‘Uniting for Consensus’ or ‘Coffee Club’

Why in news?

• Amid continuing deadlock in the talks to reform the UN Security Council, Italy/Pakistan-led Uniting for Consensus group firmly opposes any additional permanent members.
• As a compromise, UfC has proposed a new category of members – not permanent members – with longer duration in terms and a possibility to get re-elected.

About Coffee Club:

• ‘Uniting for Consensus’ or Coffee Club, is a movement that developed in the 1990s in opposition to the possible expansion of permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council.
• Under the leadership of Italy, it aims to counter the bids for permanent seats proposed by G4 nations (Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan) and is calling for a consensus before any decision is reached on the form and size of the United Nation Security Council.
• Italy, along with Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt founded the Coffee Club in 1995 to reject the proposal to increase the number of permanent seats in the UNSC.
• The Uniting for Consensus group contends that an increase in permanent seats will exacerbate the inequality among the member nations and lead to the cascading expansion of several privileges.
• Other core members of this grouping are:
  • Canada, Spain, Turkey, Argentina, and Malta.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Uniting for Consensus’ or ‘Coffee Club’:

1. India is a founding member of the group

2. It opposes any possible expansion of permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer