Global Policy Forum

United Nations, 12 March: Cautioning that "unrepresentative and anachronistic" character of UN Security Council might hinder its ability to tackle threats to international peace and security in the long run, India called for its faster expansion by including developing countries.

"It is imperative that its reforms be given the highest priority," Indian Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN A. Gopinathan said. Calling for "collective endeavour" to move the process of reforming the Council, including its expansion, at a faster pace, he said making developing countries permanent members is essential to ensure its more representative character.

As the Council acts mostly on situations in developing countries, the "expansion of the Council to include new permanent and non-permanent members is essential," he said.

India, with more than a billion people and being the largest democracy, is the leading candidate for the permanent membership of the Council and a large number of countries have expressed support for its candidature.

In the first debate of the season in the open ended working group on Council reforms yesterday, France strongly supported India being given a permanent seat.

Referring to the peacekeeping operations in which Indian participation is substantial, Gopinathan said there was need for enhanced cooperation between the troops contributing countries, the Council which set the mandates and the Secretariat which draw up the plans.

Noting some steps taken by the Council in this direction, he said, "A spirit of cooperation and partnership must imbue this triangular relationship if UN peacekeeping is to be put on a firmer footing."

FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Global Policy Forum distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C íŸ 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.