The Prime Minster Dr. Manmohan Singh will address the UN General Assembly in a short while from now and he is expected to make a strong pitch for a comprehensive reform of the Security Council. The Prime Minister's address will be broadcast live by the News Services Division of All India Radio. It will be preceded and followed by a live discussion in English and Hindi, which can be heard on Rajdhani, Indraprastha, FM Gold channels and additional frequencies from 6.45 PM to 7.45 PM. Amidst growing support for UN reform among members of the United Nations, Dr.Singh is likely to highlight the need for it to create an equitable system reflecting current realities. Dr Singh is also likely to push for a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to tackle the scourge that India has been suffering for decades. Situation in Libya, West Asia, support for the Palestinian bid for membership of the UN may figure in his speech. Our Correspondent reports, Prime Minister is addressing the General Assembly for the first time since India became a Non Permanent member of the Security council after 19 years. Earlier, India , Brazil, Germany and Japan renewed their vision of an enlarged Security Council for the 21st century. Briefing reporters after a Ministerial level meeting of G 4 countries on the margins of the UN Session in New York, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai said the grouping called for enlarging the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories.In a related development, China came in support of reforms in the Security Council. Talking to our correspondent Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechie said that Bejing wants developing nations to play a bigger role in the Security Council. When asked about China’s support to India’s candidature in the Security Council, he said India is a big country and china will talk to them.Foreign Secretary Mathai said that a meeting between External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is being worked out. The meeting is likely to take place on Monday. He said the entire gamut of bilateral issues came up for review when Prime Minister had bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Iran , Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of Japan. He said, India and Japan resolved to continue discussions on the civil nuclear co-operation and to intensify economic co-operation. On talks with the Iranian President, he said the situation in the region, West Asia and North Africa came up for review. In his meeting with the Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksha, the resettlement and rehabilitation process of displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka was also discussed. Devolution of power to the ethnic minority featured in the talks between the two leaders. Giving details on the BRICS foreign ministers meeting Mathai said preparations for the forthcoming meeting of the grouping in New Delhi in March next were reviewed. Climate change also figured prominently in the deliberations.
News On AIR | September 24, 2011 5:26 PM
PM to address UN General Assembly