United Nations, March 10: India has a However, he maintained that the country, which has over the years, contributed to help mitigate international disasters, would like to continue the same.

''India's efforts in relief and rehabilitation are not linked to our position on UN reform,'' he said during an interaction with Indian journalists at the United Nations yesterday. "My presence here is indicative of our commitment and contribution to that (help in global calamities)." The minister was present during the launch earlier in the day of a new fund for disaster relief.

Mr Sharma observed the country has always been helping neighbours in coping with disasters such as the tsunami in Sri Lanka and the quake in Pakistan as well as extending assistance to such nations as Malaysia and Indonesia.

India had also sent relief material to the United States when Hurricane Katrina struck in late August, he noted.

''Reforms at the United Nations should be far-reaching.

They should be all encompassing. The reform (we seek) is not Security Council-specific,'' the minister, who had earlier met with Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said.

''This has been agitating many member states,'' he quoted the Secretary General as telling him during his meeting. India is also interested in restoring primacy to the UN General Assembly, which should be given more powers for decision-making on the issues of development and counter terrorism.

''The Security Council is not representative in character of the world of today.'' he noted.

The minister reiterated the government's position on Iran, saying no punitive action should be taken against Tehran when the issue of its alleged violation of nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was taken up by the Security Council.

Diplomacy should be given a chance and sanctions should not be imposed forthwith.

''Iran has a right for nuclear energy,'' Mr Sharma stated.

''But it's bound by NPT obligations.''

UNI