Gujral makes out a strong case for UN permanent seat

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral on Wednesday made out a strong case for India's entry as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and called for a determined global strategy to root out the menace of terrorism.

Addressing the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Gujral also appealed to the nuclear weapons states to heed the global community's voice to realise a nuclear weapons-free world.

In his 30-minute address heard in rapt attention by the packed General Assembly, the prime minister did not make any reference to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharief's criticism of India on the Kashmir issue in his address to the UN. Gujral also did not touch upon the Pakistani premier's proposal for a non-aggression pact with India.

In an obvious reference to India's relations with Pakistan and other neighbours, Gujral said, ''We extend our hand of friendship not in a spirit of mere reciprocity but in good faith. Where we do expect reciprocity, which is unrelated to size and capacity, is mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.''

He said India sought to advance cohesion, synergy and mutual goodwill in its neighbourhood so that ''together we fully participate in and derive benefits from the dynamic changes the world is currently witnessing''.

He had a dig at those saying that the Non-aligned Movement had lost its relevance after the cold war. ''It (NAM) remains a voice of reason and constructive engagement for the times ahead.''

Speaking at length on the nuclear issue, the prime minister observed that mere non-proliferation treaties promoted as disarmament measures only served to entrench nuclear monopoly.

He regretted that no credible steps towards a nuclear weapons-free world were contemplated by those who should be showing the way. He said the nuclear weapons powers owe an explanation to the world as why they need them. ''We see the United Nations as the forum in which the international community must continue to demand universal nuclear disarmament,'' the prime minister added.

Staking India's claim for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council, Gujral asserted that the country was prepared to shoulder this responsibility in letter and spirit.

Gujral pointed out that there was often a perception that the Council's actions did not always reflect the UN General Assembly's sentiments.

''It is imperative and time, therefore, that the Security Council takes on, as permanent members, developing countries, equipped to make an important contribution with their world views, historical experiences and civilisational values.''

Otherwise, the prime minister said, the council's actions would be seen as progressively less representative, precisely at a time when it was being told to act far more frequently than before on behalf of the world community.

The prime minister called for a global strategy to deal with terrorism which, he said, threatened international peace and to which open democracies were particularly vulnerable.

''Even though very few societies are free from its clutches, we still have not developed a global strategy to defeat this evil. The resolve is absent. It is important that we find the resolve as terrorism is quickly building links with the other global menace of drugs,'' he said.

''We (in South Asia) see just how deadly the mix of terrorism and drugs is. The United Nations should take the lead in weeding out these scourges.''

Supporting the United Nations reforms programme, he said the world body must evolve and adapt itself to a rapidly changing environment. ''We must insistently ask ourselves what we can decisively do at the United Nations to make the dreams of hundreds of millions come true. How can we make the UN a more vibrant organisation for the world community as a whole, at a time when we need it more than we ever did?''

UNI

TEXT OF GUJRAL'S SPEECH:
'World has lived for too long on a diet of empty promises on nuke disarmament'

EARLIER REPORTS:
Gujral may seek US help for UN seat
Sharief ready for talks on non-aggression pact with India
Pakistan to raise Kashmir issue in UN