Saturday, May 28 2005 09:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Berne: President A P J Abdul Kalam yesterday (May 27, 2005) made a strong pitch for India getting a permanent membership of an enlarged United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

"It is time democratic India with its billion people needs to get a permanent membership in UN Security Council," he said while addressing the Swiss Parliament in Berne.

Suggesting a "win-win" formula for India and Switzerland, he said the two nations can come together in launching an international peace movement besides joining hands in economic areas to benefit each other.

The President said the flags of the two nations convey a message of eternal peace not only for their own countries but for the entire world.

"It would be, therefore, appropriate for both our countries to launch an international peace movement," Kalam told the Federal Councillors.