Congressional Statements

Pallone urges Secretary Powell to follow Great Britain's lead and support a permanent seat for India at the U.N. Security Council

Press Release
August 28, 2002

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today requested the State Department follow the lead of one of its most important allies and endorse a permanent seat for India in the United Nations Security Council. Earlier this month, British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott informed his Indian counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, that the United Kingdom backed India's candidacy to the Council. Britain joins France and Russia in supporting India's permanent inclusion in the Security Council.

"It is time for the Bush Administration to recognize the importance India plays in the region and the world and support its bid for a permanent seat at the U.N. Security Council," Pallone wrote in a letter sent today to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"Given the makeup of the council, I believe a strong, friendly India will help U.S. security and geopolitical interests in the region," Pallone continued. "All five members of the U.N. Security Council must realize that having India as a permanent security council member will give the South Asia region a stabilizing force, helping peace efforts in Central Asia and all parts of our increasingly connected world.

"I also believe it is morally wrong to ignore the voice of over one billion Indian people in security decision-making that affects them, and the rest of the world," Pallone continued. "India's location, its large population, its history of participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations, and its leadership in the nonalignment movement all justify its bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council."

Pallone said that since September 11, India has been dedicated to eradicating terrorism not only within its own country, but also throughout the world. India was one of the first nations to say the United States military could use its strategically placed land during its fight against terrorism.

"As the two largest democracies, the United States and India worked together to defeat terrorist cells in Afghanistan and in other areas of the region, including Kashmir and Jammu," Pallone continued in his letter to Powell. "The United States' eradication of terrorism in Afghanistan helped stabilize the region, while India's work in ridding terrorist cells in Kashmir in turn helps the United States. As we continue to work together, I am hopeful that we will continue to see positive results."

Pallone, founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, reintroduced legislation last year supporting a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for India. The New Jersey congressman's legislation, a "Sense of the Congress," allows the U.S. House of Representatives to go on record in supporting India's bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.