New Delhi: India on Monday described the UN General Assembly’s decision to adopt text-based negotiations for the Security Council reforms as a “significant development” that is expected to provide momentum to the talks on the long-pending process.
“This is a significant development as after more than two decades, we can now commence text-based negotiations so that the long-pending reforms of the UN Security Council can be achieved,” Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.
Nearly 200-member countries of the UN have agreed that during the 70th session of the UNGA, which commences tomorrow, they will have text-based negotiations on reforms in the Security Council, the top decision-making body, which has 15 members including five permanent members- China, Russia, the US, the UK and France.
However, the US, China and Russia did not contribute to the text, a move which was seen as an attempt to thwart India’s bid for permanent membership of the global body.
Though the US and Russia have been supporting India’s bid, China has been against any expansion of the Security Council.
UNGA President Sam Kutesa, who convened a plenary meeting to take action on the draft decision on the “Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters”, also circulated letters containing the positions of key countries including Russia, the US and China which refused to contribute to the negotiating text.
Once the draft is agreed upon by the UN member countries, it will be put to vote at the General Assembly, where a two- thirds vote is needed to pass it.