Japan plans new joint push on UN reform - Kyodo

TOKYO, Feb 19 (Reuters) Japan plans to team up with Brazil, India and Germany again to propose an expansion of the UN Security Council that would secure them permanent seats, Kyodo news agency reported today.

The four countries failed in 2005 to expand the world body -- which now has five permanent and 10 two-year slots -- because of opposition from the United States and China, along with other aspirants.

Since then, Japan has been working on a new proposal, with its focus on winning support from Washington.

Quoting government sources, Kyodo said Tokyo would aim to present the new plan for Security Council reform with the other countries around the summer.

But Kyodo said it was uncertain if the countries would be able to agree on the plan by the time the UN General Assembly ends in September because the countries were at odds over Japan's focus on winning US support.

A Foreign Ministry official said he was aware of the Kyodo report, but denied that any decision had been made to cooperate with the other countries.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has pledged to chart a bolder diplomatic path than his post World War Two predecessors, has said Japan will campaign again for a permanent council seat when the time is appropriate.

Last month, British Prime Minister Tony Blair called for the Security Council to include Japan, Brazil, India and Germany, as well as African and Muslim nations for it to be effective.

REUTERS AKJ PM1904