(Image source from: UN adopts negotiations on reforms - Big win for India})

The UN General Assembly on Monday has adopted a negotiating text by consensus for the long-pending Security Council reforms. This will set the stage for talks on the issue at its 70th session beginning Tuesday, boosting the India's bid for a permanent seat in the world body. Amidst protests by China, Russia and Pakistan, the UN general assembly on Monday has agreed to adopt a negotiating text for Security Council reforms.

India welcomed the decision, stating, "We look forward to early commencement of text-based negotiations with a view to securing concrete outcomes during the 70th session of the UNGA. We call upon all member states to constructively engage in this process so that the long pending reform of the UN Security Council can be achieved."

India's UN ambassador Asoke Mukerji said that the Monday's decision is significant on three counts, he said, "the first time in the history of the intergovernmental negotiation (IGN) process that a decision on UNSC reform has been adopted through an official document. This decision sets the IGN process formally on an irreversible text-based negotiations path, and the document is the one circulated on July 31, which would be negotiated on."

Hardeep Singh Puri, former ambassador to the UN said that it was "a game changing decision made possible by excellent diplomacy by India, including in particular in the final days leading to the adoption of L.92."

By Premji