India says regional representation sole criterion for UNSC expansion

INDIA has strongly objected to proposals introducing religion or faith as criteria for representation in a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC), emphasising that such parameters are inconsistent with the long-established principle of regional representation.

- JAYANTH JACOB @ New Delhi

Speaking at the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) meeting on 'Size of the Future Council and Regional Representation', India's Permanent Representative to the UN, P. Harish, asserted that introducing new parameters would derail the foundational principles of the Council's representation structure.

"Attempts to introduce new parameters, such as religion and faith, as the basis for representation in a reformed Council runs completely counter to regional representation, which has been the basis for representation in the UN," Harish said.