The United Nations proposed the most sweeping changes in its history today, recommending the overhaul of its key decision-making organ, the Security Council, and suggesting standards of international legitimacy for countries that have not been attacked to go to war against an enemy posing an imminent threat.The changes were outlined in a much-awaited 101-recommendation report from a 16-member panel commissioned by Secretary General Kofi Annan a year ago in the aftermath of bitter divisions that had left the
United Nations feeling ill-equipped to meet modern day challenges represented by terrorism, failed states, nuclear proliferation, poverty and mass violence.In its most attention-getting recommendation, calling for a 24-member Security Council, the panel, led by Anand Panyarachun, a former prime minister of Thailand, was unable to agree on one proposal and ended up suggesting two options. Both are aimed at broadening the membership of the 15-member council to reflect the world of today rather than the one that existed when the council set up after the end of World War II.
It currently consists of five veto-bearing permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - and 10n members elected to two-year terms.
One alternative would add six new permanent members from Asia, Africa, the Americas and Europe - the likely candidates are Brazil, Germany, India, Japan, Egypt and either Nigeria or South Africa - as well as three new two-year term members.
The other would create a new tier of eight semi-permanent members chosen for renewable four-year terms and one additional two-year term seat.
The right to cast vetos would continue to be limited to the five members that now have that right.The new arrangement is aimed at rewarding both countries that have achieved economic and regional prominence over recent decades and countries that make the most significant contributions to the United Nations.
Addressing the legitimacy of the use of force, a source of crippling tensions at the United Nations last year when the United States was seeking Security Council authorization to go to war in Iraq, the panel said it found no reason to amend the United Nations charter's Article 51, which restricts the use of force to countries that have been attacked.full article may be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/30/international/30cnd-nati.html?ei=5094&en=02bb6f3d50bd8225&hp=&ex=1101877200&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1101850549-wjdwg88FZgTJ0tUn5kDEGw