Monday, June 27 2005 18:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Opposing "selective" or "piecemeal" UN reforms, India today (Jun 27, 2005) said "shortcomings" of the current arrangements must be "comprehensively" addressed and asserted that its presence as a permanent member of the Security Council would bolster the developing nations' confidence in the world body.

"Since its founding in 1945, the UN is engaged in the most intense process of introspection in its history. Sixty years down the road, if there is any unanimity of views within the UN membership, it is on the need for reform, among other things, to address the democratic deficit that exists," External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said in London.

In his address at the Chatham House on "India: The Next Decade", Singh made it clear that, "Such reform cannot be selective or piecemeal, but must comprehensively address all the shortcomings of the current arrangements".

He said recent crises sent the warning that it was vital to truly reflect the collective will of the comity of nations.

Stressing that India's presence as a permanent member in the Security Council was the best means to authenticate and reinforce its representative character, he said, "The weight of the opinion of a billion people, representing the world's largest democracy, would validate the agenda and decisions of the Council in the perspective of the vast majority of developing countries.