New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised External Affairs Sushma Swaraj for her 'excellent' speech at the United Nations General Assembly Thursday night.


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While addressing the UNGA, Swaraj hit out at Pakistan and emphasised on reforming the UN Security Council. She said reform is the "most urgent and pressing need" and called for inclusion of more developing nations in the decision making structures of the powerful world body.


Congratulating the Union Minister on Twitter, PM Modi described her UN address as “a perfect articulation of key global issues”.





Swaraj said that India was ready for a dialogue with Pakistan based on just one point, “give up terror,” and will address all outstanding issues if it gets a positive response.


Responding to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's four-point peace initiative, Swaraj said, “We do not need four points, we need just one - give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk.”


Addressing the General Assembly in Hindi, Swaraj said the international community should make countries aiding, arming and protecting terrorists pay a heavy price.


Swaraj said that in order to preserve the "centrality and legitimacy" of the UN as the custodian of global peace, security and development, the reform of the Security Council is its "most urgent and pressing need."


"This is the need of the hour. How can we have a Security Council in 2015 which still reflects the geo-political architecture of 1945? How can we have a Security Council which still does not give place as a permanent member to Africa and Latin America?," she questioned.


Swaraj underscored the need for including more developing nations in the decision making structures of the Security Council and to change the way it does business by doing away with outdated and non-transparent working methods.


"Imparting more legitimacy and balance to the Council would restore its credibility and equip it to confront the challenges of our times," she siad.


"As with nations, so with institutions. It is only a periodic renovation that provides an organisation with meaning and purpose. In a world that continues to be dominated by wealthy and influential nations, the notion of sovereign equality of the UN has permitted the developing world to question some unfair norms.


Voicing India's continued commitment to international peacekeeping operations, Swaraj said it has been India's view that these operations cannot substitute for political solutions, a fact that has been underscored by the High Level Independent Panel as well.


With 180,000 peacekeepers deployed so far, India has been the largest provider of international security by the UN. Even today, about 8,000 Indian military and police personnel are participating in 10 Missions, operating in highly challenging environments.