Security Council faux pas is not such a big deal: Krishna

Betwa Sharma
New York, Feb 13 (PTI) A day after he inadvertently
read out bits of the Portuguese Foreign Minister's speech at a
Security Council debate, Indian External Affairs Minister S M
Krishna Sunday said that these things happen because many of
these speeches make the same initial points.

"There was nothing wrong in it," Krishna said, adding
"there were so many papers spread infront of me so by mistake
the wrong speech was taken out."
Speaking at the United Nations Security Council at a
debate on security and development on Friday, Krishna read out
the wrong speech for about three minutes before being
corrected by India's envoy to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri.
"Unfortunately, it happened," he said, noting that
many of these speeches contain the same thing in the first
paragraph, which is to convey greetings to the country
presiding over the Security Council.
The first portion of the speech related to general
issues pertaining to the UN, development and security.
But a few lines seem to be out of place. "On a more
personal note, allow me to express my profound satisfaction
regarding the happy coincidence of having two members of the
Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), Brazil and Portugal,
together here today," was one of them.
Krishna could have said this thinking it fit because
Brazil holds the current presidency of the Security Council.
"The European Union is also responding in this manner
in coordination with the United Nations," he said, before Puri
intervened.
"You can start again," Puri told Krishna following the
faux pas.
Portugal's Minister had already spoken before India
but he did not stick to the script of his prepared speech.
Krishna is here on a three-day visit to push India's
agenda for Security Council reforms. PTI BS
RET