Egypt joins race for permanent seats on UN Security Council

Egypt joined Brazil and a number of other countries on Friday in competing for a permanent seat on an expanded UN Security Council, saying it is fit to represent the Arab and Muslim regions in the powerful body.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit reiterated a 1997 declaration by African leaders, which demanded two permanent seats and three non-permanent seats for Africa on a reformed Security Council.

Meanwhile, he hinted that one of the two permanent seats to be allocated for Africa should go to the Arab and Muslim world.

"We must reiterate the legitimate right of more than one billion Muslims and more than 300 million Arabs to be represented in the council on an equal basis with the representatives of other cultures and civilizations," he emphasized.

Citing Egypt's role in the African, Arab and Islamic spheres, Gheit said Egypt remains convinced that "it is eminently qualified to assume permanent responsibilities in the framework of an expanded Security Council."

Should the simultaneous expansion of permanent and non-permanent seats on the council proves difficult, he recommended only increasing non-permanent seats, from the present 10 to at least 21.

Egypt is the latest of a number of countries who declared their intention to vie for a permanent council seats. Egypt's immediate and main rivals are Nigeria and South Africa, two other major African countries.

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo told the assembly on Thursday that priority consideration for permanent membership should be given to Africa and he "strongly believes" that Nigeria is a "well-qualified" candidate.

But South African President Thabo Mbeki, in his speech to the assembly, stopped short of mentioning his country's bid for the permanent council seat.

Diplomats here said Africa has not yet agreed on the region's candidate states for permanent membership on the council, whose decisions are legally binding on the 191 UN member states.

Outside Africa, there are four competitors -- Germany, Japan, Brazil and India, which have agreed to support one another in lobbying for permanent seats on the Security Council.

The Security Council is composed of five permanent members -- China, Britain, France, Russia, the United States -- and 10 elected members which have a two-year term. The council's permanent membership has not changed since 1945.

The council's expansion has been under discussion for more than one decade. Brazil, Germany, Japan and India, which have long aspired for permanent council seats, stepped up their campaign after UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed a high-level panel last year to study the reform of the United Nations.

The panel is due to present a report in December and then Annanwill present his recommendations to the General Assembly in March.

In August, an option the panel is considering was leaked to the press. The proposal provides for an increase of eight semi-permanent members, which would sit on the council for five-year terms, subject to renewal. But the idea was strongly opposed by Brazil, Japan, Germany and India.