India `worthy' candidate for SC berth -- Seleznyov
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

MOSCOW, FEB 27: Russia considers India as a strong and worthy candidate for the permanent membership in the reformed UN Security Council, Chairman (Speaker) of the Russian Federal Assembly's State Duma Gennady Seleznyov has said.

Lauding India's stand of unacceptability of the unilateral approach of the US and its close allies to use force in international relations and undermining the existing UN mechanisms and central role of the UN Security Council in the world affairs, he said both New Delhi and Moscow shared the same view of forming a multipolar world.

Russia highly appreciates `practically' full mutual understanding and cooperation with India on international affairs which found their real reflection during Kosovo crisis and UN vote on preservation of 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missles (ABM) treaty -- the cornerstone of contemporary arms control regime, Seleznyov said in his interview to Moscow-based Indian media on the eve of his India visit.

Noting `coincidence' in the position of New Delhi and Moscow on most urgent international issues, the Russian Duma Speaker said that both are in favour of the formation of a fair and multipolar world order.

"Our further proximity on strategic issues, undoubtedly, would be promoted by the fact that the unipolar model of the world order is not acceptable either to Moscow or to Delhi," Seleznyov said.

"Both Russia and India as is clear, posses all the possibilities to become two powerful poles in the new world order. Cooperation between them creates a wide area of stability in Asiatic space," he said adding that China too could also play its role in this process.

He, however, categorically ruled out that Moscow was trying to resurrect `bloc politics' in the new scenario.

"I would like to emphasise that this definitely not an attempt of arbitrary construction of bloc politics in the new historical condition, but it is about the augmentation of the responsibilities of Russia, India and China on the issues of the formation of a stable security system and stability in asia as well as in the world as a whole.

"For this, it is necessary to put in single minded efforts for bringing close the positions of these three countries, and for elaboration of co-ordinated approaches towards the most urgent regional and international problems," Seleznyov said explaining Moscow's view of the idea of ``Moscow-Delhi-Beijing' triangle.

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