Al Ahram, p.8, (4-7-2008)

Abul Gheit: Egyptian-Indian agreement on expanding membership of UN Security Council

Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit held talks with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee who is visiting Cairo. The discussions approached enlarging the Security Council and reforming the UN. Abul Gheit said: "Regarding the current efforts in the UN to enlarge the Security Council, the Egyptian and Indian views meet because we in Egypt adhere to the so-called "African Consensus" which asks for two permanent seats for Africa along with the right of veto, while the Indian stance asks for enlarging the Security Council and a permanent seat for India and insists on the right of veto." Delhi meetings, he added, show that India and the African Union agreed on a provision highlighting this point.

*****