Tuesday, January 25 2005 20:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Acknowledging India's international stature and its ability to contribute towards enhancing the effectiveness of the UN, Bhutan today (Jan 25, 2005) strongly supported India's induction as a permanent member of an enlarged Security Council.

"The time has now come for India to be included as a permanent member in a more representative UN Security Council," visiting Bhutan King Jigme Singye Wangchuk said tonight at a banquet hosted in his honour by President A P J Abdul Kalam.

He said this was a proposal that has been gaining support among a growing number of countries that recognize India's international stature and its ability to contribute meaningfully towards enhancing the effectiveness of the UN.

"For our part, Bhutan strongly supports India's induction as a permanent member of the Security Council," he said.

Observing that it was an honour to be invited a second time for as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations, he said "as a close friend and neighbour, we in Bhutan are proud and happy to see the great strides that India has taken in every field since it gained independence in 1947 and became a republic in 1950".

Politically, India has always been a steadfast champion of the developing countries and a strong promoter of international peace and amity, contributing troops and participating actively in UN peacekeeping missions all over the world, he said.

"As the world's largest democracy, India has also demonstrated that it is a responsible nuclear weapons power," he said.

Wangchuk said with one of the fastest growing economies and more than half of its population under 25 years of age, India was well on its way to becoming a "great economic power".

Referring to the terrible destruction and loss of life caused by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean region last month, he termed as "truly commendable" India's spontaneous and generous assistance extended to SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) member countries of Sri Lanka and the Maldives in their hour of need despite the huge loss of life and property at home.

Felicitating the Prime Minister and the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government for their performance during the past year, he said, "I wish them every success in all their endeavours to bring greater peace and prosperity to India".

Observing that the excellent state of Indo-Bhutan relations continued to grow in strength, he said based on genuine goodwill, friendship and trust, it provided a shining example of good neighbourly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between a large and powerful country and a small, landlocked neighbour.

"For us in Bhutan, friendship with India has always been the cornerstone of our foreign policy," he said.

The King stated that the process of bringing about political changes in Bhutan had reached a "very important" stage with the drafting of a written Constitution which has just been completed.

In this task, Bhutan attached highest importance to the establishment of a Parliamentary democracy that will provide good governance and fulfil the aspirations of the Bhutanese people.