IBSA to focus on reforming UN Security Council: Krishna

NEW YORK - External Affairs Minister S.M Krishna has said that the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) countries should be in a position to collaborate closely on major issues before the agenda of the Security Council starting from January 1, 2011.

Speaking during the IBSA ministerial meeting here, Krishna said: “With our shared values and ideologies and common priorities, the IBSA countries should be in a position to collaborate closely on major issues.

He said it is no coincidence that all three of our countries are key drivers behind the demand for greater democratization and reform of the UN system.

“I think we all agree that our collaboration should focus foremost on reform of the UN Security Council to make the organization representative of contemporary global realties,” he added.

He further said that in January 2011, the international community will have to address important developments in the Sudan.

“This is likely to be among the major issues that the Security Council would have to address,” he said.

“We need to coordinate our positions on this. South Africa has been playing an important role and we look forward to your wise counsel on the matter,” he added.

“The Iran nuclear issue is another important matter that our three countries would have to deal with.

India has substantial interests in the region and traditional friendship with Iran. This applies in large measure also to South Africa. Our delegations should coordinate positions on the matter,” he said.

Saying that the three countries are also major peacekeeping nations, Krishna said: “We have built up a large reservoir of experience and tools. We look forward to exchanging views on this important area as well.

He further said that IBSA are important constituents of the L.69 Group on Council reform, besides being part of the G-4 and African Groups which have been extremely critical to the reform process and will remain so.

“We are aware of the sensitivities within the African Group on the matter. We are willing to go by South Africa’s advice both in respect of strategy and tactics to progress the reform process,” he added. (ANI)