PM at UN assembly after 3 yrs

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York after a gap of three years. Jayanth Jacob reports.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be addressing the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York after a gap of three years. This comes at a time when India - in the Security Council after 19 years - is pushing for the reforms of the world body, as well as that of global financial institutions.

HT Image

Singh will be leaving for US on September 21 and will be back on September 27.

The context of PM attending the UNGA is rich and varied. India is in the United Nations Security Council as non-permanent member after a gap of 19 years, and asserting its voice for the reform of the world body, which includes staking claim for a permanent seat.

The UNSC reforms are at a crucial stage, with the negotiations reaching a "shortened text" format. New Delhi believes that there is overwhelming support for UNSC reforms from at least "130 countries". It requires the support of two third of total 193 member's support for the UN reforms to kick off.

The G-4 (India, Germany, Japan, Brazil) are working with African Union on the finer points of UNSC reforms.

However, the geo political compulsions ensure that the all powerful permanent members will have their own set of reservations. India, for example, is yet to get an "explicit" support from China for a permanent seat. Beijing is expected have a problem with Japan's bid as well.

"We are not saying it's a long haul. But what we are saying is that it is inevitable that the world body should reflect the 21st century realities," said an Indian official.