NEW DELHI:
In a significant diplomatic win for India, the country’s candidature for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has been unanimously endorsed by the Asia Pacific group, comprising 55 nations.
The 55 countries that have supported India’s candidature, include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, UAE and Vietnam. Elections for five non-permanent members of the 15-nation Council for the 2021-22 term will be held around June next year.
Thanking the nations that endorsed India’s candidature, India’s permanent representative at the UN, Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: “A unanimous step. Asia-Pacific Group @UN unanimously endorses India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat of the Security Council for a 2-year term in 2021/22.”
His tweet, accompanied with a video message, further said: “Asia-Pacific Group endorses India for Non-Permanent Seat of United Nations Security Council. 55 countries, 1 nominee – India for a non-permanent seat of UN Security Council Term 2021-2022.”
