Moscow: Russia has said that India is a "deserving and worthy" candidate for a permanent berth in the reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

"From Russia's point of view Germany, Japan, India and Brazil are deserving candidates for the expanded permanent membership of the (Security) Council," Russia's permanent envoy in the world body Sergei Lavrov said in an interview to ITAR-TASS.

Lavrov said that Russia will also insist on the mandatory inclusion of a representative of Africa in the expanded Security Council, as there is a need for ensuring equal approach for the developed and developing nations of all the regions.

He, however, added that it was "premature" to say whether the new permanent members of the UNSC would have the coveted veto powers.

"Like many other countries we also propose to return to this (veto right) issue after the reforms, if they take place-and election of new permanent members," Lavrov said.

"In the current situation we do not have right to resort to reforms which could lower the operativeness of this body and its capability to promptly react to conflicts and crisis," Lavrov underscored saying that the main criteria of the UNSC reforms should be its effectiveness.