India cautions over religious bodies' role in security matters

UNITED NATIONS: India has cautioned against the UN allowing organisations formed on the basis of religion to play a role in matters of international peace and security, saying such an approach will be "counter-productive."

Prakash Gupta, Counsellor at the Indian mission here, told a General Assembly debate that Chapter VIII of the UN Charter refers to regional arrangements, that is work done by organisations formed on the basis of geographical contiguity.

Adding a "word of caution", Gupta said: "No such role for matters relating to maintenance of international peace and security is envisaged for organisations formed on any other basis, be they of language, religion or historical coincidence."

He said if "overly liberal interpretations" are used for regional arrangements and organisations, it would not be in keeping with the UN Charter and also be "counter-productive."

Gupta also reiterated the urgent need to reform the UN Security Council, telling the world body that India agrees with the assessment that it is "presumptuous" of the permanent five members to claim responsibility for global security when they represent only 1.9 billion of the world's seven billion population.

Gupta expressed hope that "meaningful progress" in implementing reforms of the Security Council will take place as the international community marks the 70th Anniversary of the world body.