No change in stance on India’s claim: US envoy

New Delhi, August 14

The United States today denied it is opposing India a permanent seat in the expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC) expressing surprise at recent reports stating Washington is against it.

“The US is open to limited expansion [of UNSC],” said US Ambassador to India Richard Verma at an event here. Reaffirming the strong position by his country, the US envoy added America had always supported India as a permanent member explicitly.

Responding to a question on the subject in the light of recent report that US, China and Russia have opposed the move for any reform of the UNSC, Ambassador Verma said there was no change in the stand articulated by President Barack Obama in Parliament during 2010 visit and reiterated when he came to India this January. — TNS