Slovakia fully supports India's bid for permanent seat at UNSC: President Peter Pellegrini

Slovakian President emphasizes support for multilateral world functioning, signs MoUs with India, and backs India's UN Security Council bid.

Slovakia extends its "full support" to India on its bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council, President Peter Pellegrini said.

"Together with India, we are major advocates of the multilateral functioning of the world, and we do support the functioning of our international organisations. It is key to Slovakia, and I've emphasised this yesterday in a meeting with a former president of the UN General Assembly," the Slovakian President said in a statement after meeting President Droupadi Murmu, who is on a two-day state visit in Bratislava.

The United Nations Security Council has 15 members of which five are permanent — the USA, the UK, France, Russia and China.

The five members have veto powers allowing them to block any Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states to the U.N. or nominees for new Secretary General of the U.N.

The two leaders met at the Presidential Palace here for talks after a ceremonial Guard of Honour and traditional Bread and Salt ceremony where Ms. Murmu was offered bread by a Slovak couple dressed in traditional attire.

Following the custom, Ms. Murmu took a piece of handmade bread loaf, dipped it in salt, and ate it.

The ancient custom is performed for distinguished guests on various special occasions symbolically as a token of hospitality, friendship, and respect.