A new proposal aimed at breaking a long-running deadlock over reforming the United Nations Security Council would expand the body from 15 to 22 members, but makes no mention of the key sticking point of whether any new members should get a permanent seat or veto rights. ( dpa )
Cyprus presented the new initiative to the General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim Thursday with the backing of Germany. The offer would give Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Latin America one extra seat each, and give Africa and Asia two additional seats.
A variety of options are offered as to the status of the new members. Currently only the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China sit on the council permanently and have veto powers over the body's decisions. The remaining 10 members of the council are rotated every two years.
The Security Council's makeup has not been altered since the UN's founding after World War 2. Germany, Brazil, Japan, India and African nations have all lobbied hard for permanent seats on the council, but various proposals made over more than 10 years have failed.
Germany in the past year has invited countries to help develop a compromise solution that could first be implemented over a trial period of 15 years.