India for expansion of both permanent,non-permanent UNSC seats

Betwa Sharma
United Nations, Jun 3 (PTI) India has demanded expansion
in both permanent and non-permanent seats of the UN Security
Council, saying increasing the membership only in the
non-permanent category or any of its other variants does not
constitute reform of the world body.
"There cannot be any reform without expansion in both the
categories of membership," Hardeep Singh Puri, India's envoy
to the UN, said Wednesday night at a meeting convened to
discuss the negotiating text for the Security Council reform.
"Equally, expansion only in the non-permanent category or
any of its other variants does not constitute reform and is
merely the perpetuation of the current inefficiency by the
same ineffective means in vogue since 1963," he said.
In the closed-door meeting, India -- which along with
Japan, Germany, South Africa and Brazil is seeking permanent
membership of the Security Council -- also pointed out that a
vast majority of countries were in favour of expanding the
current size of the world body's top organ from 15 to the
mid-20s.
Puri's remarks came a day after a top US official said
India would play a "central part" in the Security Council
reform process but stopped short of publicly endorsing the
country's bid for a permanent seat.
"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.
During this year's inaugural discussions on the UN
reform, Zahir Tanin, Afghanistan's permanent representative to
the UN, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the process
asked member states to submit proposals that can be worked
into a negotiating text, which will be the basis for future
discussions.
At the meeting in the UN headquarters, India also
underlined the need for equitable geographical distribution.
"India supports a Charter-based distribution of seats
that addresses the lack of representation of African, Latin
American and Caribbean countries and the lack of adequate
representation of Asian countries in the permanent
membership," Puri said.
This year, India is also running for a non-permanent seat
of the Council for which elections will be held in October.
Puri and his team have been canvassing for the spot for the
past three years.
Earlier this year, Kazakhstan's withdrew from the
electoral race leaving India with a clean slate for 2010-11.
To win, India needs two-thirds of the General Assembly
vote, which adds up to about 128 counties saying 'yes' to New
Delhi's presence in the Security Council. PTI