— PHOTO: AFP

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York on Monday.

United Nations: Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon held wide-ranging discussions with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday.

He emphasised New Delhi's concerns over proposals to reform the U.N. Secretariat.

After the half-an-hour meeting, Mr. Menon said that they discussed the reform proposals in the U.N. but did not elaborate.

Asked about Mr. Ban's reaction, he said, ``Let's see what comes out,''

Concern over bifurcation

Though the Foreign Secretary did not go into details, India is especially concerned over the proposal to bifurcate the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

New Delhi has repeatedly made it clear that Mr. Ban must ensure that there is no breakdown of the command structure.

India has the third largest number of peacekeepers.

Mr. Ban had proposed that the department be bifurcated into operations and support, each headed by an Under-Secretary-General.

Troop contributions

But India, along with other troop contributors, had expressed the concern that it could lead to a delay in the peacekeepers getting vital fighting equipment at crucial time.

First meeting

Mr. Menon said this was his first meeting with Mr. Ban and they spent some time getting acquainted with each other.

Indian Ambassador Nirupam Sen accompanied him during the discussions. — PTI

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