Congressional Statements

Pallone calls on President Bush to support India's bid for permanent seat on U.N. Security Council

Press Release
December 16, 2004

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), founder of the Congressional Caucus on Indian and Indian Americans, today called on President Bush to support adding India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The New Jersey congressman's request follows recent reports that other members of the U.N. Security Council have expressed support for India's bid.

"At a time when international relations are being redefined, we should acknowledge those with whom we share enduring core values," Pallone wrote in a letter to President Bush. "Any reform of the Security Council must lead to permanent membership for India. It is in our national interest and, indeed, our responsibility to ensure that this happens."

In the letter, Pallone called attention to the commonalities between our two nations. He noted that India was the first nation to offer its services in the United States' war on terrorism in Afghanistan and one of the first to embrace the U.S. ballistic missile defense program. Pallone also wrote how India is increasingly becoming an indispensable trading partner with the U.S. and a source for brainpower that drives innovation and fuels the international capitalist system.

"9/11 and the current crisis involving Iraq vividly illustrate that the United States needs new friends in the U.N. Security Council for the maintenance of a secure world order," Pallone wrote in the letter to President Bush. "As the world's two largest democracies, the United States and India have a natural relationship, based on their shared values of diversity, democracy, and prosperity."

Pallone is a leading Congressional proponent of India's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and, last year, introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives in support of India's candidacy. Pallone plans to reintroduce this important bill early in the 109th Congress, set to begin in January.

Text of Pallone's letter to President Bush follows.

December 16, 2004

Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to request your support of adding India as a permanent member with veto power on the United Nations Security Council.

As you may know, I have been a strong proponent of India's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and accordingly, have introduced legislation, H. Res. 108, in support of India's candidacy. I plan to reintroduce this important bill early in the 109th Congress and I request your administration's support, which would send a strong and favorable message to India.

9/11 and the current crisis involving Iraq vividly illustrate that the United States needs new friends in the U.N. Security Council for the maintenance of a secure world order. As the world's two largest democracies, the United States and India have a natural relationship, based on their shared values of diversity, democracy, and prosperity.

It is in the interests of the United States and the world to have a U.N. Security Council whose members combine military strength with respect for democracy and pluralism, and an appreciation of the dangers posed by rouge states and terrorist elites. India, which has long been a victim of terrorism, was the first to offer its services in the United States' war on terrorism in Afghanistan. India was also one of the first to embrace the U.S. ballistic missile defense program.

Notably, the U.N. Security Council reflects the world as it was immediately after WWII, when there were only 51 member nations at the time of U.N. inception. Today, with nearly 200 member nations, the Security Council has not grown proportionately and this continues to hinder the Council's ability to tackle threats to international peace and security.

Finally, one in six human beings are Indian. India is a growing economic power, increasingly becoming an indispensable trading partner with the U.S., becoming a source for brain power that drives innovation and fuels the international capitalist system.

At a time when international relations are being redefined, we should acknowledge those with whom we share enduring core values. Any reform of the Security Council must lead to permanent membership for India. It is in our national interest and, indeed, our responsibility to ensure that this happens.

Again, I urge you to support India's bid for a permanent seat with veto power on the U.N. Security Council.

Sincerely,
FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress