Obama backs Indian bid for UN seat
US President Barack Obama (L) and India Prime Miniter Manmohan Singh (R) embrace after a joint press conference at Hyderabad House in New Dehli on November 8, 2010. India laid on the splendour of a state visit for Barack Obama, with the US president due to sketch his vision for a friendship which is quickly deepening, despite some prickly differences. AFP PHOTO/
What you need to know:
- But New Dehi is criticised over its failure to denounce Myanmar regime
NEW DELHI, Monday
US President Barack Obama today backed India for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, recognising its rise as a great power in a significant victory for New Delhi’s foreign policy.
“The just and sustainable international order that America seeks includes a United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate,” Obama said in a speech to the Indian parliament.
“That is why I can say today — in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member,” he added on the last day of his state visit.
Mr Obama cautioned however that with increased power came greater responsibility and called on future Security Council members to ensure the body was effective, that resolutions were implemented and sanctions enforced.
But, President Obama criticised India for failing to condemn rights abuses in Myanmar, saying democracies with global aspirations could not ignore “gross violations” in other countries.
“When peaceful democratic movements are suppressed, as they have been in Burma (Myanmar), then the democracies of the world cannot remain silent,” Mr Obama said in the speech.
Meanwhile, given the tortuous negotiations likely to make the body — set up after World War II — reflect 21st Century realities, many analysts believe it could be years before the new Council is formed.
Ben Rhodes, a deputy US national security advisor, said that the intention of the United States was clear, and based on India’s emerging role as a great strategic, economic and democratic power.
“A clear statement like this from the United States is a very powerful signal,” he said, adding that Washington had expressed support for Japan’s aspirations in the past, but had not done so for India.
Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States are the only permanent members of the Security Council and can veto any resolution. (AFP)
