Three-phased approach towards charter amendment.

Having considered the expansion and equitable representation of the Security Council, the General Assembly decided on 23 November that any reform of the Council would require a two-thirds majority vote of Assembly members.

Most States agreed that Security Council reform was a central part of the revitalization of the United Nations and that the composition of the Council needed to reflect the changing needs of the international community and the realities of the world today.

Botswana said that the Council had shown serious deficiencies recently in its response to internal conflicts. The crux was, therefore, how to expand the membership of the Council so that its authority, legitimacy and representativeness would be enhanced. China recalled that since 1963, when the Assembly first adopted a resolution to enlarge the Council, the membership of the United Nations had increased nearly fourfold and most of the new Members were developing countries. The reform process would be considered a success only if an enlarged Council enhanced the representation of developing countries.

Senegal noted that significant differences still existed between those countries, like France or the Russian Federation who in the name of efficiency advocated an expansion to 21 members, and those who called for 26 members. A "dynamic compromise" to meet the requirements of representation and effectiveness had yet to be found.

Differences also existed between those who wanted an expansion in both permanent and non-permanent seats and those who wanted only one category. Members of the Non-Aligned Movement believed that the expansion should be based on equitable geographical representation. A number of States supported proposals for an additional five permanent seats, with one each going to the developing countries in the regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, and two reserved for industrialized countries, such as Japan and Germany. A number of States advocated an expansion in both categories, but also supported a "fall-back" plan to proceed with the increase in the number of non-permanent seats first. Many also supported a system of rotation among States of each region, which addressed issues of fairness, justice and democracy.

Mexico opposed such an expansion, stating that the "permanent rotating seats" constituted one of the "most flagrant deceits" emerging from the deliberations on the issue. Member States of the Organization of African Unity...