Rajya Sabha
The Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed informed the Rajya Sabha today that the issue of the reform and the restructuring of the UN Security Council has been under discussion at the United Nations for several years. While there is no specific proposal under the UN General Assembly for the expansion of the UN Security Council, an Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) was set up in 1993, where discussions have taken place on all aspects of the reform and restructuring of the UN Security Council. The Working Group, however, has not been able to reach any decisions in this regard.
The Minister further informed that India believes that the reform and restructuring exercise is important and that by any objective criteria, India’s case is credible and strong. There is growing momentum in support of India’s candidature for permanent membership. The Government has been pursuing India’s candidature for permanent membership of the Security Council, and has taken up India’ case in all its high-level bilateral interactions. Several countries – permanent members as well as others – have openly expressed support for India’s candidature either in the UN or in the context of bilateral exchanges. Such support is exercised in different forums and forms and it is, therefore, difficult to give a definitive number on countries which have specifically supported India or anticipate any specific time frame for reform or expansion of the UNSC, in view of the diverse perceptions on the specifics of such reforms.
This information was given to Rajya Sabha today by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed in reply to a question by Shri Ajay Singh Chautala.
(Release ID :5281)