INDIA AND UNITED  NATIONS

UN REFORM
 

As an organization, the United Nations must evolve and adapt itself to a rapidly changing environment, the better to serve the core needs of the world community. As a country which places very great store on the UN s capacity to contribute to international peace and security, and to development, the two crucial priorities before the world community, India, like others, has a vital interest in a UN that continually makes itself more responsive to the needs of its member states, and prepares itself to serve them better.

At the 2005 World Summit, the member-states pledged themselves to an agenda for early and meaningful reform of the United Nations. India is of the view that the international community needs to make more determined efforts to revitalize the General Assembly to enable it to fulfill its rightful role as the principal deliberative organ of the United Nations. Further, the relationship between the General Assembly and Security Council should be such that it embodies contemporary reality. The annual reporting by the Security Council should be improved. The issues of working methods reform, particularly access by non-members to documentation and the work of the UNSC; genuine consultations with the troop contributing countries; and the right of participation of non-members with a special interest, are also crucial to improving relationship between the UNSC and the UNGA.

The composition of the Security Council needs to change to reflect contemporary realities of the twenty-first century. This implies, in the first instance, increase in the membership of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. Second, new permanent members should have the same responsibilities and obligations as the current permanent members. Third, veto should be extended to new permanent members. This is predicated on the logical and principled position that there can be no discrimination within the same category of members of the Security Council.

India announced at the UNGA in 1994 that it is prepared to accept the responsibilities of permanent membership. The following attributes, India believes, would serve the international community well if India were made a permanent member:

·    India is the largest democracy in the world, with ancient civilization values and attainments, and a world-view based on a universalist inspiration, participative governance, respect for diversity and pluralism, as well as readiness for constructive engagement in the world's affairs. India has been actively involved in the affairs of the United Nations since 1945. It has played an important role in shaping the Cold War and post-Cold War international system.

·    India is one of the leading economies in the world and has the potential to play an increasingly important role in the evolving international economic and financial architecture.

·    India's long-standing participation in UN peacekeeping operations testifies not only to the dedication and professionalism of the Indian soldiers but also the political will of the government to actively contribute to these operations. 
 

Support for India’s candidature has been rapidly growing. We are grateful to the countries that have reposed faith in our ability to play our rightful role at the Security Council as a permanent member. We would continue to count on this support and will work hard with other like-minded countries, especially in Africa towards this end.