Japanese diplomat talks
about future of U.N.

By Susan Kreifels
Star-Bulletin

Japan's ambassador to the United Nations sees the international assembly's post-Cold War role becoming larger in solving environmental and humanitarian issues and the treatment of women and children.

But reforms and decisions have become increasingly more difficult as the United Nations grows, said Yukio Satoh, who spoke yesterday at a lunch sponsored by the consulate general of Japan, the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, East-West Center and other local organizations.

U.N. membership soon will reach 188 with admission of new Pacific island nations.

Satoh said one of the biggest reforms is needed in the U.N. Security Council -- increasing its size and makeup to reflect the larger membership, as well as the geopolitics of the world today rather than after World War II.

"The debate has been dragging on for six years," Satoh said.

Currently there are 15 members, five of them permanent: the United States, China, Russia, Great Britain and France.

Each has veto power. A single country can hold back a resolution.

Japan's two-year nonpermanent membership ended late last year. Satoh said few oppose permanent membership of his country, which foots 20 percent of the U.N. bill after the United States, which pays 25 percent.

But the total number of members on the council, and who should sit permanently, has been debated. The United States wants 21 members, thinking fewer make decisions easier. Other countries want up to 26.

Permanent membership could be hotly contested between India and Pakistan, Germany and Italy, and among Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa as well as the larger South American countries.

While some believe the permanent members should give up veto rights, making the vote more democratic, Satoh said he doubted any of the current five members would want to give up that power.

The NATO powers circumvented the Security Council, bombing Kosovo without its backing. Satoh said China and Russia would have opposed the bombing.

Japan did not actively support the Kosovo bombings but "expressed understanding" of the NATO attacks. It spent $200 million on the Kosovo refugees, the most from a single country.

Sanctions on Iraq also have been complicated because of disagreement among the permanent council members. Japan supported the bombing sanctions there.

Satoh said on U.N. issues, "Japan always sticks by the U.S., not because we're allies but because we think the same way."