India has opposed introducing new categories for consideration in inter-governmental negotiations on expansion of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said in New York that India is not in favour of the introduction of any categories which have been examined and discarded in the past.
He was participating in the informal meeting on Inter-governmental Negotiations on the question of equitable representation and increase in membership of the Security Council. Mr Akbaruddin said, the options neither reflect new political realities nor address the crisis of legitimacy that confronts UNSC.
He questioned new options outlined by Italy’s representative on behalf of the United or Consensus Group, of which Pakistan is also a member. One option offered by the group focused on expansion of two-year non-permanent seats and the other for introduction of a new category of longer term members who can be re-elected.