Monday, April 25 2005 20:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India is expected to press on the urgent need for United Nations reforms covering expansion of the Security Council during discussions its leaders will have in New Delhi with visiting UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

In a departure from protocol, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh is receiving Annan, who last visited India in March, 2001.

Official circles in New Delhi are attaching special significance to the visit which comes in the midst of concerted efforts by India to garner support for its claim for permanent membership of the Security Council.

New Delhi has been strongly advocating the need for reforms of the UN so that it reflected the contemporary realities and made the world body more relevant and effective in discharging its mandate.

On a three-day visit, Annan will tomorrow hold meetings with UN officials based in New Delhi.

On Wednesday, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat, the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. Besides calling on President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Annan would hold discussions with Natwar Singh.

He will also have a meeting with Leader of Opposition L K Advani, address a Round Table on HIV/AIDS and deliver a public address on "In larger freedom - the changing role of the UN".

The visit of the UN Secretary General, also takes place at a critical juncture with the Millennium Review Summit scheduled to be held in New York in September and New Delhi having intensive interaction with the UN on several important issues.

Annan had recently released his report 'In larger freedom: towards security, development and human rights for all'. It contains suggestions in the areas of development, security, human rights and reform of the UN system.

The visit would provide an occasion to discuss various elements of the report and the Secretary General's detailed views on several of the recommendations, the External Affairs Ministry stated in New Delhi.

During the parleys, India's initiative for a draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism is expected to be taken up. India had tabled this draft in 1996.

In his report, Annan strongly urged that a comprehensive convention on terrorism be concluded before the end of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly.

India's participation in peacekeeping is a reflection of its consistent commitment to the ideal of world peace, the Ministry said.

As a major troop contributing country to UN peacekeeping operations, India has participated in 42 of the 60 UN peacekeeping missions established so far. Indian troops numbering over 71,000 have served in UN peacekeeping missions all over the world and in almost every UN peacekeeping in Africa. 109 Indian soldiers have so far made the supreme sacrifice under the UN flag.