UN must change and reflect contemporary reality: Krishna

Noting that the global order has changed dramatically since the establishment of the United Nations some 65 years ago, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has asserted that the world body should also change and reflect the contemporary reality.

As such there is need for the expansion of the Permanent and Non-permanent member category of the UN Security Council, Krishna told press conference hours before he met the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Krishna, who is in New York leading the Indian delegation to the 64th Session of the UN General Assembly, said: it is going to be 65 years next year since the establishment of the United Nations. "The global order has since changed dramatically," he noted.

"The UN must also change and reflect contemporary reality. The thrust of my message was therefore the need for change at the UN. Obviously, in this context I underscored the need for an expansion of the UNSC both in its permanent and its non-permanent seats," said the External Affairs Minister.

Briefing journalists after his meeting with the Pakistani counterpart, Krishna said he also used the opportunity of his stay in New York to stress the role of the UN to address urgent problems facing the globe.

"In this context, I urged the urgent adoption of the Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism, which has been under negotiation at the UN for more than 15 years," Krishna said.

On September 22, Krishna led the Indian delegation for the Climate Change Summit, which also included Minister of State for Environment & Forests Jairam Ramesh and the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister for Climate Change Shyam Saran.

"Our central message was that India has a major interest in ensuring an ambitious and equitable outcome at the climate change negotiations in Copenhagen, which recognises that developing countries need to pursue growth," he said.

"Domestically, we are taking many measures to address climate, both on mitigation and adaptation. Many of these will have specific and time-bound goals," Krishna said.