Security Council faux pas is not such a big deal: Krishna

Betwa Sharma

New York, Feb 13 (PTI) A day after he inadvertentlyread out bits of the Portuguese Foreign Minister''s speech at aSecurity Council debate, External Affairs Minister S M Krishnatoday said that these things happen because many of thesespeeches make the same initial points.

"There was nothing wrong in it," Krishna said, adding"there were so many papers spread infront of me so by mistakethe wrong speech was taken out."

Speaking at the United Nations Security Council at adebate on security and development on Friday, Krishna read outthe wrong speech for about three minutes before beingcorrected by India''s envoy to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri.

"Unfortunately, it happened," he said, noting thatmany of these speeches contain the same thing in the firstparagraph, which is to convey greetings to the countrypresiding over the Security Council.

The first portion of the speech related to generalissues pertaining to the UN, development and security.

But a few lines seem to be out of place. "On a morepersonal note, allow me to express my profound satisfactionregarding the happy coincidence of having two members of thePortuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), Brazil and Portugal,together here today," was one of them.

Krishna could have said this thinking it fit becauseBrazil holds the current presidency of the Security Council.

"The European Union is also responding in this mannerin coordination with the United Nations," he said, before Puriintervened.

"You can start again," Puri told Krishna following thefaux pas.

Portugal''s Minister had already spoken before Indiabut he did not stick to the script of his prepared speech.

Krishna is here on a three-day visit to push India''sagenda for Security Council reforms.