"India believes that no reform of the UN will be complete without the reform and expansion of the UN Security Council. It is essential that the Security Council is expanded in both the permanent and non-permanent categories," he said.
Mukherjee was addressing delegates of the 13th conference of chief justices of the world organised by City Montessori School, Lucknow who called on him at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He said the inclusion of developing countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America, who are capable of global responsibility, will contribute to optimal decision making necessary to address the insecurity of developing countries.
"By any objective criteria, such as population, territorial size, GDP, economic potential, civilisational legacy, cultural diversity, political system and past and ongoing contributions to the activities of the UN-especially to UN peacekeeping operations-India is eminently suited for permanent membership of the UN Security Council," he said.
He said the country has also affirmed its willingness and capacity to shoulder the responsibilities of permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
Mukherjee stated that it is important that states reaffirm their adherence to the rule of law, with a commitment to abide in good faith to an international order based on respect for international law, including obligations under the Charter of UN, principles of justice and peaceful co-existence.
"Jurists have an important role to play in persuading states to abide by the rule of law and building support among the public for the same," he said.
