REYKJAVIK: Having supported India's candidature for a seat in the expanded United Nations Security Council, Iceland on Monday said it would co-sponsor the draft resolution prepared by the group of four countries suggesting changes in the UNSC.

Confirmation of the move came during delegation-level talks when President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam called on his Iceland counterpart, Olafur Grimsson at Bessastaoir, the Presidential palace here.

``I thanked him (Mr. Grimsson) for agreeing to co-sponsor the G-4 (India, Japan, Brazil and Germany) draft resolution,'' Mr. told a joint press conference. The draft resolution, likely to be moved by mid-June, needs to be passed by a two-thirds majority of the General Assembly.

It has four aspects, including six new permanent members and five non-permanent members, mode of election, improvement in the working method by bringing in transparency and inclusiveness and clause for review at the end of 15 years.

Mr. Kalam said both countries could cooperate in the areas of pharmaceuticals, earthquake prediction, geo-thermal power generation and application, and deep-sea fishing, processing and marketing.

Wealth from ocean

Mr. Grimsson said Iceland would be keen on cooperating with India in the deep-sea fishing methods the country perfected. ``We created wealth from ocean.''

Mr. Kalam's visit was a symbol of cooperation between India, the largest democracy, and Iceland, the oldest and smallest democracy, he said.

Cooperation between the two in space, science and technology offered a pathway for progress.

``We have a great road ahead in the field both India and Iceland have chosen, to become major players in health care and pharmaceuticals.''

Mr. Grimisson said Iceland would cooperate to work on early earthquake warning, in the field of geo-thermal energy, and warming of climate.

Mr. Kalam said both countries could work together to produce cost-effective and competitively produced medical drugs.

He showed the three-dimensional stereo images of the Swiss Alps, taken by India's latest cartographic satellite (CARTOSAT), which impressed Mr. Grimsson so much that he sought a similar study of the glacial and island mountains of Iceland.

``It was like talking a walk through the Alps'' Mr. Grimsson said, praising the technical prowess of the satellite.

Last week in Berne, Mr. Kalam presented a compact disc of the study to Swis President Samuel Schmid.

Last night, the President interacted with the Counsel-Generals of India in Iceland, representatives of the newly formed Icelandic-India Trade Council and scientists.

Consul-Generals Elias Gunnarsson and Girish Hirlekar suggested the opening of an Indian mission here.

Some top scientists and academicians of Iceland attended a dinner, which ended with an impromptu rendition of a song by both sides. Secretary (West) Shashi Tripathi sang Tagore´s Ekla Chalo Re.

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