After India was almost unopposed elected Asian regional representative to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Tuesday, foreign minister SM Krishna said in New Delhi the overwhelming support was in recognition of its contribution to some of the major developments in the world.
“This resounding endorsement of India’s candidature at the United Nations reaffirms the overwhelming support it enjoys in the international community… India will demonstrate to the world that it is good for the world,” he said.
Krishna said India would live up to the responsibility entrusted by such a large number of countries and hoped its objective approach would help make it a permanent UNSC member.
“There have been significant changes in the international scene since India last served the security council. India has been integral to some important processes that included changes in the context of the financial and economic architecture, major shifts at world trade and climate change negotiations as well as recalibration of the global regime for civilian nuclear cooperation,” he said.
India’s priority will be maintaining international peace and security. “We live in troubled neighbourhood and immediate priorities in the council will include peace and stability in our near and extended neighbourhood, including Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa, counter terrorism, including prevention of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to non-state actors, and strengthening of UN peace-keeping,” Krishna said.
India will take over as a non-permanent UNSC member from Japan on January 1, 2011, for the seventh time. It was last part of UNSC in 1991-92. In 1996, it suffered a shock defeat to Japan despite developed countries expressing solidarity.
