1.   He earned a permanent membership card during his debut by finishing second.

2.   How far remains unclear, since the United States has threatened to block whatever does not give permanent membership to Germany and Japan.

3.   Permanent membership would be accorded to Germany, Japan and three nations from the developing world.

4.   The Clinton administration was an early supporter of permanent membership for Germany and Japan, and would consider adding a few seats to the non-permanent ranks.

5.   African and Latin American countries have complained their continents are not represented among the permanent membership.

6.   Along with Japan, Germany also is considered a leading candidate for permanent membership on the council.

7.   Argentina and Mexico are also interested in permanent membership and oppose any formula to make Brazil the exclusive Latin representative.

8.   Boutros-Ghali also voiced his support for permanent membership for Japan in the U.N. Security Council.

9.   But Italy strongly opposes any change which would freeze it out of permanent membership.

10.   But he mentioned no specific candidates for permanent membership.