NYT- U.S. Rebuffs Germans Anew on Bid for Security Council

[maddezmom]

By STEVEN R. WEISMAN
Published: June 9, 2005

WASHINGTON, June 8 - The Bush administration, in a move that is straining relations with the government of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, has again rebuffed Germany's effort to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, American and European officials said Wednesday.

The officials said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice again relayed the United States' position in private to the German foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, on Wednesday, suggesting that expansion of the Security Council was secondary in importance to other changes in the United Nations, such as streamlining management. The United States had declined to endorse the German effort for weeks, but its tone became more emphatic in recent days. "There are many reforms on the table," Ms. Rice told reporters with Mr. Fischer at her side after they met at the State Department. "Now, in the context of broad reform, we also think that Security Council reform definitely needs to be examined." She said "various ideas" would be given "a sober and reflective discussion" to reach a consensus. German officials said that Ms. Rice told Mr. Fischer that the administration was not opposing Germany's effort per se but that it was wary of expanding the Security Council to 25 members from 15, as proposed by Germany, Japan, India and Brazil, which have united to advocate permanent membership for themselves.

"We were given to understand by the United States that their concerns about this procedure are not motivated by any anti-German considerations," said Wolfgang Ischinger, the German ambassador to the United States, who was at the meeting with Mr. Fischer. "She made that clear."

A senior administration official said that Ms. Rice had told Mr. Fischer that while not supporting the effort by the four nations, the United States "was not opposed to any plan" but wanted more discussion. Noting that China opposes a seat for Japan, Italy opposes one for Germany and Pakistan opposes one for India, the official said, "We want to make sure there is a thorough discussion among all the parties, and we're not sure that has taken place."

~snip~
more: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/09/politics/09diplo.html?oref=login

[Igel]

1. Isn't Germany one of the countries that wants a common

foreign policy for the EU?

If the EU has a single foreign policy and a bunch of UN Security Council people, isn't it rather like the way the USSR used to be? One country, the USSR having a vote in the General Assembly and on the Security Council, but Ukraine (and Belorussia?) had a vote, too.

[central scrutinizer]

2. Bushco's Security Council Wetdream:

Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Uzbekistan
Israel
Colombia
Kuwait
oops, I forgot Poland

did I miss anybody else from the coaltion of the billing and any other military dictatorships?

[Robeson]

3. Panama.....

...we can always get their vote, or else.....