Russia supports India for permanent member in UNSC

By Our Special Correspondent

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while addressing the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, defended India as a worthy candidate for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

"We see opportunities to make the Security Council more democratic through the representation of African, Asian and Latin American countries. India and Brazil, in particular, are key international actors and worthy candidates for permanent membership in the Council," Russian FM said.

India is currently a non-permanent member of the 15-nation UNSC. The five permanent members of the UNSC are the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China.

Over the years, India has been at the forefront of continuous efforts to reform the Security Council. "India has always advocated a cooperative, inclusive and consultative approach to international relations," said External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar.

Earlier, India's 31-nation joint statement on reforms called for the expansion of the Security Council into permanent and non-permanent categories, as well as reform of its working methods, to make the body more representative, legitimate and effective.

According to the statement, the head of delegations was convinced of the need to restore faith in effective multilateralism. "We are united, reform-minded states, determined to work towards a more inclusive, responsive and participatory international governance structure," the statement reads.

"We recognize that the lack of progress in Security Council reform has serious implications not only for the continued relevance of global governance institutions, but also for global peace and security and the purposes, principles and promises of the United Nations Charter," it added.

During his speech at UNGA, Lavrov accused the West of 'throwing a fit' over the referendum held in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine. He said the US was trying to turn the entire world into its "backyard" through what he called "illegal, unilateral sanctions" that violated the UN Charter and, along with its partners, would punish dissent.