U.S. Backs 5 New Permanent Posts on U.N. Security Council

The United States on Thursday agreed for the first time that nations from the Third World should be allowed to become permanent members of the powerful U.N. Security Council.

Ambassador Bill Richardson and Princeton Lyman, assistant secretary of State for international organizations, said the United States would vote to add as many as three developing countries, along with Germany and Japan, to the council’s permanent membership.

However, they said the crucial question of whether the new permanent members should have veto power over the council’s decisions--as do the United States and the four other existing permanent members--should be put off until after the new members are selected.

The council is the single most powerful U.N. body and has the authority to dispatch peacekeeping troops, impose economic sanctions and select the secretary-general. It consists of the five permanent members--the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia--and 10 rotating seats elected from the rest of the U.N. membership for two-year terms. The 10 rotating seats are divided among the various regions of the world and do not have veto power.

For several years, the United States has backed proposals to add Japan and Germany to the council to reflect their economic strength. However, developing countries, which make up a majority of the U.N.’s 185 members, have blocked council expansion unless they also receive some permanent status.

The General Assembly, which must approve any Security Council expansion, is expected to take up the issue this fall.