'UNSC failed to tackle issues under its mandate'

United Nations, Sept 28: India yesterday told the international community that recent events in Lebanon and the stalemate in the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) had demonstrated the growing failure of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to tackle issues under its mandate.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is representing India at the 61st Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), in his address called for reform of the 15-member body.

''There is wide acceptance that the Security Council can no longer be regarded as being reflective of the changed international environment that has emerged since the time of its creation,'' Mr Pranab Mukherjee told the Assembly's annual debate.

''The Security Council has not only to be more representative but also to be more effective if it is to be able to satisfactorily perform the role mandated to it by the Charter,'' he said.

Mr Mukherjee welcomed the recent adoption of a UN Counter-Terrorism Strategy but said it should have been stronger. In addition, he said, the international community must ''unanimously reject the notion that any cause can justify terrorism.'' The comprehensive convention on terrorism now being drafted would provide the legal framework for addressing the issue, he said, appealing for agreement on the pact. ''It cannot be beyond our collective ingenuity to reach an agreement on this comprehensive convention.''

UNI

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