Annan Concedes

UNSC reform unlikely before year's end

AFP, United Nations
Faced with an impasse over a proposed expansion of the UN Security Council, UN chief Kofi Annan was this week forced to concede that the contentious issue is unlikely to be settled before a summit of world leaders here in September.

Annan had made Security Council expansion a key plank of a sweeping UN reform package being ready for consideration by world leaders at a September 14-16 summit ahead of the General Assembly session. He had set a September deadline for agreement by member states.

"I'm one of those who believe that the reform of the United Nations will not be complete without the reform of the Security Council," the UN chief said Wednesday. "So I would urge the member states to find a solution to this issue as soon as possible."

But a day later, Annan appeared to bow to the political reality.

"Ideally, it should be done by September. That was my own initial recommendation," he said. "But if that were to slip, I think the member states should remain focused, determined, and engaged, and try and do it by the end of the year because it is urgent."