Cook: India a natural contender for expanded UN Security Council

India is a natural contender for a permanent seat in the expanded UN Security Council, British foreign secretary, Robin Cook said.

Indian news agency quoted Cook as saying following a two-hour meeting on Wednesday with Indian External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, in London both countries were committed to the expansion and reform of the UN Security Council and they should continue to work together to secure reform in the current session of the General Assembly.

Asked about India's aspirations for Security Council membership Cook said "when I was in India in April, I did express our commitment to reform and expansion of the Security Council which would provide for a permanent member from Asia and I said then that India was obviously a natural contender for that place."

The two officials will hold their next meeting in India next April.