MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
UK ratifies position on new Security Council permanent members but wants to limit veto right
The UK supports new permanent seats for Brazil, Germany, India, Japan and an African representation as part of the reforms to the United Nations Security Council, said Ambassador Sir Mark Lyall Grant of the UK Mission to the UN, during a debate at the General Assembly. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesThe security council doesn't work very well with the current number of veto holding members. Current holders will not give up that right but adding to that number will just freeze up the council enabling it to do nothing. This seems like a sensible compromise - but China won't want India or Japan, Argentina will be irked by Brazil and lots of other nations will be “whataboutmeing”
Nov 14th, 2014 - 09:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0I predict lots of talking and no change.
I think the level headed Falkland Islanders should be on the SC.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 10:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0FAR more first world than the Brazil Nuts.
I fail to see any justification for Brazil to be a permanent member of the Security Council. I can't see anything that Brazil has EVER done to justify such a position. If there has to be a south american member, let it be Chile. Although I am starting to have general reservations about that country. I would also be against India. A nuclear weapons state that hasn't signed either the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty or the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? Not to be trusted. Of slightly less importance is India's connections with Russia. Nor can I see any obvious contender for an African seat.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 11:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA at least put themselves on the line for WW2. Applying that criteria, what did Brazil, India or an African country do? Brazil made a contribution, but only a contribution. India was taken in by the British Empire. As for Africa, the only possible member would be South Africa. But South Africa has fallen by the wayside. It's not what it was.
Regarding non-permanent seats, I reckon these should be discontinued. The more members a committee has the less likely it is to reach agreement. It will just wrangle endlessly. It finds it almost impossible to be decisive now. Imagine it with 15 or more members.
So, once we have decided, the new permanent members can replace the current non-permanent members. And such new permanent members should definitely not have veto power. Assuming that Germany and Japan are willing to serve, it will have taken 70 years, at least, to mend the bridges. New permanent members should have to serve at least 70 years before even having the opportunity to progress beyond 'probation'.
Indeed, I would still have reservations about Germany and Japan. Taking into account peacekeeping responsibilities, what has China done? And what could either Germany or Japan do?
“”“”I can't see anything that Brazil has EVER done to justify such a position. “””
Nov 14th, 2014 - 01:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thats your problem then.
Brazil is a thriving country with burgeoning middle class and economy, huge landmass and big population that is rapidly growing and slowly emerging into a more stable and less corrupted nation state..
Any forward looking person has to acknowledge that Brazil is on its way to holding a significant world position in both economic terms and longer terms militarily.
Out of the almost universal nut-box nations Chile might seem the most balanced simply because it is relatively pro-British', but it is a minnow compared to Brazil.
Brazil is the only real candidate for South America.
Look to the future, not subsist on old prejudices.
I think the UN should be disbanded. It is a worthless organization that gives a voice to nations that don't deserve it.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 01:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I'd be very happy if the USA stopped funding it and it dissolved.
I have to agree with yankeeboy. UN is a waste of space and allowing second rate states a vote on anything isn't going to improve matters. Time to close it down along with the EU and FIFA.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 03:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“”“I think the UN should be disbanded. It is a worthless organization that gives a voice to nations that don't deserve it.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 03:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I'd be very happy if the USA stopped funding it and it dissolved.”“”
well, yes, there is that also - it is an utterly useless body as evinced by the C24 running a 20 year campaign NOT to help the people they were set up to help.
Brazil and India are both unqualified to be permanent members of the UNSC.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 04:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Brazil has been and is a permanent candidate for a permanent seat since the League of Nations times- and always will be. The trouble is that it does not quite make the grade either from a geopolitical or a strategic point of view. Canada instead, would be an infinitely better candidate for the Americas (forget about S.A.)
And India would be the source endless troubles, and would be unable to help in solving any, and all international problems.
Indeed, Italy would be a first-class civilised alternative- having modern, well-equipped armed forces.
Philippe
I think the UN gets a bad rap at times. The UNSC is all the nations that matter deciding on world issues that matter and the rest of it is a load of gobbledegook to make the rest of the world believe they have a voice.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 04:19 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What's not to like?
Britain slaps down Argentina after blast at Royal Navy for opening fire off Falklands
Nov 14th, 2014 - 08:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0BRITAIN today slapped down Argentine complaints about a “provocative” live-firing military exercise off the Falklands.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/535552/Falkland-Islands-Argentina-anger-Royal-Navy-opening-fire
,,,,
Argentine fury at frigate's gunfire
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/535552/Falkland-Islands-Argentina-anger-Royal-Navy-opening-fire
Argentina lodged a formal complaint over what it called a “provocation”.
The Argentine embassy said the live firing “constitutes a further provocation
The Argentine Republic rejects in the strongest possible terms the execution of naval and military exercises in an Argentine territory that is illegally occupied by the UK.
“This act constitutes an unjustified show of force. It also demonstrates a wilful disregard for numerous resolutions made by the United Nations
It said it was ” further proof of a systematic policy to entirely disregard UN resolutions
The British reply [typically]
An MoD spokesman said: ”Royal Navy warships undertake regular training in the use of their weapon systems
The Foreign Office said the incident was the third time this year that one of its diplomats had been summoned by the Argentinian authorities
There is no change to the UK's defence posture in the South Atlantic,
Perhaps it could have been a stronger reply ??? what say you….
.
South America deserves to be represented. Select a country from outside the sub-continent will not change the current lack of legitimacy in the Security Council.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 08:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIt6D89tLTM&list=FLmXPTu1f8AdGlizWNiASx2A&index=9
Cool I vote for Colombia.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 08:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Security Council
Nov 14th, 2014 - 08:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0the more you water it down,, the less effective it will become,
at the moment the UN is a clumsy lumbering giant,
used by most for abuse,
yes the UN have out used its useful ness and should be disbanded.
Canguru, all the other countries of America has supported Brazil.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 09:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfRSe_ANfcU&list=FLmXPTu1f8AdGlizWNiASx2A&index=21
Yeah I still vote for Colombia.
Nov 14th, 2014 - 10:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Because you are a Canguru!
Nov 14th, 2014 - 10:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not exist Canguru in América, only you........kkkkkkkkk
Ummm, something about dust?!?!?!
Nov 14th, 2014 - 10:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not often I find myself agreeing with Margaret Thatcher and Ronnie Reagan in the same sentence - but they were absolutely correct the UN is a waste of time and effort and hasn't done a damn useful thing since the Korean War.
Nov 15th, 2014 - 12:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0I agree it should be Colombia
Nov 15th, 2014 - 01:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0#17
Nov 15th, 2014 - 05:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Is he calling you a Kangaroo ? He probably means it as an insult but he chose the wrong animal. I certainly would not like to get on the wrong side of a male kangaroo. It would knock the crap out of you before disemboweling you.
#11
Another one of your stupid adolescent's videos.
Do you really think that you would have a hope in hell's chance of doing any damage to the USN or USAAF, I see the video was made by some Russian kiddy.
Sun newspaper, today page four [ 4 ]
Nov 15th, 2014 - 07:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0SIXTY, yes SIXTY
NINE PER SENT 69% [for the argies benefit..lol
or European tax payers want ARGENTINA ousted from the G20
due to economic woes and strange behaviour on the global stage a latest poll found..
not as popular as they think..lol
Clyde15
Nov 15th, 2014 - 11:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I do believe he is. I'm unsure if it is meant as an insult simply because a nickname for Aussies is SKIP. From a TV show about a kangaroo.
And yes, I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of a red when he is over 2 metres tall. I doubt Brazil has any animals that tall. the trick if you are attached and sbout to get your guts ripped out, walk towards the roo. They can't move backwards when standing on their tail.
Top Tip, Anglotino!
Nov 16th, 2014 - 12:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0I hope I never need it... but still would love to visit someday.
:-)
On a more more serious note I hear that many, many Venezuelans are applying to emmigrate to Australia but finding the requirements very strict, and therefore are trying Canada instead. No disrepect to Canada I'm sure, they just prefer the climate in Aus.
#22
Nov 16th, 2014 - 10:54 am - Link - Report abuse 0I remember Skippy the Kangaroo and watching it with my daughter about 40 years ago.
I can still remember singing the tile song chorus and Flipper the Dolphin !
Required watching for a 7 year old.
@11 Brasiliero
Nov 16th, 2014 - 11:32 am - Link - Report abuse 0Why does South America 'deserve' to be represented? What has South America EVER done for the WORLD?
The 5 permanent members of the Security Council put their money where their mouths are, and defended the world against a great evil. And the 5 permanent members of the Security Council also pay MORE MONEY than other nations towards the UN.
I personally don't believe that Germany should be allowed at the table, nor Japan either.
But if they want to expand the permanent members, then the VETO should remain with the Big 5. The reason being that the League of Nations, which was a precursor to the UN, became a useless, powerless lemon because TOO many countries had a VETO.
Besides, Germany, Spain, Japan, Brazil and India rarely send troops (and then not in any significant numbers) to do peace enforcement. So why should they have a permanent seat at the big table?
The real problem with the so called United Nations is that there is pretty much nothing that they are united about. At best it is a forum where every nation has an opportunity to protect its vested interests. The Security Council is a joke since it provides security to no-one. The existence of veto powers and exercise thereof turns the whole thing into an unpleasant farce. Agonizing over whether the SC should be expanded, whether there should be additional permanent members, whether these members should have a veto and all the rest of the navel-gazing is so much Titanic-born deck chair re-organization. When the US sidelined the UN in going into Iraq they merely demonstrated in practice what we all know in theory - the UN is an irrelevant organization struggling to retain the appearance of relevance.
Nov 16th, 2014 - 02:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What we really need is an international police keeping force - maybe something like NATO but world-wide. No one country can afford to do the job by itself, not even the US. The force probably ought to have a standing army - there is always some part of the world that needs sorting out. Decisions would be taken by majority vote weighted by the size of the financial commitment each member is prepared to make. Mutual defence pact. No action on the territory of any member without that member's consent. If it becomes necessary, then member has to be ejected by majority vote first. And you would only get your vote if you are actually paid up. No vetos.
Like the UN!
Nov 17th, 2014 - 10:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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