Geographical Equity Essential to Security Council Expansion: JiangChinese President Jiang Zemin said on Thursday that the expansion of the United Nations Security Council should be based on the principle of equitable geographical distribution.Jiang made the remarks at the Security Council Summit held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The meeting is part of the U.N. Millennium Summit being held from September 6 to 8. The Chinese president said that it is imperative for the Security Council to reform itself where necessary so as to strengthen its role, maintain its authority and improve its efficiency. But he told the summit meeting that the expansion of the Security Council "should first of all address the under-representation of the developing countries in the council". "Any reform of the Security Council should adequately reflect the will of the majority of the U.N. member states and only then, can the reform stand the test of history," he said. He added, "To this end, all the member states must have detailed and patient discussions in order to reach consensus on this issue." |
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