UNSC expansion vital for reflecting present realities: India

United Nations, Aug 28 (PTI) - India has renewed its demand
for an expansion of the UN Security Council to include both
permanent and non permanent members, saying the move is
necessary to reflect the current realities of the world.

The "genuine and lasting" improvement of working methods
is only possible as a part of a "comprehensive" reform process
of the Council including its expansion in both categories,
India's Ambassador to UN Nirupam Sen said here.

"It is only when there are new permanent members, who are
held accountable to the wider membership, that there will be a
genuine response to the longstanding demand for meaningful and
durable changes in the working methods of the Council," he
told the Council during a debate on the issue.

Sen was referring to the fact that permanent members at
present are victors of the Second World War and had not been
elected by the General Assembly on which all members are
represented.

The new permanent members, Sen said, would be elected by
the Assembly which now has 192 members and it would then be in
a position to review their performance.

The permanent members, who are held accountable to the
wider membership through an appropriate review mechanism, can
only bring "meaningful and durable" changes, he said, adding
this is an issue which transcends the limited membership of
the Council.

Sen pointed out that troop contributing countries have
long sought to be involved in decision-making in peacekeeping
operations.

The many flaws in the Council's working methods are only
symptoms of a deeper malaise that lies in its structure and
composition, the Indian Ambassador said. PTI DS
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