India to pitch for comprehensive reform of UN Security Council

United Nations (PTI) - India will make a strong
pitch for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to
create an equitable system that is reflective of current
realities when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses the UN
General Assembly Saturday.
Singh, who arrived here Friday, will participate in the
high level segment of the 66th session of the world body when
he will also focus on issues like the need for a Comprehensive
Convention on International Terrorism to tackle the scourge
that India has been suffering for decades.
As Prime Minister of a key emerging economy that is
playing a constructive role in contributing to global economic
recovery, Singh is expected to reaffirm India's commitment at
the UN to continue working with other countries on furthering
global economic and financial stability as well as to foster,
strong sustainable and balanced economic growth.
On UN Security Council reforms, India feels that unless
comprehensive reform is undertaken, the process would only be
piecemeal and incomplete.
India would, along with members of the G4 (Brazil, Japan
and Germany), continue to work pro-actively to maintain the
momentum for Security Council reforms.
Briefing reporters on the Prime Minister's participation
at the UNGA proceedings, India's Permanent Representative to
the UN Hardeep Singh Puri expressed optimism on the world body
coming out with a Comprehensive Convention on International
Terrorism (CCIT) but would not fix a timeline for that.
He said that an agreed text of the CCIT was before a
committee of the UN.
"My expectation is that the text will see action in the
near future. I am cautiously optimistic but I am not going to
be giving timelines," he said, adding India has been pushing
for such a document as it was a victim of the scourge for
several decades now unlike the US which experienced it only on
9/11.
Puri said a Counter-terrorism committee chaired by India
will meet on September 28th, when they will come up with a
outcome document that will review the CTC's work of the last
10 years marking the completion of a decade of the 9/11
attacks as well as work out a vision statement for the next
decade.
Against the backdrop of the recent terror attack in
Delhi, India will push for an early adoption of the CCIT that
will provide a global normative framework against terrorism.
Prime Minister Singh, who arrived here last evening,
will address the UN General Assembly tomorrow when he will be
participating in the high level segment of the 66th session of
the world body.
On Friday, he will have bilateral meetings with Japanese
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmedinejad and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Replying to a question on China's support for India's
quest for membership of the UN Security Council, Puri said it
is only a matter of time before China voices its support for
India.
Asked about absence of any meeting with US President
Barack Obama, Puri said the fact was that Obama left a day
before the Prime Minister arrived here and it was a matter of
scheduling.
"It doesn't cause me any anxiety. They are going to be
present at the G-20 Summit in a shortwhile," he said.
The two leaders will have an occasion to meet on the
sidelines of the upcoming G-20 Summit in France in November.