By Sarwar Kashani
Moscow, Dec 7 (IANS) Describing India as a “deserving and a strong candidate”, Russia Monday backed India for a permanent seat in an expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

“Russia considers India a deserving candidate and strong candidate for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council,” according to a joint declaration signed in Moscow after summit talks between visiting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

India, Brazil, Germany, Japan and some African countries want to become permanent members on the council, whose membership includes the US, Russia, France, Britain and China - the five permanent members - and 10 members elected for two-year terms.

Negotiations in the UN General Assembly in the past 15 years have been deadlocked over the number of new seats and the veto power of the permanent members.

India and Russia, according to the joint declaration, which was released to the media hours after the talks, also agreed to further “strengthen their cooperation on issues related to the reform of the UN and its Security Council”.

“The reform of the UN Security Council should be carried out in a manner that reflects contemporary realities and makes it more representative and effective in dealing with both present-day and emerging challenges,” the Indo-Russian declaration read.