Sarkozy hails India's rise, echoes Obama on inclusion in UNSC

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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-on-inclusion-in-UNSC/articleshow/7045136.cms

BANGALORE: Less than a month after US President Barack Obama's strong endorsement of India's bid for a seat in the United Nations Security Council, French President Nicolas Sarkozy kicked off his second India visit speaking the same language.

During a lecture at the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), Sarkozy reiterated his country's support for India's permanent membership of the expanded UN Security Council, saying it was "unthinkable" that a country of over 1 billion could be kept out. "India is a stabilizing factor in Asia and in the world. It was recently elected to the Security Council for two years. This will give us an opportunity to consult with India on a daily basis on all international crises. It must serve as the prelude to a permanent Indian presence within the UN Security Council. It must be expanded to include India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, with representation from Africa. What is at stake here is the UN's ability to respond to 21st century crises using 21st century instruments," he said.

Sarkozy showed appreciation of India's concerns as he spoke — with confidence and poise — of the country's attempt to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, its vital role in countering terrorism in the Af-Pak region via development, as well as how it can, by overcoming the challenge of poverty, be the source of stability in Asia.

French support for India's desire for a permanent Security Council seat predates Washington's. Also, an entire tortuous process has to be gone through before the French and the Americans can get to convert their pledges into actual support for India's claim for a permanent seat. But it can add to the momentum and make it difficult for China, the only member of the P5 that has not come out in India's support, to play spoilsport.

The growing recognition of India's just-acquired heft in the international arena was also evident from the remarkable convergence between Sarkozy and Obama on a number of issues concerning India: from the permanent seat to membership of NSG to the role in Afghanistan.

Read more: Sarkozy hails India's rise, echoes Obama on inclusion in UNSC - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...in-UNSC/articleshow/7045136.cms#ixzz17BCxhle7

 

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http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/05/stories/2010120556870100.htm

Sarkozy calls for permanent U.N. Security Council seat for India

Bangalore: During his first stopover on his four-day visit to India here on Saturday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for a permanent seat for India in the U.N. Security Council.

It was "unthinkable" that a country of a billion people should have no representation in the Security Council, he said in his address at the Indian Space Research Organisation where he arrived with his wife Carla Bruni and a large contingent of French ministers and executives.

India's recent election to the Security Council for two years "must serve as the prelude to a permanent Indian presence within the UNSC," Mr. Sarkozy said.

The UNSC must be expanded to include new permanent members — India, Brazil, Germany and Japan — and must have representation from Africa and the Middle-East, he said, adding India should join the Security Council as a permanent member so that it can assume its full role in the G20.

Nuclear energy would be the "focus" of Indo-French cooperation, he said, lauding the "considerable environmental benefit" and "energy independence" that it brought. As much as 80 per cent of France's electricity came from nuclear source.

India's decision to expand its nuclear energy production from 4,000 to 62,000 megawatts in 20 years represents a "change of attitude." With the completion of the proposed nuclear power project at Jaitapur, to be built in collaboration with the French company Areva, the six Indo-French EPR plants would provide 10,000 megawatts of energy, said Mr. Sarkozy.

Mr. Sarkozy said: "No nation and no region can live in isolation. If we succeed in defeating terrorism and the insurgency in Afghanistan and Pakistan, we will have eliminated a major source of global instability."

 

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http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/05/stories/2010120557531000.htm

"U.S. stand on NPT, support for India on UNSC seat not at odds"

Washington: The United States' support for India's candidacy for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council is consistent with U.S. interest in seeing India sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), according to a State Department spokesperson.

In response to a question on how the U.S. could reconcile its position on India signing the NPT with its support for India's UNSC seat, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Philip Crowley said: "We do not see those [goals] as being at odds."

Asked whether India's candidacy should be looked at equally with countries such as Japan, which has forsworn nuclear weapons entirely, or South Africa, which has given up nuclear weapons, Mr. Crowley said India had shown itself to be a "responsible global stakeholder."

He added that President Barack Obama had announced the U.S. position on the matter during his recent visit to the country, however emphasising that U.S. support for India on this issue was "not exclusive of our support for other countries," as well.

On the questions of non-proliferation and disarmament, Mr. Crowley reiterated that there had been no change in the U.S. position. "President Obama's April 2009 speech in Prague envisioned a world without nuclear weapons," he said, and given that the U.S. and India shared this vision, the two countries would continue to work together toward that goal.

"No contradiction"

"There is absolutely no contradiction between that recognition and U.S. commitment to the NPT," Mr. Crowley noted, adding also that the U.S. was supportive of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty as well, even if India had reached an agreement with the Nuclear Suppliers Group for the transfer of civilian nuclear technology.

 

[Tshering22]

France has always been a strong supporter of India's seat and this is appreciable. Not just Sarkozy but also Chirac have been extreme vocal about their support to India. I don't think it can get any better than this: 4 out of 5 members of P-5 endorse us along with more than a 180 countries around the world. How much more assurance does China need? I think before expanding P-5 VETO rules should be changed to a more democratic platform where countries of the Permanent seat vote so that one member doesn't have dominance over some issue just because of 1 vote.

 

[pmaitra]

Now, I hope we don't get another leak from WikiLeaks claiming that Tom, **** or Harry told Sarkozy to support India's bid for UNSC permanent membership. Overall, it is a welcome statement from the French head. Now, the real satisfaction will be if and when India is a permanent member of the UNSC.