A reformed UN can respond to crises more effectively: Mukherjee

A reformed and effective United Nation will be able to respond to the crises afflicting the world in a more decisive manner, President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Ban called on the president at Rashtrapati Bhavan Tuesday.

Welcoming the UN chief to India, Mukherjee said the UN was in urgent need of reform for its own credibility and legitimacy of its decisions and added that the UN needs to represent the geo-political realities of today.

The president said it was true there were divergences on the reforms, but the UN has been created to iron out these divergences and find solutions acceptable to the large section of the international community.

Reform of the UN should be advanced at least in the 70th year of the organisation this year, he stressed.

India hopes and counts upon the UN secretary general's leadership and persuasive skills to steer the discussions for urgent reform of the UN, he said, according to an official statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Drawing attention to the recent terrorist incidents in Peshawar and Paris, the president said terrorism was no longer a debating issue.

Terrorists engage in wanton destruction and show no respect for borders or values. He said the international community must assert itself and tackle the problem of terrorism and the UN secretary general should take the initiative in this regard.

Mukherjee also expressed happiness that the international community was working to finalise a set of SDGs (sustainable development goals) and a comprehensive post-2015 development agenda.

He said the Indian Armed Forces participate in 10 out of the 16 UN peacekeeping missions with 8,000-plus troops and police personnel.

India was firm in its commitment to the UN Charter and support of the UN system, he added.

Responding to the president, Ban said India was a critically important global power.

He agreed that the international community should take firm action on the matter of terrorism.

There was huge solidarity expressed by the world after the incident in Paris but committed action was even more important, he said.

Ban expressed appreciation for India's contributions to peacekeeping operations and the promotion of global democracy.

He also congratulated India for the measures being taken for gender empowerment and appreciated the fact that 25 percent of the cabinet were women.

The UN chief said he was aware of the aspirations of many countries including India for reforms of the UN and their desire to play a leadership role in the UN Security Council.

The Security Council must become effective, representative, democratic and transparent, he said.