Question : PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP OF SECURITY COUNCIL

(a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to the news-item Captioned `France for India in Security Council` appearing in Pioneer dated February 18, 2000;

(b) whether France has strongly favoured India for its rightful place in the re-structured UN Security Council;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether India, China, France and Russia are likely to emerge as an alternative to the US-dominated unipolar world; and

(e) if so, the steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

(SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)

(a) Yes Sir.

(b) & (c) France has supported India`s candidature for a permanent seat in a re-structured Security Council. In its most recent public statement, it has been stated that India has a rightful place in any extended Security Council.

(d) & (e) France and India have a shared interest in working towards the establishment of a multi-polar world based on cooperation and not confrontation. This multi-polar world is not directed against any particular country and is intended to take into account the new realities of the present international order. This view was recently publicly articulated by both Foreign Ministers of France and India in a Seminar in New Delhi on Multi-Polarity on 17th February 2000.