British Prime Minister Tony Blair has come out strongly in favour of India's candidature for a permanent seat in an expanded United Nations Security Council, but the US appeared to be lukewarm to the idea "at this point".
He said G-4, the group comprising Germany, Japan, Brazil and India, should be credited with putting forward the UNSC reforms, including expansion of the security council, on agenda of the UN and it could not be reversed.
Natwar Singh to meet G4 counterparts in London on Sunday
The matter was expected to be discussed in the Security Council Consultations Room under "other matters" during closed consultations Tuesday afternoon.
Foreign Ministers of G-4\ncountries, including External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh,\nare here for crucial talks with their African counterparts
The main difference between the G4 and the African Union resolutions is on veto.
As India and other G-4 countries stepped up efforts to get permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council, Pakistan has claimed that its opposition to expansion of the world body's top organ was not 'country-specific'.
'All the world knows that the US and Britain are enemies of the Iranian nation and now they sit in the UN Security Council and act as both judge and executioner, but the era of such an order is over,' said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The resolution, which was passed unanimously, would extend the NATO led force's area of operations to several provinces which are now ruled by armed warlords.
President A P J Abdul on Friday made a strong pitch for India getting a permanent membership of an enlarged United Nations Security Council.
President Kalam, who is on a four-day visit to Switzerland, will put forth India's position during wide-ranging talks with his Swiss counterpart Verena Schmid.
First look on the Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon who beat Shashi Tharoor in the race for the UN Secretary General
The remarks came as Left parties asked the Union government to have David C Mulford recalled while Opposition BJP sought an all-party meet over the controversial remarks by the US Ambassador to India on the Iran issue.
China attaches great importance to the important role of India in international affairs, is all Jiabao said when asked for his country's stand vis-a-vis India's UNSC bid.
The UNSC has the power to slap Iran with sanctions.
Blackwill asked India to engage in a major way to help build a civil society in Iraq.
Shirin Tahir Kheli, Senior Advisor to the US Secretary of State on UN reforms, said some development was hoped to be witnessed in the coming month with respect to the reform of the world body.
"India rejects irresponsible statement by Pakistan foreign minister with objective of whipping up war hysteria in the region," the MEA said.
The resolution got 11 votes with three abstentions in the 15-member council. But the negative vote by the US killed the resolution.
India voted on last Saturday in favour of the US-supported resolution by the UN atomic watchdog agency that ordered Iran to suspend its nuclear programs.
India, which has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the UNSC, began its two-year tenure at the Council on Friday last.
'How could we have gone from a position of strength in the international community to virtual isolation,' asks Karl F Inderfurth, former US assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs.
Japan will give up its bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the time being since it had failed to win enough support from the international community, a Japanese newspaper reported on Sunday.
Japan is considering a new draft resolution for expansion of the United Nations Security Council and is expected to consult other G-4 members, including India, on it.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that Washington's move only complicates the issue.
"The world sees India as a growing opportunity. I expect it to have more role in world affairs."
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