Climate change, UN reforms on top of Patil agenda

Aware of the diplomatic significance — apart from bilateral relations — of her first overseas tour as President of India, Pratibha Patil has said south-south cooperation in major global issues like climate change, terrorism and Doha round of trade negotiations along with United Nations reforms are part of her agenda. The President was speaking to reporters on board her special aircraft on Saturday after embarking on a tour of Brazil, Mexico and Chile.

Close on the heels of the India-Africa summit in Delhi last week, Patil’s tour is another attempt by India to engage with the three

major Latin American countries as part of its south-south cooperation.

On the question whether India will support Brazil’s claim to a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, the President said India along with Brazil, Japan and Germany was already part of this exercise.

On the stand-off on the Doha round of trade negotiations, Patil said experts were still working on it and added that a final view by the country would not pre-empt the negotiations, rather it would be taken after some progress is made at the talks. On terrorism, Patil said India shared a common view of “zero tolerance” towards it along with these countries.