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| Saturday, 14 February 2004 |
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India deserves Security Council seat: France NEW DELHI, Friday (AFP) India is at the heart of the multipolar world and France supports its bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, visiting French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said here Friday. India and France are "strategic partners", De Villepin told a lecture in New Delhi ahead of meetings with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha. "India is already at the heart of the new international system which is taking place despite the uncertainties of our times," De Villepin said. "I know that our two countries share a common vision, that of a multipolar world in which the rule of law and the strength of the multilateral institutions are essential," he added. While calling for global unity to "clip the wings of terrorism" De Villepin, in a veiled reference to the United States, said "no country alone" could ensure global stability when the balance of power had undergone great changes. The foreign minister voiced support for Vajpayee's peace moves with Pakistan. "The hand of friendship extended to Pakistan by the Indian prime minister last April is a courageous and noble gesture," he said. De Villepin also backed India's bid for a permanent seat on the Security Council saying India's peace initiative with Pakistan spoke volumes for India's "sense of responsibility" and political maturity. "France has for a long time supported India's candidacy as permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. We are convinced that India is a power with global reach," he said. India has long sought a Security Council permanent seat, contending that current members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - no longer represent today's world order. De Villepin also called for the United Nations to be overhauled to deal with new threats of terrorism. "In order to remain efficient, the multilateral system must adapt ... The size of the challenges and the complexity of the difficulties call for the creation of a new body that would provide coordination and impetus," he said. |
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