Russia’s Lavrov Backs India for Permanent Member in UN Security Council

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today backed India for becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

0
545
Russia's Lavrov Backs India for Permanent Member in UN Security Council

While addressing the 77th United Nations General Assembly, Mr Lavrov said that Security Council will be more democratic if countries from Africa, Asia & Latin America are included.

He said India and Brazil, in particular, are key international actors and should be counted for permanent membership in the council. Addressing the Assembly, Lavrov accused Western countries of throwing a fit over the referendum that is being conducted in Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine on becoming a part of their federation.

He said the United States is trying to turn the whole world into its “backyard”, and together with its partners, punishing dissenters from its world view, through what he called “illegal unilateral sanctions” which violate the UN Charter, and hurt poor citizens in poorer countries.

Earlier, India with 31 other countries in a joint statement on reforms stated that an expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories, as well as reform in its working methods, is indispensable to making the body more representative, legitimate and effective, delegations reiterated.

The signatories of the joint statement stated that they reaffirm that adapting the United Nations to contemporary world realities necessarily requires urgent and comprehensive reform of the Security Council, the principal organ for international peace and security.

So far, 32 countries including India have called for urgent and comprehensive reforms in the UNSC to adapt the United Nations to contemporary world realities.

The signatories of the Joint Statement recognized that a resilient world needs reformed and effective multilateralism to deliver solutions for poverty, climate change, pandemics, global food security, terrorism, and international conflict.

The signatories include Brazil, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mongolia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, and Vanuatu.

On Thursday, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted a meeting of the G4 countries and later tweeted, “Reiterated our joint commitment to work towards text-based negotiations that lead to reformed multilateralism. Will continue our cooperation towards the goal”.

In a veiled attack against China, EAM Jaishankar also stated that India is prepared to take up greater responsibilities, and negotiations for the much-needed UN Security Council reforms should not be blocked by procedural tactics and naysayers cannot hold the process “hostage in perpetuity.”

India, currently a non-permanent member of the 15-nation UN Security Council, will complete its two-year tenure in December this year when it will preside over the Council.

Underlining that India believes that multipolarity, rebalancing, fair globalisation, and reformed multilateralism cannot be kept in abeyance, Jaishankar said that the call for reformed multilateralism – with reforms of the Security Council at its core – enjoys considerable support among UN members.

“It does so because of the widespread recognition that the current architecture is anachronistic and ineffective. It is also perceived as deeply unfair, denying entire continents and regions a voice in a forum that deliberates their future,” he said.

In these turbulent times, the world must listen to more voices of reason. And experiences more acts of goodwill. India is willing and able on both counts, he said.

India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the Security Council, saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of the Council, which in its current form does not represent the geo-political realities of the 21st Century.

India, which is Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee this year, would be hosting a special meeting of the Committee in Mumbai and New Delhi on October 28-29. The meeting is aimed at highlighting the increase in the use of new technologies by terrorists and exploring courses of action to effectively deal with this threat.

Inviting all member states to participate in the meeting, Jaishankar said the world needs to create a global architecture that responds to the new tech tools deployed against open, diverse, and pluralistic societies.

“India has always espoused a cooperative, inclusive, and consultative approach to international relations,” he said.

“We believe and advocate that this is not an era of war and conflict. On the contrary, it is a time for development and cooperation,” he added.

You may also like

Vietnam Takes Part in Strengthening International Collaboration for Gender Equality

Women remain underrepresented in ambassadorship and global governance positions, standing at around 1.6% of heads of states and 21.6% ambassadors around the world.

Deputy PM Meets Foreign Officials, Vietnamese Expats in Switzerland

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks at a high-level discussion of the 52nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 27.

Vietnam Highlights Need for Nations to Abide by UN Charter

A Vietnam diplomat has asserted that all nations have the responsibility to comply with the UN Charter and global regulations.

Proposal by PM Pham Minh Chinh to Enhance Strategic Trust to Overcome Global Issues at UNGA 78

At the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) on September 22, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asserted that “strategic trust” was vital to formulating effective global responses to a variety of shared problems. During his address at the general debate, Chinh called for the strengthening of international cooperation through trust.