U.S. Rebuffs Germans on Security Council Bid By STEVEN R. WEISMAN Published: June 9, 2005 WASHINGTON, June 8 - The Bush administration, in a move that is straining relations with the government of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, has again rebuffed Germany's effort to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, American and European officials said Wednesday. The officials said that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice again relayed the United States' position in private to the German foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, on Wednesday, suggesting that expansion of the Security Council was secondary in importance to other changes in the United Nations, such as streamlining management. The United States had declined to endorse the German effort for weeks, but its tone became more emphatic in recent days. "There are many reforms on the table," Ms. Rice told reporters with Mr. Fischer at her side after they met at the State Department. "Now, in the context of broad reform, we also think that Security Council reform definitely needs to be examined." She said "various ideas" would be given "a sober and reflective discussion" to reach a consensus. German officials said that Ms. Rice told Mr. Fischer that the administration was not opposing Germany's effort per se but that it was wary of expanding the Security Council to 25 members from 15, as proposed by Germany, Japan, India and Brazil, which have united to advocate permanent membership for themselves. "We were given to understand by the United States that their concerns about this procedure are not motivated by any anti-German considerations," said Wolfgang Ischinger, the German ambassador to the United States, who was at the meeting with Mr. Fischer. "She made that clear." A senior administration official said that Ms. Rice had told Mr. Fischer that while not supporting the effort by the four nations, the United States "was not opposed to any plan" but wanted more discussion. Noting that China opposes a seat for Japan, Italy opposes one for Germany and Pakistan opposes one for India, the official said, "We want to make sure there is a thorough discussion among all the parties, and we're not sure that has taken place." But several other European and Asian diplomats say they have gotten the impression from top officials of the Bush administration that it opposes German membership, even if it eventually goes along with membership for other countries. Some diplomats said that they believed further that a factor in the United States' position was its continuing distrust of Mr. Schröder, who angered Mr. Bush when he campaigned for re-election against the war in Iraq in 2002, then opposed the war at the United Nations in 2003. Mr. Schröder faces another re-election battle this year. Expanding the Security Council needs the support of 128 nations, or two thirds of the 191 United Nations members. A vote is set for September, but diplomats involved in the effort say a consensus must emerge by July for a change to occur. Germany and the other countries acknowledge that they lack the necessary votes but contend they are making progress. American support is considered essential to any consensus. Officially, the Bush administration has only endorsed Japan's membership, even though Japan has made its own effort to gain permanent membership part of a package deal with Germany, India and Brazil. Some supporters of the other countries speculate that they may have to separate their efforts from Germany's to gain United States support. "The German efforts have not met with great enthusiasm in Washington," said a senior European diplomat. "I am using diplomatic understatement." The Bush administration says it has made what it describes as "reform" at the United Nations a priority, and that the need for it was the reason cited when Mr. Bush nominated John R. Bolton to be ambassador to the United Nations. What several diplomats called growing United States opposition to permanent Security Council membership for Germany has puzzled and dismayed many diplomats, who have said they could only speak candidly about it if they were not quoted by name or country. A top European diplomat involved in delicate negotiations on many matters said the United States opposition was rankling Germany and could make it harder to work with Germany and other nations on such issues as preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons. Speaking to reporters before meeting with Ms. Rice, Mr. Fischer said he understood that Germany faced difficulties in convincing the United States of the merits of German membership but that expansion of the Security Council was necessary to strengthen its legitimacy throughout the world. Germany, he said, deserves to be a permanent member because it pays a large share of the United Nations' finances, has sent security forces to Afghanistan and the Balkans and is in the forefront of combating nuclear arms proliferation and promoting peace and economic development in the Middle East and the Arab world. Asked about the chances of convincing the United States, he said, "We are trying our very best." 4 Nations Drop Demand for Veto By The New York Times UNITED NATIONS, June 8 - The four countries lobbying jointly for permanent seats on the Security Council - Brazil, Germany, India and Japan - said Wednesday that they were dropping their demand for the veto power that the five existing permanent members possess. In a revised resolution, which they hope to submit to a vote of the General Assembly this month, the four said they would delay pressing for veto rights for 15 years. In a cover letter, they acknowledged that the veto matter had caused particular concern to the wider membership in the campaign for the 128 votes needed to approve the measure. The resolution also calls for two more permanent seats for unnamed African nations. Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa are the front-runners. The resolution would expand to 25 the present 15-member Security Council, with four new nonpermanent members joining the six new permanent ones.
Germany did't support the war in Iraq. The Germans should be thankful that GWB doesn't launch an invasion of their country. Your either with us or against us remember.
