Agencies Posted online: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 1949 hours IST
Kolkata May 15: Expressing strong support for reforming the UN, Britain said it wanted India to be included in the Security Council in keeping with current world realities.
"The United Kingdom wants India to be included in the expanded Security Council. If the Council wants to reflect what the world should be, then it should include India," Britain's Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Kim Howells, told a press conference.
Describing India as an emerging giant, he said it would be ‘difficult’ for the UN to keep India away from the Security Council if the country's strong foundation of human resources could be ‘built up on’.
Calling for reforms of the UN, he said, "Zimbabwe's election last week to the UN Commission on Sustainable Development was a result of block voting that had to do with fear and loyalty. We will continue to push for UN reforms."
Developed countries, particularly Britain, had objected to Zimbabwe's election to the Commission on grounds that there was no democracy in the African country ruled by Robert Mugabe.
Howells, whose portfolio includes counter-terrorism and conflict, said Britain was committed to helping India in various ways against the threat of terrorism.
"India is acutely aware of the threat of terrorism. You are living in a tough neighbourhood. All of us have a duty to prevent the ease of movement of terrorists," he said.
