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Africa seeks permanent seats on UNSC
[Iran Press TV Latest] Ahead of the 25th Africa-France summit, the leaders of 38 African countries have called for drastic reform of the United Nations Security Council and a stronger role for their continent. The 38 African leaders plan to attend the summit, hosted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, which opens on Monday in the Riviera city of Nice, AFP reported. Pundits say the meeting, which was organized to renew France's ties with the continent, reflects France's shift of relations from its traditional West African allies toward the whole continent. In 2005, African countries' joint call to be given two veto-wielding permanent seats and two non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council was rejected. The African leaders have now relaunched the debate, pressing France to help materialize their request. The African leaders argue that the current UN Security Council structure is a remnant of the Cold War era and say that the continent should now be given a stronger voice on the council, given that 27 percent of UN member-states are African. "When there is a serious economic crisis in the world, we cannot continue to hold meetings without Africa and make decisions without Africa on behalf of the entire world... Africa cannot continue to be the fifth wheel and the Security Council cannot continue to be without Africa," Congo Republic President Denis Sassou Nguesso said ahead of the summit. France supports the increase of African representation on the Security Council but contends that the request is not realistic and suggests that Africa ask for only one permanent seat. Posted by: Fred 2010-06-01 |
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