Wednesday, September 13 2006 16:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Brasilia: India and Brazil have imparted a new momentum to the flagging G-4 initiative for expanding the UN Security Council by renewing their resolve to make the world body 'more democratic, representative and reflective of the changed world order'.

"President Luiz Ignacio Lula Da Silva and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh underscored the priority that both governments attach to reforming the UN to make it more effective and attuned to present day realities," said the joint communiqué issued after talks between the two leaders here yesterday (Sept 12, 2006).

The two countries also accelerated their cooperation to "work closely together in the framework of G-4" to achieve their ambition of getting a permanent seat in a reformed and expanded Security Council, the communiqué added.

Besides India and Brazil, Japan and Germany are also part of G-4, which has tabled a resolution in the UN General Assembly to expand the Security Council.

The UN reforms and expansion of the Security Council figured prominently in discussions between Manmohan Singh and Lula Da Silva. The two also discussed trade cooperation, energy security and coordinated fight against terrorism.

The latest commitment by India and Brazil to get a Security Council seat comes ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York this month.

The future of the G-4 resolution depends in large part on the support it gets from the 53-nation African Union.