India seeks non-permanent UNSC seat

India stakes a claim for one of the 10 non-permanent seats for the two-year term during 2011-12 in the Asia quota.

India has staked claim for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC) even as it continues to intensify efforts to push its candidature for a permanent seat in the world body.

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India has staked a claim for one of the 10 non-permanent seats for the two-year term during 2011-12 in the Asia quota. Earlier, India was a non-permanent member of the UNSC six times since 1950.

Significantly, India's partners in G-4 — Brazil, Germany and Japan — have also bid for non-permanent seats in the UNSC. The four countries, all aspirants for permanent membership of the body, formed the grouping to unitedly push their candidature.

Officials made it clear that staking claim for non-permanent membership did not mean dilution of the aspiration for a permanent seat, for which India is a "strong and deserving" candidate with "credible credentials".

While bidding for the non-permanent seat, India is intensifying efforts to get permanent membership of the world body and hectic consultations in this regard are underway with the other three members of G-4.

To ensure wider support, the G-4 is expected to come up with revised proposals linked to its bid for permanent seats in the Security Council.

The move to modify the proposals is significant as these are being contemplated in view of Japan's disinterest recently in G-4 participation.