US says India to be 'central part' of UNSC reform

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jun 2 (PTI) The US has said India would play
a "central part" in the UN Security Council's reform process,
but stopped short of publicly endorsing the country's bid for
a permanent seat in the world body's top organ.
"We recognise, very clearly, India's increasing global
role. We recognise the importance of reform of the UN Security
Council; we're open to expansion of permanent membership of
the Council and we believe that India's going to have a
central part to play in the consideration that's going to come
of that reform of the UN Security Council," Under Secretary of
State for Political Affairs, William Burns, said.
However, he did not publicly endorse India for the
permanent membership of the UNSC.
It is obvious that the UN Security Council, as has been
the case with other parts of international architecture over
the last few years, is an issue that needs to be addressed so
that it reflects the realities of 2010, Burns said at the
Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington-based think-tank
Tuesday.
"Now, obviously, we want to try to do that in a way which
is going to preserve the effectiveness of the Security
Council, but this administration has made clear not only its
openness to reform and some expansion of permanent membership
in the Security Council, but we've also underscored the
importance we attached to India's role," he argued.
"So I think India's going to be a central part of the
consideration that is bound to come of Security Council
reform," he said, adding: "I do very much understand the
significance of Security Council reform. I think it's an
important issue for the United States to address and I think
India's going to be very much a part of that process."

Burns said there has already been considerable movement
in a number of other areas -- the emergence of the G-20 in the
wake of a global financial crisis and ad-hoc groups, whether
it is the P-5 plus one or the six-party talks on the North
Korean nuclear issue that have assumed increasing importance.
"So on Security Council reform it's an issue that this
administration recognises as extremely important. We want to
go about it in a way that's going to preserve the
effectiveness of the Security Council, but we also recognise
that that means that the realities of 1945 (when the UN was
formed) don't apply today.
"And that means that for countries like India and for
other countries, we need very much to consider how their
increasing role in global affairs is matched by the
responsibilities that they can discharge in the most important
parts of the international architecture," Burns said in
response to a question.
He also praised India's strong track record in the field
of nuclear non-proliferation, saying the country has a very
important role to play in achieving the goals of US President
Barack Obama in this regard.
"I think the best thing that we and India could continue
to do is follow through on the agreement and then look for
other opportunities to demonstrate our shared commitment to
curbing the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass
destruction and improving the safety and security of existing
nuclear material sites," Burns said. PTI LKJ
MRD