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Annan Calls for Early Agreement on UN Reforms
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=D27062:2AB91D3

Ending a four-day trip to India, Kofi Annan says members generally
agree that next UN head should be from Asia





Kofi Annan speaking to the media in New DelhiU.N. Secretary General
Kofi Annan has called for an early consensus on wide-ranging reforms
proposed for the world body. Ending a four-day trip to India, Mr.
Annan also said U.N. members generally agree that the next head of the
world body should be from Asia.

The U.N. head, Kofi Annan, said in New Delhi Thursday that member
countries should decide "one way or the other" on recent proposals for
an overhaul of the world body before meeting in New York in September.

The proposals include expanding the permanent membership of the
Security Council, but without giving new members the power of veto.

Mr. Annan says enlargement of the powerful Security Council - even
without the veto - would make it more representative, and be a major
step forward.

"What is important is to have effective representation on the Council,
to make the Council more democratic, to ensure that voices of other
regions are heard, and I think that sort of change will not only make
the decisions of the Council much more acceptable generally, but the
Council itself would gain in greater legitimacy," said Kofi Annan.

The countries lobbying for permanent membership of the Security
Council are Japan, India, Brazil and Germany.

Indian leaders pressed their claim for a seat during the U.N. chief's
visit and Mr. Annan said many nations consider New Delhi's aspirations
"legitimate."

The U.N. chief stressed that expanding the Security Council is just
one element of a broader agenda for change, which should focus on
developing world concerns such as disease, poverty and hunger.

Mr. Annan also said that "unless there are dramatic changes", member
states agree that the next U.N. chief should come from Asia. The
continent already has one declared candidate, Thai foreign minister,
Surakiart Sathirathai.

The U.N. chief also called for an early return to constitutional rule
in Nepal, where King Gyanendra has assumed direct power and put many
political opponents in detention.


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