the General Assembly until at least next month from the initially targeted June.

The G-4 countries, aspiring to become permanent members of the powerful UN panel, are seeking to change the structure of the council by adding six new permanent members and four new non-permanent members.

The opposing group, including Argentina, Italy, Pakistan and South Korea, proposes adding 10 new non-permanent members without enlarging permanent members.

A plan for UN reforms needs the backing of at least 128 of the 191 UN member states for its implementation.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2005)