UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon completed a four day visit to India as situations across the globe were worsening, but Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna assured Indian cooperation to the UN.
Welcoming the Secretary General, Krisha said, “India is deeply committed to the United Nations and to strengthen its ability to play a central role in global affairs. You can be confident of India’s support for you personally and for the United Nations.”
Krishna also summed up the global flash points saying, “The winds of change in the Middle-East, the worrisome situation in Syria, the dispute between Sudan and South-Sudan, the situation in Afghanistan are all issues where you have taken keen interest, and we look forward to work with the UN.” Outlining Indian priorities, Foreign Minister Krishna assured the visiting diplomat support in “the fight against piracy, the need for international cooperation in counter-terrorism and the forthcoming major negotiations on sustainable development.”
“We look towards the UN, with its unique legitimacy as a universal forum, in facing these global challenges,” said Krishna.
Ban Ki-moon held a series of meetings with leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meera Kumar, ruling coalition UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and External Affairs Minister Krishna.
Addressing journalists after his meetings, Ban Ki-moon called the situation in Afghanistan “sources of concern” and expressed hope that both India and Pakistan could play an important role in the reconciliation process in the war-ravaged country. (IATNS)