Date:10/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/10/stories/2008041055691200.htm

National

India, Africa for making U.N. more democratic

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said here on Wednesday that both Africa and India agreed to support each other in their quest to make the United Nations more democratic and representative. He admitted that in the Delhi Declaration, “we ought to have reaffirmed our commitment to continue to work together so that India and Africa get their place in the United Nations Security Council.”

Mr. Kikwete, who is also the African Union President, also referred to high fuel and food prices in his closing remarks.

He said: “We agreed there was need for intervention ...that we should bring two matters [high fuel and food prices] to the attention of the UN and international financial organisations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Food security and high oil prices clearly impact on the economy. All the gains made on the fronts of economic growth and poverty reduction may be lost if these are not reined in.”