Question : INDIA`S CANDIDATURE FOR SECURITY COUNCIL



(a) whether the European Union has agreed to support India`s demand for Permanent seat in United Nations Security Council;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the details of the concessions made in the Lisbon Summit by both sides?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)

(a) & (b) It is important to note that the European Union does not have a common stand on the question of Security Council expansion and restructuring. During the EU Summit in Lisbon, our Prime Minister had called for support for India`s candidature for permanent membership of the Security Council. Prime Minister Antonio Guterres of Portugal, in a joint press conference on June 28, 2000, during Prime Minister`s visit, said that Portugal has sympathy for India`s candidature for permanent seat in the UN Security Council and that it would receive their support.

(c) Does not arise.