India, Africa to support each other for permanent seat in UNSC

New Delhi, Apr 9 : India and Africa today declared that they are going to support each other for a permanent seat in the expanded United Nations Security Council.

They also favoured reforms of the world body to make it more representative and democratic.

President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete said this in his closing remarks at the India-Africa Forum Summit today.

"We are ready to pitch for reform of the UN Security Council to make it more representative, to make it more democratic," said Kikwete.

A Delhi Declaration adopted at the two-day summit, was attended by heads of states of 14 African nations, who have been chosen by the 54-nation African Union noted the "active and constructive" engagement of both sides in the process of reform of the UN.

"We agree to further strengthen cooperation between our two sides towards early realisation of a genuine reform of the UN and its working methods particularly revitalising and enhancing the role of the General Assembly and reform and expansion of the Security Council," it said.

Both countries also condemned terrorism in all its forms and said they sought compliance of member states with all international terrorism conventions and related protocols and Security Council resolutions on counter-terrorism.

"We also agree to make concerted efforts towards expeditious finalisation of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the UN," they said.

India and Africa also called for negotiation that would reduce and finally eliminate nuclear weapons, thereby leading to a world free from all weapons of mass destruction.

On the sidelines of the Summit several events like the first ever India-Africa Editors Conference, joint performances by Indian and African cultural troupes a seminar of intellectuals from Africa and India on India-Africa Partnership in the 21st century, a programme for youth and women from Africa and a business conclave were organized.

The summit was attended by heads of states of 14 African nations, who have been chosen by the 54-nation African Union.

ANI