Germany wants permanent seat in UNSC
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German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said on Wednesday that getting a permanent seat for EU in the UN Security Council was still a long term goal for Germany in UN reform.
Germany successfully won a two-year seat in the UN Security Council on Tuesday in a first round of voting in the UN General Assembly
"A permanent seat for common EU in the Security Council remains our long term goal for UN reform," Westerwelle said in a press conference.
As a medium-term goal, Germany wants to assume a permanent seat and shoulder more responsibilities, he added.
Westerwelle stressed the importance of the reform of UN, as it was still a reflection of world power after World War II. But he said Germany would push the change "intelligently, carefully and without making demands."
Westerwelle also mentioned the prior issues that Germany would pay attention to during its two-year term, like Afghanistan war, Iran nuclear issues, global environmental issues, nuclear non- proliferation and so on.
However, local media still doubted the strength of Germany on international political stage, saying "Germany is in no way a great power."
Local daily De Welt said, Germany has claimed the two-year UN seat, but Westerwelle "would be well advised not to tout his triumph too loudly," as Germany's victory was a result of its support for a multilateral foreign policy.
On UN reform, Germany's local news agency DPA said, skeptics question whether France and Britain would be prepared to give up their seats in favor of a common EU Security Council seat.
The regional daily the Saechsische Zeitung said making a permanent spot for Germany is unlikely as those permanent members have no incentives to do that.
Therefore it was better "to give the UN Security Council more authority to react more clearly and quickly in crises or conflicts, " it wrote.
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