As India joins UNSC, Obama underscores key role

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama has underlined the key role of the UN Security Council, which India is set to join as a non-permanent member in the New Year, in supporting peace, security and development around the world.

Congratulating the new members, including India, Obama underscored the importance of the United Nations and the Security Council to the United States as he joined a White House meeting of the envoys with National Security Adviser Tom Donilon Monday.

India’s permanent representative Hardeep Puri was among the envoys who attended the meeting of 15 current Security Council members as also five newly elected-members whose two-year term begins in January, according to a White House readout of the meeting.

US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, who holds the presidency of the Security Council for December, had convened a day-long series of meetings for the envoys with the US lawmakers and top State Department officials.

Obama stressed the importance of the Security Council remaining united in urging all parties to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on Sudan to abide by their commitments, particularly in light of the upcoming referendum scheduled for January, the White House said.

The president also underscored the importance of continued Security Council support for non-proliferation, building on the strong work that has been done to hold North Korea and Iran accountable for their failure to live up to their obligations, it said.

Obama also noted the broader role that the Security Council has in supporting peace, security and development around the world.

“The president then led a discussion that covered a wide range of issues facing the Council, including nuclear non-proliferation, the Middle East, Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, Iran, North Korea and our shared efforts to combat terrorism,” the White House said.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)