UNITED NATIONS, May 3 /TASS/. Russia does not rule out the emergence of new members of the United Nations Security Council in addition to the existing five permanent members (Russia, Britain, China, the United States and France), Vladimir Safronkov, Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said at a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly devoted to the United Nations Security Council reform. The diplomat confirmed Moscow’s firm stance that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council should preserve their right of veto despite the Council’s expansion.

"As for Russia’s stance, we do not rule out that new U.N. Security Council members may emerge as a result of the UN Security Council reform. But in order to pass a decision in favor of this option, it is necessary to see the entire scheme and what countries will have the status of permanent members at the UN Security Council. One of the hot favorites to become U.N. Security Council permanent members include Germany, Brazil, India and Japan.

The Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations called for a more careful study of proposals made by a number of countries on creating a "new category of places" at the Security Council for a term of more than two years for which non-permanent members are now elected.

The expansion of the U.N. Security Council and categories of members are one of the most thorniest issues on the agenda devoted to the United Nations reform.