India's new Permanent Representative to UN takes charge

UNITED NATIONS: Ambassador Asoke Kumar Mukerji has taken charge as India's new Permanent Representative to the UN and presented his credentials to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who lauded India's role as a "long trusted partner" of the multilateral system.

Ban welcomed Mukerji's appointment and lauded India's key role at the UN as a long trusted partner of the multilateral system, a statement released by the Indian mission here said.

Mukerji reiterated India's strong commitment to the world body and assured the UN Chief of his full support in helping the UN achieve the five 'generational' opportunities the UN Secretary General had set out at the commencement of his second term.

Prior to his appointment in New York, Mukerji was Special Secretary (Political) in the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi looking after India's strategic and security policy consultations in its immediate and extended neighbourhood.

He is India's 20th Permanent Representative at the UN, succeeding Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri who demitted office in February.