India in UNSC important for global balance: Sarkozy

NEW DELHI - French President Nicolas Sarkozy Monday said that India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council was important for the “equilibrium of the world”.

“It is not just an important matter for India but for the equilibrium of the world,” Sarkozy said in his opening remarks at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“After its two-year term, are we going to ask India to simply to stand down,” he asked, referring to India becoming a non-permanent member of the Security Council from Jan 1, 2011.

He reiterated that it was unfair that a country of one billion should be kept out of the UNSC high table.

Earlier, Manmohan Singh thanked France for being a “consistent advocate” of India’s candidature for a permanent Security Council seat.