India reiterates demand to expand UN Security Council

New York, May 28 (ANI): India has demanded intensification of efforts by the United Nations General Assembly to expand the Security Council to reflect current realities of the world.

In his maiden address to an informal session of the 192-member Assembly on reform of the 15-member Council, Indian ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri said, a small group of countries is trying to scuttle the process by insisting that expansion be limited to non-permanent category.

Though Puri did not name the small group of countries, he was apparently referring to "Uniting for Consensus" (UFC), a group of "like-minded" countries including Pakistan, South Korea and Spain among others.

In the event of an expansion, India, Japan, Germany and Brazil are strong contenders for permanent Council seats.

Making a strong case for moving towards reform, Puri said: "If the status quo were representative, effective, responsive or fair, we could have lived with it".

"But as is clear to all, this is not the case, and the Council is in urgent need for reform to gain credibility and reflect the modern day realities," Puri added. (ANI)