The pressures to reform the UN will grow, says Foreign Secretary Jaishankar

Putting pressure on the world body for a permanent seat for India in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Foreign Secretary S.Jaishankar on Wednesday said that "The pressures to reform the UN will only grow with each passing day".

Dr. Jaishankar said - "The democratisation of the international order is a particularly complex challenge and the emergence of multipolarity is just a first step".

He further said "The absurdity of the main multilateral decision-making body being more than 70 years old - and due for retirement anywhere in the world - is obvious to all except those with a vested interest."

"There can be no getting away from the myriad of global challenges that will eventually require a credible multilateral response," the foreign secretary said.

"Such tasks require patience, perseverance and determination and I can say with some assurance that we have them in full measure," he added.

Without making any reference to China which has been blocking India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a block of 48 countries that control the trade in nuclear technology and material, Dr. Jaishankar said, "Entrenched powers rarely give up privileges easily, even if they pay lip service to the deserving."

Dr. S. Jaishankar was speaking at the Second Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi today.

A meeting of the representatives of United Nations which has 193 member countries who form the General Assembly, had ended without a decision on reconfiguring the Security Council, which has 15 members who decide how to maintain international peace and security. The United States, Britain, France, China and Russia are permanent members and hold veto power.

Due to strong opposition of China, India failed to gain entry to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a block of 48 countries that control the trade in nuclear technology and material.

It also opposed New Delhi's bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban. China was the only member in the 15-nation UN body to put a hold on India's application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting.