India, Bahrain to back each other for UN seat

Reciprocating Bahrain's support for its UN Security Council (UNSC) aspirations, India Tuesday said it will support the Gulf country's bid for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC in 2026-27.

Reciprocating Bahrain's support for its UN Security Council (UNSC) aspirations, India Tuesday said it will support the Gulf country's bid for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC in 2026-27.

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Bahrain reiterated its position that India’s permanent membership in the Security Council would be a stabilising influence in the whole region, the external affairs ministry said here Tuesday, a day after Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor held talks with leaders of the Gulf country.

Bahrain would also support India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC for 2011-12, the ministry said.

“India committed its support for Bahrain’s candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UNSC in 2026-27,” the ministry said.

Elections will be held in October 2010 for the five non-permanent UNSC seats for 2011-12. Asia will get only one seat. India has not been a (non-permanent) Security Council member since 1991-92. In 1996, it lost to Japan 40-142.

Tharoor wrapped up his two-day visit to Bahrain Monday night and headed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a three-day visit that begins Tuesday.

During his visit to Bahrain, Tharoor called on Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and held wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifa.

India will host Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa later this year.

The two sides agreed to accelerate the pace of negotiations for concluding a free trade agreement between India and the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.

Tharoor also discussed issues relating to the welfare of over 300,000 Indians living in the Gulf country.