Russia says India ‘worthy candidate’ for UN Security Council seat

NEW DELHI, September 16. /TASS/. India is a worthy and strong candidate for a new permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council provided that this variant of the council’s expansion gains general support, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said on Wednesday. Gatilov noted that he discussed those issues on Tuesday with Indian counterparts. "India is one of the most active advocates of the first model of expansion," he said. "We have repeatedly said at all international platforms that India is a worthy and strong candidate to enter the Security Council as a permanent member provided that a common position is found and this variant of expansion in terms of permanent and non-permanent seats on the Security Council is generally supported," Gatilov said. India is one of the four countries pressing their claim for permanent membership of the council. Together with Brazil, Germany and Japan, the so-called Group of Four (G4) nations want to add 10 more seats to the 15-member Council, six of them permanent but without an immediate right of veto. These are expected to go to the four states and Africa. A rival plan, advanced by the Uniting for Consensus (UFC) group, calls for adding 10 non-permanent members, who can be re-elected. Argentina, Italy and Pakistan are among the most prominent supporters of this plan. Read more