United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today expressed hope that the UN Security Council's reform process will be accelerated to meet the expectations of countries like India. These countries are keen to play a bigger role as permanent members of the powerful UN body.

Mr. Ban Ki Moon told this in an interview on the eve of his three-day visit to India. Mr. Ban also said that UNSC reforms have been one of the most important and most debated issues, particularly during the last 20 years and has picked up pace in the last three years. He noted that UN member states have been working very hard to accelerate the pace of the reform process.

While there is almost near consensus that the UN's powerful 15-nation body should be reformed, Mr. Ban said member states have not been able to find a clear formula, which would satisfy and meet the expectations of all member states.

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon will arrive tomorrow and would be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other senior political leaders in New Delhi. He will also receive an honorary doctorate degree from Jamia Millia Islamia University.