M A I N   N E W S

India hopes Obama will endorse case for UNSC
Ashok Tuteja/TNS
Tribune News Service

THE OBAMA VISIT

OBAMA’s PACKED SCHEDULE Nov 6: Obama to arrive in Mumbai; will stay at the Taj to pay homage to 26/11 victims.   Nov 7: Will visit other places that were witness to 26/11; to address business leaders before flying to Delhi.   Nov 8: To address a joint session of Parliament.   Nov 9: Leaves New Delhi for Indonesia.

New Delhi, October 20
The South Block is abuzz with high expectations from Barack Obama’s visit to India early next month, with mandarins at the foreign office quite optimistic about the US President formally endorsing India’s candidature for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Officials here acknowledge that the American leader would have to traverse beyond symbolism to impart a momentum to the relationship that has seen signs of differences over a spate of issues in recent months, particularly the situation in Af-Pak region, Iran’s controversial nuclear programme and curbs introduced by Washington on outsourcing and on the export of hi-tech items.

If former President George Bush gave the civil nuclear deal to India and brought this country into the nuclear mainstream, New Delhi is hoping Obama would address the ticklish issues between the two countries to impart dynamism to the strategic partnership.

Top Issues Indo-Pak ties; volatile situation in Af-Pak region controversial N- programme of Iran. Curbs on outsourcing and export of hi-tech items. The Growing aggressiveness of China. Fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea

The Expectations Obama may announce America's explicit support for India for a permanent UNSC seat. Finalise cooperation in the Global Commons like solar energy in space. A US-India global venture on open democracy, e-governance and democratisation of information.

Two of the top US diplomats, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake will be arriving in New Delhi this week to give final touches to President Obama’s maiden visit to India. The American leader is likely to be in India from November 6 to 9; thus making it his longest overseas stay in a country as the head of the state.

India recently winning a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2011-12 is being seen by New Delhi as a reflection of the growing importance of this country in global affairs. The massive margin with which India won the seat has not gone unnoticed in Washington either.

In fact, several US administrations have privately acknowledged that India has an important role to play in an expanded Security Council.

The expectation is that President Obama would announce America's explicit and unambiguous support for India for a permanent UNSC seat. This obviously would have a major positive impact on both the Indian government and -- more importantly -- the people of India.