14 SEPTEMBER 2015: Lankan PM to visit India

Ø  Indian officials are bracing for “last-minute surprises” that could stall the United Nations reforms process on September 14 when Sam Kutesa, President of the U.N. General Assembly, presents a resolution to continue the negotiations for another year. The negotiations of the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGN), which have for the first time included written submissions from all countries, could give the process of expansion of the U.N. Security Council some momentum, as India has demanded. However, if countries such as China or other groups opposed to the expansion demand a division, India and others bidding for a Security Council seat may have to muster up the numbers for a vote to pass the text. If passed, the draft resolution, forwarded by Mr. Kutesa to all Ambassadors to the U.N. on September 10, would include on the U.N. agenda for next year the “question of equitable representation on, and increase in the membership of, the Security Council”. India, Germany, Brazil and Japan make the G-4, nations hopeful of Security Council membership. “This is a necessary step for India, if we wish to realise our dream of making progress in the U.N.’s 70th year. If it doesn’t go through, we would be back to square one,” an official told The Hindu. The resolution will be presented by Mr. Kutesa on his last day as President of the UNGA at 10 a.m. (7.30 p.m. IST), he announced in his letter. Senior diplomats said that they hoped the resolution would be adopted without any opposition. However, if members call for a division, it would be up to the UNGA to decide whether a simple majority or a two-thirds majority was required.

Ø  A 5000-year-old Indus Valley settlement located in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, stands abandoned and unprotected.

Ø  Russia is building an airstrip in the Syrian regime’s stronghold, Latakia province, and has brought hundreds of technicians and military advisers to the site. The claim comes as Washington accuses Moscow of a military build-up in Syria, where Russia has backed President Bashar al-Assad’s regime against an uprising of more than four years. “Russian forces are building a long runway capable of accommodating large aircraft near the Hmaymeen military airport in Latakia province,” the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Ø  Even as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe begins his three-day visit to India on Monday, the Sri Lankan government on Sunday made it clear that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) would not be signed during the visit. Malik Samarawickrama, United National Party chairman and Minister for International Trade, said the agreement would not come up for discussion even though issues concerning bilateral cooperation would be deliberated. Harsha De Silva, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the talks would, however, be centred on improving trade and investment.