JOIN USIndia and Germany, which both won a place in the UNSC as non-permanent members last week, also agreed to push hard for the expansion of the Security Council in permanent as well as non-permanent category.
“We agreed to stay in touch. The reforms of the UN is a very serious project because the architecture of the UN is a result of World War II,” said German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle after talks with his Indian counterpart S M Krishna.
“The world has changed. Africa is under represented. Latin America and Asia are under represented. We need reform of the UN to strengthen the role of the UN in the world as an institution that can resolve regional conflicts,” he stressed.
Germany, a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, sought to strengthen its dialogue with India over the nuclear non-proliferation issue and claimed that it was encouraged by “signs that India could be willing to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.”
“Germany is ready to exchange information with India and cooperation in combating terrorism,” Westerwelle said. Berlin supported India’s initiative in pushing the Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism.
After the talks, Suresh Kumar Goel, Director-General of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, and Thomas Goetz, Director-General, Culture and Science, German Foreign Office, signed a memorandum of understanding on celebrating a Year of Germany in India in 2011-2012 and a Year of India in Germany in 2012-2013.
Climate change, non-proliferation, the Iranian nuclear issue and India-EU relations were among other global issues that were discussed by the two ministers. Westerwelle is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation comprising members of Bundestag (German Parliament) and leading business personalities.