UN: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern has said he expects negotiations between European countries on the reform of the UN Security Council to "go to the wire", and does not anticipate agreement on the issue before a UN summit in September.
Speaking in Rome during the first formal trip to a European capital as special envoy of UN secretary general Kofi Annan, Mr Ahern said there was consensus among EU countries on most of the other reforms proposed by Mr Annan. He said EU countries were seen by the UN as "a trailblazer" in relation to much of the reform package with general consensus on issues such as the millennium development goals, reduction of poverty, elimination of Aids, definitions of terrorism and increasing development aid.
"The vast majority of what's on offer is agreed by the EU. The issue that Italy and Germany and a number of states in Europe will disagree on is the whole issue of security reform."
Mr Ahern was speaking following a meeting with Italian foreign minister and deputy prime minister Gianfranco Fini, who reiterated his country's opposition to an increase in the number of permanent seats on the UN Security Council. Italy is against proposals to add an additional eight permanent seats to the current five, one of which is likely to go to Germany, and which Germany is supporting.
Italy favours an increase in the number of rotating members of the security council, which would serve terms of four years, as opposed to two at present.
Mr Annan has outlined the two options in the reform package, but has not made a recommendation on either. "People realise that you do need a new structure, but I think that issue will go to the wire," he said. "We were teasing out with the Italians what their views on that were. I have to remain neutral on it - it's up to the member states to decide."
During his visit to Rome Mr Ahern also visited the tomb of Pope John Paul II in the crypt of St Peter's in the Vatican to pay his respects.
He had also been due to meet representatives of the Holy See, but this was cancelled following the election of Pope Benedict XVI.
Mr Ahern also visited the small independent state of San Marino near northern Italy yesterday.