Russia will back Germany's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nation's Security Council, President Vladimir Putin said today.
“I want to confirm that Russia will support Germany as a future permanent member of the ... Security Council,” Mr Putin said at a joint news briefing with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac.
Currently, the council has 15 members; five veto-holding states, France, Britain, Russia, China and the United States, and 10 non-permanent seats which rotate every two years between the rest of the U.N.'s member states.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said the current format needs reform but there is disagreement over what should replace it.
Only once this has been settled will candidates be put forward for membership of the new-look council.
Mr Putin said Russia would support any “reasonable” plan for UN reform that had majority support.
“The important thing is that reform does not lead to splits and conflict,” he told the news briefing.