New York - The U.N. General Assembly is set to start debate on Monday over reform of the Security Council, diplomats said Wednesday in New York.
The discussion will determine the prospects for a push by Germany, Japan, Brazil and India to become permanent members of the United Nations' highest political body.
The four countries want the 15-member council to be expanded to 25 members, to include six new permanent members and four interim permanent members. Currently, only five countries have permanent seats with veto rights - the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain.
The group of four have said they would waive veto-rights for at least 15 years in exchange for permanent seats.
A vote on the principle of expansion is expected at the earliest on Wednesday, and would need a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly's membership to pass.
Later votes would then determine which countries would get the seats.
