Sweden backs India’s bid for entry into MTCR
3 Jun 2015 6:46 AM IST
The backing was conveyed to President Pranab Mukherjee, who is here on a state visit, the first-ever by any Indian head of state, by Swedish Prime Minister Stefen <g data-gr-id="28">Lofven</g> who called on him along with his cabinet colleagues.
<g data-gr-id="20">Lofven</g> told the President that Sweden supported India’s bid for entry into the MTCR, a voluntary association of 34 countries favouring non-proliferation of unmanned delivery systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction.
The backing came as India is looking to secure an early membership of the four multilateral export control regimes -- Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), MTCR, Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement.
Historically, Swedish governments across party lines have been very outspoken about non-proliferation and disarmament issues and the country is part of all nonproliferation treaties, accords, agreements and voluntary organisations. During the meeting on Monday, the Swedish Prime Minister also shared the view that in a reformed United Nations Security Council, Sweden believed that India had credentials to be a part of it.
“In view of the size as well as speed at which it was growing, India is a natural claimant for being a part of the UNSC,” <g data-gr-id="31">Lofven</g> was quoted as saying by Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Navtej Sarna. Stressing that India and Sweden have similar views on regional and global issues, President Mukherjee later thanked the Nordic country for its endorsement of India’s “rightful” claim to permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
In his speech at a banquet hosted by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia last evening, Mukherjee said the two nations though geographically distant from each other are bound by a common commitment to democratic values and practice.
Mukherjee said bilateral agreements that were signed during his visit here will lead to further fruitful engagement in the many fields where India and Sweden have obvious complementarities.
Swedish Royal family gets Indian taste as Pranab hosts lunch
King Carl Gustaf and Queen Sylvia of Sweden were on Tuesday treated to some delectable Indian street food at a lunch hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee.
The spread for the Royal couple, prepared by chef Dheeraj Singh, who popularised Indian street food here, included mutton curry and lip-smacking tandoori platter having mushroom, prawns and chicken malai tikka, for starters. Singh shot to fame in Stockholm last month after he won the prestigious ‘Arla <g data-gr-id="47">Guldko</g>’ (the Golden Cow) award for best street food in Sweden.
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