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Joint Press Statement of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of the Federal Republic of Germany on the report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change December 9, 2004

1.	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of the Federal Republic of Germany welcome the Report of the High-Level Panel and thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan as well as the Panel Members, for their efforts to comprehensively address today's threats, challenges and change. Those threats and challenges are both wide-ranging and interconnected. Institutional reform of the UN is one essential tool to address these issues. In this connection, Japan and Germany reiterate their support for the Secretary-General.
2.	Among UN institutional reforms, Security Council reform is crucial. In order for the Security Council to better reflect today's realities, the Security council, therefore, must be expanded in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, including developing and developed countries as new permanent members. We therefore welcome the corresponding proposal in the Panel's report.
3.	Japan and Germany look forward to consult with other Member States with a view to taking timely decisions on Security Council reform for a successful high level plenary meeting of the 60th session of the General Assembly.