The Hindu : National : India eligible for U.N. Council seat: Badawi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004

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National

India eligible for U.N. Council seat: Badawi

By Amit Baruah

The Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, with the Chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia, F.T. Khorakiwala, at a special convocation in New Delhi on Tuesday. — Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

NEW DELHI, DEC. 21. The Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, described India as a "strategic partner" and a "very eligible candidate" to enter the United Nations Security Council tonight, but stopped short of open support for India's bid for a permanent seat.

An upbeat Mr. Badawi said that the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, would make an early visit to Malaysia. While he was "one year old" in the Prime Minister's job, Dr. Singh was just "six months old". There was, he stressed, a convergence of views between the two countries.

There was agreement on moving forward with a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement between India and Malaysia. Mr. Badawi was hopeful that this accord could be signed when Dr. Singh visited Malaysia. "We have set up a small committee of representatives of the two sides [for the purpose]," he said.

On the Security Council issue, Mr. Badawi said he had discussed it with the Indian leadership. The Prime Minister said he did not know what would happen with the U.N. Security Council reforms. "We don't know what type of expansion there will be." At the same time, he stressed that India was a very eligible candidate to join the Security Council, adding that India was "well placed" to be a member. According to Mr. Badawi, a situation of uncertainty persisted as far as Council reforms were concerned.

Asked whether India would find a place in the East Asian economic community that was being discussed by the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China, Japan and South Korea, Mr. Badawi said India did figure on East Asia's radar screens. India's association with this economic community would be a decision to be taken by the collective ASEAN leadership.

On Iraq, the Malaysian Prime Minister said his country supported holding elections there as scheduled on January 30. "We are supporting [the view] that elections be held as scheduled."

Mr. Badawi argued that the elections would give the Iraqi people the opportunity to have a government of their choice. Currently, there was a strong feeling of resentment and anger at the presence of the occupation forces in Iraq. If elections were held in Iraq, they could bring a new situation in the embattled West Asian country.

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