The 191-nation UN General Assembly started on Monday a debate on a draft resolution submitted by Japan, Brazil, Germany and India, which calls for an increase of six permanent members on the Security Council.

The four countries, known as the G-4, are aspiring to become permanent members of an enlarged Security Council. Under their framework resolution, the seats of the council would be expanded to 25 from the current 15 by adding six new permanent seats and four non-permanent ones.

Brazilian Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg orally presented the draft on behalf of the G-4. He said the measure was submitted to the assembly in time for decisions to be taken before September.

The G-4 presented the resolution to the General Assembly secretariat last week. The resolution was co-sponsored by 23 countries, including Afghanistan, Belgium, Denmark, Fiji, France, Georgia, Tuvalu and Ukraine.

Representatives from some co-sponsors took the floor to urge support for the resolution. Fiji Ambassador to the UN Isikia Savua said in his speech that the G-4's proposal would "enhance the democratic and accountable nature of the council."

But the draft has been strongly opposed by Pakistan, China and many other countries. African states, which circulated their own proposal for the council expansion, also expressed their determination to stick to their own plan.

Algerian Ambassador to the UN Abdallah Baali said Africa would battle for its own proposal and is willing to wait until it gains extensive backing.

Africa circulated a draft resolution last week demanding two permanent seats and two non-permanent seats for the continent.

In his address, Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya called on UN member states to avoid a showdown on the issue of the council expansion and resolve their differences through further consultations.

"At present, after more than half-year's repeated discussions, differences surrounding the enlargement formula of the Security Council are showing a tendency of further expanding instead of narrowing down," Wang said.

"It is fair to say that we are still far from a formula that can accommodate the concerns of all sides or one that can win widespread support," he said. "Under such circumstances, member states need more time to continue dialogue and carry out full consultations in search of a compromise."

"Forcing through an immature formula by means of a vote is bound to split member states and regional groups and thus weaken the authority and role of the UN. To do so would also defeat totally the original purpose of the Security Council reform," he warned.

Therefore, Wang emphasized, "China is firmly opposed to setting an artificial time frame for the Security Council reform and rejects the forcible vote on any formula on which there still exists significant differences."

A UN reform plan needs the backing of at least two-thirds of the 191 UN member countries, or 128, to be approved by the assembly.

The assembly will continue its debate on the Security Council reform on Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2005)