Obamaspeak that is music to India’s ears

NEW DELHI - Highlights of US President Barack Obama’s speech in parliament that has come as music to India’s ears:

* Indeed, the just and sustainable international order that America seeks includes a United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate. That is why I can say today-in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed U.N. Security Council that includes India as a permanent member.”

* We will continue to insist to Pakistan’s leaders that terrorist safe-havens within their borders are unacceptable, and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks be brought to justice.”

* Like your neighbors in Southeast Asia, we want India to not only ‘Look East’, we want India to ‘Engage East’ because it will increase the security and prosperity of all our nations.”

* Together, we can pursue a vision that Indian leaders have espoused since independence-a world without nuclear weapons.”

* I believe that India and America are indispensable partners in meeting the challenges of our time.”

* In Asia and around the world, India is not simply emerging; India has already emerged. And it is my firm belief that the relationship between the United States and India-bound by our shared interests and values-will be one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.

* Despite the skeptics who said that this country was simply too poor, too vast, too diverse to succeed, you surmounted overwhelming odds and became a model to the world.”

* Instead of resisting the global economy, you became one of its engines-reforming the licensing raj and unleashing an economic marvel that has lifted tens of millions from poverty and created one of the world’s largest middle classes.