India might make it to the United Nations Security Council as a permanent member sooner than expected as the overarching reforms of the world body will most likely be wrapped up by the end of 2011.
"It is around the corner," said an Indian diplomat of the reform process on Friday. He added he was optimistic the negotiations will be over in the next six months and the whole process will be "wrapped up by the end of 2011".
India is a frontrunner for a permanent seat, and the last endorsement came from US president Barack Obama, just a year after the state department called it - in a leaked document - one of the "self appointed" frontrunners. India is sure to make it whenever the reforms process is over, and is preparing to use its presence on the council starting January as an elected temporary member to give the elite five the comfort factor they need working with India.
The UNSC expansion is going to happen as part of a larger reform to give the world body a contemporary character and vision, taking it away from its World War II origins - essentially giving developing counties a larger say.
{{/usCountry}}The UNSC expansion is going to happen as part of a larger reform to give the world body a contemporary character and vision, taking it away from its World War II origins - essentially giving developing counties a larger say.
{{/usCountry}}"We are expecting an even shorter text - of two or three pages - to be submitted by January," the diplomat said, adding, "it should not take more than six months after that to finish the negotiations and then wrap it by 2011 end."
India has the support of four of the five members of the Security Council - the US, UK, France and Russia. China is the only holdout and the hope in the Indian camp is that "it may not like to be only one standing out". China has not yet spoken its mind openly.