Ten countries including Russia and France have publicly expressed support for India's candidature for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council and many others have indicated their support bilaterally, official sources said on Monday. New Delhi has received support from Bhutan, Mauritius, Ireland, Cyprus, Vietnam, Laos and Cuba. France, a permanent member of the council, has stated that India is naturally destined to become a permanent member and it will support New Delhi's candidature. Russia, another permanent member, has said it considers India a strong and worthy candidate of an enlarged council. Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha last week, external affairs minister Jaswant Singh said that a US official had stated that there is no question that India is a very strong contender for permanent membership of the Security Council.
Its size, role in the world, its economy, its contribution to UN peace keeping, all these make it a very serious and strong contender.
Britain has said it sees India as a ''natural contender'' for the seat.
India had declared its candidature for permanent membership of the council in 1994 in the UN General Assembly.
An Open Ended Working Group (OEWG), set up in 1993, in the UNGA, has been considering all aspects of an enlargement of the council.
So far, discussions in the OEWG and the annual debate in the UNGA have not led to any agreement on the parameters for membership of the enlarged council.
Bureau Report