Portugal supports inclusion of India as permanent member of UNSC: Pacheco

New Delhi, Mar 16: Duarto Pacheco, chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), has assured India of Portugal's support to the nation's bid to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Addressing MPs in Parliament on Tuesday Duarte Pacheco, said that "In UN, Portugal supports the reform process and the inclusion of India as a permanent member of the Security Council."

"We have special relationship between our countries. Portugal and India have over 500-year-old relations, so we know each other so better that I may say that we aren't just friends, we're brothers," Duarte Pacheco said as he addressed MPs at Central Hall.

"India is largest democracy of the world and in all levels, from local to national, is looking to be more inclusive with more women and young people. India respects convictions, political and religious, of each person," he added.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Monday told the president of the international body of legislatures that no parliament should debate laws passed by the legislatures of other nations and issues related to their sovereignty.

"Birla told Duarte Pacheco that no Parliament should discuss laws passed by other Parliaments and issues internal of other sovereign countries," Lok Sabha Secretariat said in a statement.

Talking about the role of the IPU, Birla said it is inspiring the world community on issues like climate change, education, health, economy, terrorism and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).