anniversary meeting next September. To take effect, the reforms would require a two-thirds majority of the U.N.'s 191 members and no veto from existing permanent members. Putin backed India as Russia's "No.1" candidate to become a permanent Security Council member after talks on Friday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but was unclear on India's call for veto power. "We believe it would be absolutely unacceptable to erode the tools of the U.N. Security Council," he said on Friday. "Otherwise the U.N. would lose its weight and become some kind of discussion club like the League of Nations." The Times of India's reaction was typical: "Putin vetoes India entry into UN Tier-1" read its front page headline. The Indian Foreign Ministry said it had all been a misunderstanding, issuing a statement saying Putin had categorically rejected the newspapers' version of his remarks. "He said that he had emphasised the need of retaining the instrument of veto as a means of ensuring the effectiveness of the U.N. Security Council," the statement said. "In extending full support to India's candidature, he felt that India as a new member should have the full rights of permanent members, including the right of veto," it added, saying Putin did not want India to be a permanent member of second rank.
