On 26th August 2006 Turkmenistan left the permanent membership, and became an associate member.
Japan's is the only candidacy for permanent membership that the United States has endorsed unequivocally.
It is one of the G4 nations seeking permanent membership in the Security Council.
Russia's permanent membership in the Security Council is no longer taken for granted.
The most widely discussed proposals in last week's report concern expanding the Security Council, whose permanent membership reflects the power relations of 1945, not 2004.
A mature Europe would insist on a permanent membership that reflected the realities of the 21st century.
Other nations have argued for 25 or more seats and want the permanent membership to be less dominated by the industrial powers, particularly the Europeans.
The result was positive and Lewis were conferred with permanent membership of the league.
Washington wants to expand the permanent membership to include Japan and at least one major developing country.
Other members were occasionally and variably brought in for work on single albums, but had no permanent membership in the band.