Pitching for an early reform of the UN Security Council, India has said several countries want to be recognized for their contribution to world affairs and resistance to expansion of the body was unacceptable to the large majority.

Speaking at the 8th round of intergovernmental negotiations on equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council, India’s permanent representative to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, said there was palpable desire among the membership for early reform of the Security Council to make it reflective of contemporary reality and also to acknowledge the manifold changes that have taken place in the world since the Council was created in 1945.

He said the demand for a reform model that encompasses expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories is a fundamental one and should be the starting point of real negotiations adding that those who oppose this tenet are in a clear minority.

Puri noted that there is not one dissonant voice in respect of enhanced representation for Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean region. Puri said India supports African aspirations for permanent membership with the veto. The reformed Council is expected to have a size in the mid-20s as opposed to the current 15 members.