New Delhi: Slovakia today (Dec 13, 2004) favoured India's inclusion as permanent member of the expanded UN Security Council to give it "greater legitimacy" as the two countries affirmed the need for a "comprehensive and sustained" effort to combat terrorism.

The two sides inked three pacts to enhance cooperation in economic and cultural fields as the visiting Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic held talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on a host of subjects covering bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Gasparovic, who is on a five-day-visit since Saturday and met President A P J Abdul Kalam, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and some other leaders, noted India had always played an important role in the comity of nations and had been in particular a leader in the developing world, producing numerous world leaders.

Both sides were of the view that India's "permanent presence as the largest democracy in the world in an expanded UN Security Council would give it greater legitimacy and enhance its effectiveness," an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said.

The two countries affirmed that the UN had an important role to play in dealing with present-day challenges and consequently it was "imperative" to reform the UN structure to bring the same in "conformity with the global realities".