India deserves an UNSC permanent seat: Nicolas Sarkozy

Sending out a positive message towards the host nation as he began his four-day visit to India, French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Saturday voiced his support to India?s demand for a permanent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) seat.

?India deserves a permanent seat in the Security Council. It is unthinkable that one billion Indians are not represented in the Security Council,? Sarkozy said, addressing scientists, students and industry captains at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) here.

?India, along with Brazil, Germany, Japan, Africa and Arab world should be in the UN Security Council,? he said, adding that he meant what he said on India and has always supported an end to India’s nuclear isolation.

He also expressed satisfaction that France will set up a nuclear plant in Jaitapur that will produce 10,000 MW of clean energy.

Supporting India?s fight against terrorism, Sarkozy said, ?Terrorism emanating from Pakistan and Afghanistan is a major source of instability in the world.?

The agenda of the French President’s visit included signing of a nuclear deal with India and defence cooperation.

The President, accompanied by wife Carla Bruni and a large team of officials and business people, was greeted after touching down at the airport in Bangalore.

Sarkozy during his stay in India, will talk to different ministers, government officials and business people for expanding bilateral cooperation.