India pitches for UN reforms, terror fight

Stressing that no country could be immune to the threat of terrorism, especially with the emergence of Islamic State, Sushma also made a strong pitch for finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the UN.

“It is important that there should be a collective effort to deal with this menace (terrorism),” Swaraj told the UN President-elect.

CCIT, a treaty proposed by India in 1996, aimed to ban terrorists and make it binding for countries to deny funds and safe haven to them.

Sushma also congratulated Lykketoft on his election as President of the 70th Session which is expected to address important issues, including adoption and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN Security Council Reform, Review of UN Peacekeeping Operations, Climate Change and Review of the Tunis Agenda (World Summit on Information Society).

Swaraj also conveyed to him that India was already in the process of implementing 11 out of 17 Sustainable Development goals which also match with government’s flagship programmes such as Make in India and Beti Bachao.

Lykketoft, who is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday, said the theme of his Presidency would be the ‘United Nations at 70 – A New Commitment to Action’.

Lykketoft was unanimously elected by the UN General Assembly as President of the 70th Session on June 15. He is scheduled to assume his new responsibilities from September 15.