British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was robust in his support Thursday for India's inclusion as a permanent member of a reformed UNSC, besides permanent representation for Africa, Brazil, Japan, and Germany, and in addition to additional seats for elected members.
"If we want the system to deliver for the poorest and most vulnerable then their voices must be heard. We need to make the system more representative and more responsive to those who need it most. So we will make the case not just for fairer outcomes, but fairer representation in how we reach them. And this also applies to the Security Council. It has to change to become a more representative body, willing to act -- not paralysed by politics. We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members, and more seats for elected members as well," Starmer stated while addressing the general debate at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York early Friday, India time.
Earlier on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron had also voiced robust backing for India's entry into a reformed UNSC as permanent members, besides Germany, Japan, Brazil and two African countries.
"Germany, Japan, India and Brazil should be permanent members as well as two countries that Africa would appoint to represent it. New elected members should also be admitted," Macron said at UN General Assembly.
The French President emphasized the need for reforms at the UN to make it more effective and closer to representation, more so in the light of the problems the present structure of the Security Council presents.
"The United Nations should not be discarded but reformed in the light of present realities," he said.
He underlined that the present Security Council often gets stalled by competing interests and needs to evolve.
"Is there a better system? I don't think so. So let's just make these United Nations more effective, first by perhaps making them more representative. That is why France and I repeat here, is in favor of the Security Council being expanded, " Macron remarked.
He expressed hope that "this reform will also make it possible to change working methods, to limit the right of veto in the event of mass crime and to focus on operational decisions that are necessary to maintain international peace and security. This is what we must have the courage and audacity to do and that we must carry forward with the current permanent members."
Earlier, Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font also called for India's entry into the UNSC, even suggesting a deadline for reforming it to better align with modern geopolitics before the UN hits 80 years.
The appeal for India's permanent seat has been rung by world leaders right from US President Joe Biden, who called once more on Washington to extend full support for India's candidature during his recent bilateral meeting with PM Narendra Modi.
Now, Russia continues to be an ardent votary of the Indian aspiration for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, even while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was heard reiterating the need for enhancing representation of developing countries in the UNSC at the annual event of the United Nations underway.
The emerging consensus among leaders of countries from all over the world will once again underscore the crying need to reform the UNSC to reflect more faithfully the world order of today and to create more representative international governance.
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