India foils EU move to get more rights

India has opposed a plan by the European Union (EU) to get most of the rights presently enjoyed only by full members at the United Nations. At present, the EU has only observer status at the world body.

India has opposed a plan by the European Union (EU) to get most of the rights presently enjoyed only by full members at the United Nations. At present, the EU has only observer status at the world body.

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New Delhi felt that if the EU got its way, it would trigger similar demands from groupings such as Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Arab League (AL), which are also observers.

The positions taken by the OIC and AL on issues such as Jammu and Kashmir are often not in sync with the Indian stand. The resolution was narrowly defeated 76 to 71 this week. There were 26 abstentions. India’s opposition was supported by most of the developing world.

New Delhi also opposed the move on the ground that a particular block could not get more power when many regional groupings among them were just observers.

The EU wanted its High Representative to address the UN chamber — same as US President Barack Obama and other heads of government — the right to make proposals and submit amendments, right of reply, right to raise points of order and the right to circulate documents. It also wanted seats in the chamber for the EU’s High Representative Catherine Ashton and her officials.

Since it only has observer status, EU delegates sit with other observers and not with member states. “EU was hoping that the resolution would get passed this season. However, the efforts will be on for the same status maybe next year”, a diplomatic source from the EU said.