WASHINGTON, Aug 13, SPA --President George W. Bush'sadministration supports Japan in its drive for a permanentseat on the U.N. Security Council, Secretary of State ColinPowell and Deputy Secretary Richard Armitage said Friday. They offered U.S. support in separate interviews withJapanese media. There are five permanent members of the Council, theUnited States, Russia, China, Britain and France. The other10 seats on the Council are rotated among all members ofthe U.N. General Assembly except Israel, which is excludeddue to an Arab-led boycott. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed a panel todetermine whether power shifts in the world should bereflected by adding Japan and Germany as permanent members. "We certainly have been supportive of Japan's interest inbecoming a member of this major body within the UnitedNations Security Council," Powell said. Separately, Armitage said, "The United States fullysupports Japan in its desire to have a seat in the U.N.Security Council." Japan is the second-biggest financier of the UnitedNations, its contributions exceeded only by those of theUnited States. Japan contributed about $263 million to the United Nationsgeneral budget in 2003. The sum accounts for nearlyone-fifth of the budget, and Japan pays hundreds ofmillions more for peacekeeping, development and other U.N.programs. The United States contributes more than $300 million.---SPA 2111 Local Time 1811 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/191630