Natwar rejects piecemeal UN reforms

Flaws in the current system must be comprehensively addressed, Foreign Minister said in UK, reports Vijay Dutt.

Opposing "selective" or "piecemeal" UN reforms, India on Monday said the "shortcomings" of the existing arrangements must be "comprehensively" addressed and said its presence as a permanent member of the Security Council would bolster the developing nations' confidence in the world body.

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In his address at the Chatham House on "India: The Next Decade", Singh said "India is a force of stability in Asia… it is now spoken of as a country of the future with great potential….Witness the transformation of India in the decade since we embraced economic liberalisation in the 90s."

"However, it seems from what respectable forecasting institutions have projected that India — together with China — are more the flavour of the century than of the decade." Quoting economic forecasts by McKinsey, Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs, Singh predicted that in the next decade the world could see India position itself for greater accomplishments. "Not so long ago, India was a byword for poverty. This is no longer the case… The number of poor as a percentage of the population has been shrinking, but a fifth of the population is unable to escape extreme poverty."

The audience comprising British foreign secretary Jack Straw, diplomats and academics heard Singh outline the "core challenge before India" that will remain in the next 10 years.

"It will focus on full literacy, improved statistics for maternal and infant mortality, and acceptable standards of nutrition and healthcare."