WASHINGTON, June 9 (UPI) -- The Bush administration has refused to give its endorsement to Germany gaining a permanent seat on an expanded U.N. Security Council.
However, following a meeting Wednesday between U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, Rice offered little support for a German seat, and said the administration was more concerned with expansion than membership.
German officials told The New York Times Rice said the administration was wary of expanding the Security Council to 25 members from 15, as proposed by Germany, Japan, India and Brazil, all of whom are lobbying for permanent membership.
A senior administration official said during the meeting, Rice noted the diplomatic tangle involved with expansion, as China opposes a seat for Japan, Italy opposes one for Germany and Pakistan opposes one for India.
