New Delhi
28 July 2005
India has expressed surprise and deep regret at allegations levelled
by Italy's envoy in the United Nations about the G-4 employing unethical means to push
for permanent berths in an expanded Security Council.
The Italian envoy, Mr Marcello Spatafora, said at the Security Council that the G-4,
comprising Brazil, Germany, India and Japan were "resorting to financial leverage and to
financial pressures in order to induce a government to align, or not to align, itself with a
certain position, or to co-sponsor or vote in favour of a certain draft".
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesman, Mr Navtej Sarna, on Thursday said the
government was taking up the issue with Italy's ambassador in New Delhi and through
the Indian envoy in Rome, and that demarches were being readied. The Italian
ambassador in India was also being summoned in this regard.
The spokesman said the government has "expressed surprise and deep regret at the
serious and completely baseless allegations" by the Italian permanent representative in
the UN about a group (G-4) "that included a friendly country like India". "We would expect
that the Government of Italy would dissociate itself from the remarks made by its
ambassador which are in complete violation of all norms of diplomatic propriety," Mr
Sarna added.
India, meanwhile, is readying to host the president of Seychelles and the foreign
minister of South Korea. The spokesman told media persons the president of
Seychelles, Mr James Alix Michel, would arrive on a two-day visit in New Delhi on July
31. He would meet with the President, Mr APJ Abdul Kalam, and Vice President Bhairon
Singh Shekhawat.
Delegation-level talks would take place on August 1 between the visiting dignitary and
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Syecheless president would also hold talks with
External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Finance
Minister P Chidambaram and Leader of Opposition LK Advani.
Also arriving on July 31 would be South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon, who will
undertake a three-day visit to India during which the two countries will sign an agreement
for waiving visa requirements for diplomatic and official passport holders. Mr Ban will be
co-chairing with External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh the fourth Korea-India joint
commission on August 1.
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