France backs Brazil's permanent membership bid in UNSC

French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie Tuesday demanded an immediate reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and supported Brazil's bid for a permanent seat in the body.

"Brazil's request for a permanent seat should be taken into consideration since the country plays an essential role in the international arena," Alliot-Marie told a press conference here after meeting with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

The French minister arrived in Brazil on Monday and, before reaching the capital, she visited Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

In Brasilia, besides President Rousseff, Alliot-Marie also met with her counterpart Antonio Patriota and Defense Minister Nelson Jobim.

Over the 18 years since the establishment of the working panel for the UN Security Council reform in 1993, no agreement has ever been made on any plan or assumption regarding the reform due to sharply divergent views on concrete problems.

Some most disputed issues, including how many additional seats should be created; whether there should be new permanent seats; if yes, whether the new permanent members should have veto power, have even bogged down the reform process.

Brazil, Germany, India and Japan have been pushing hard for the enlargement of the Security Council, hoping that they could get permanent seats on the council, an important international governing body.

(Published by Sina - February 22, 2011)