NEW DELHI, 27 April 2005 — On a day when UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was in New Delhi, Japan yesterday said the “G-Four’ group — comprising Japan, India, Germany and Brazil — was formulating a draft resolution to be introduced in the UN General Assembly in September, staking the claims of the four countries for permanent seats in the Security Council.

The draft of the resolution was almost ready, Japanese Ambassador to India, Yasukuni Enoki, said at a press conference here. Asserting that Japan wanted a permanent seat in the Security Council with the veto power, he said the ‘G-Four’ group must strengthen its solidarity in the face of stiff opposition from certain quarters to their candidatures.

He acknowledged that Japan’s candidature was being opposed by China. “Every country has a difficult neighbor...Brazil’s candidature is being opposed by Mexico, while Germany’s candidature is being opposed by Italy,” he added. The issue of UN reforms is expected to figure prominently during talks between Annan and Indian leaders tomorrow.

Annan, who arrived here Monday, said he was of the view that UN institutions should be strengthened. He said he would discuss UN reforms with the Indian leaders. “The process of expansion (of the Security Council) will be approved by the end of the year by member-States,” the Secretary General hoped.

Annan’s visit is to be followed by that of Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to India from April 28. The issue of UN reforms will also figure prominently during Koizumi’s talks with the Indian leadership.

Annan met all the heads of the UN agencies here yesterday and discussed with them various ways of making the UN a more germane and effective body in tune with the needs of the 21st century.

Typical of his easy and informal style, he met everybody in the UN staff, cutting across hierarchy, in a democratic manner and sought their views on how to push developmental goals of the UN, a senior official of the United Nations Information Center said.

His wife, Nane Annan, a lawyer, painter and an AIDS activist, attended a photo exhibition entitled ‘Eye Reveal’ which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur at Gallerie Romain Rolland here in the evening. The exhibition aims at sensitizing the youth on issues of masculinity and gender violence. She will visit the Lajpat Nagar police station to interact with police personnel on HIV/AIDS awareness on Wednesday. The UN chief will call on President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Manmohan and hold discussions with External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh today. He will also meet Congress party president and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. India is likely to use Annan’s visit to push its case for permanent membership of the all-powerful Security Council.