Author, UN-diplomat Tharoor takes charge as mos external affairs

29 May 2009

Shashi Tharoor, today took charge as minister of state for external affairs, a portfolio the former UN diplomat said he was very happy to be in charge of.

He said he was very happy to be in the ministry and he had had very good, constructive and positive dealings with it for many years. He said it was a privilege to a part of it.

The 53-year old ex-UN diplomat said that India occupied an important place in the world and that he would contribute in his own way to further strengthen that "honoured place".

He said that India's place in the world was of great importance and he would pursue India's case for a permanent membership in the UN security Council and added that the government had a very clear policy on the issue.

He said he hoped to be a good and faithful servant of the very clear policies of the government of India on these issues.

Tharoor said he needed to be briefed on the matter of attacks on Indian students in Australia in response to a question on the happenings Down Under.