Global economy, terrorism and unrest in West Asia and North Africa will top Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s agenda during his visit to attend the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement ahead of his six-day visit from Wednesday, Singh said he also hoped to hold bilateral discussions with the Presidents of Iran, South Sudan and Sri Lanka, and the Prime Ministers of Japan and Nepal.
He said that his visit to the UN this year also comes against the backdrop of India once again becoming a non-permanent member of the Security Council, since January this year, after a gap of 19 years.
“Our efforts at promoting international peace and security and bringing to bear a developing country perspective have, I believe, enriched the council’s deliberations and enhanced its effectiveness.”
The delegation accompanying the Prime Minister includes external affairs minister SM Krishna, his principal secretary TKA Nair, national security advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai and other senior officers. Commerce and industry Anand Sharma and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee are already present in the US.
“The UN General Assembly is meeting this year at a time when the world is faced with multiple challenges. The global economy is in the midst of an economic slowdown coupled with all its attendant problems, including inflationary pressures,” the Prime Minister said.
“West Asia, North Africa and Gulf regions have seen major upheavals and there is uncertainty about the shape of things to come in this crucial part of the world in the period ahead. The Palestine question remains unresolved,” he said.
He also said terrorism and non-traditional threats to international security, such as piracy, were threatening states and the international political and social order and called for collective action to address all these issues.
“The UN must be seen as an impartial, credible and effective body. I will stress the need for early reform of this unique organisation, particularly an expansion of its Security Council.”
The current UN session started September 13. This year, the general debate and addresses by the heads of delegation is scheduled from September 21-30. The Indian prime minister is scheduled to address the General Debate in the morning of September 24.