NEW DELHI: India, in collaboration with other pro-reform countries, has been making consistent efforts to generate support among UN member states for the expansion of the UN Security Council, both in permanent and non-permanent categories, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) on Thursday.
Responding to a question without star in the Rajya Sabha on whether the government of India has made serious efforts to acquire a permanent post in the UNSC, Minister of State (MoS), MEA, V Muraleedharan said: “The government has given top priority to obtaining membership standing in India in an expanded UN Security Council reflecting contemporary global realities. India, in collaboration with other pro-reform countries, has been making consistent efforts to build support among UN member states for the expansion of the UNSC, both in permanent and non-permanent categories. ”
He further said that India is one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeepers (cumulatively) “strengthens our credentials to seek permanent UNSC membership.”
Speaking about the reasons why India did not get a permanent seat on the UN Security Council even after many member countries expressed consent to it, the Minister said that the question of India’s permanent membership on the Council Security would be considered only after agreement on the nature and scope of the Council’s expansion is determined in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Charter, which requires the approval of two-thirds of the United Nations membership.
“According to decision 62/557 of The general assembly (on the issue of equitable representation and increased membership of the Security Council), beginning in 2009, discussions on UNSC reforms have started to take place in the UN General Assembly, through the Intergovernmental Negotiation (IGN) process. The IGN is currently the main platform for discussing various aspects of Security Council reform, including the categories of Council members, the veto issue, regional representation, the size of an expanded Council, etc. There is a section of the UN member states that supports expansion only in the non-permanent category and opposes an expansion of permanent membership, “he said.
“The question of India’s permanent membership in the Security Council will be considered only after an agreement is reached on the nature and scope of the expansion of the Council in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, It requires the approval of 2/3 of the member of the United Nations, “he added.
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