Thank you, Mr. President.
I congratulate you on assuming the Presidency of the Security Council for
the month of May and appreciate your initiative in organising this
high-level meeting on the topic of "Maintenance of international peace and
security: Upholding multilateralism and the United Nations-centered
international system”. Given the high expectations from the United Nation
and multilateral system, particularly at this time when the world is
confronted by several global challenges, not least the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic, such a discussion is indeed relevant and timely. I also take this
opportunity to thank His Excellency Volkan Bozkir, the President of the
General Assembly for sharing his insights.
2. Envisioned with the noble objective of saving succeeding generations
from the scourge of war, the establishment of the UN in 1945 heralded a new
era of international relations, committed to maintaining international
peace and security, upholding international law, respecting obligations
arising from mutually negotiated treaties and promoting fundamental
freedoms for all humanity.
3. Founded on the principle of sovereign equality for all its members, the
UN today is the most universal and representative international
organisation. The UN has been credited with largely keeping the peace over
the last seven and a half decades and for contributing in many ways to the
betterment of the lives of the world’s humanity. At the same time, it has
been found wanting in its ability to garner a concerted response to tackle
the world’s most complex challenges.
4. Several contemporary global challenges have come to the fore such as
terrorism, radicalism, pandemics, climate change, threats from new and
emerging technologies, growing asymmetric threats, disruptive role of
non-state actors and the intensifying geopolitical competition, all of
which call for a robust multilateral response. While the UN has addressed
most of these issues somewhat partially and intermittently, our collective
effort has nonetheless fallen short in providing effective and enduring
solutions, particularly due to the infirmities within the multilateral
system. Mr President, 2021 is a watershed moment in the history of the
world, providing a timely opportunity to reflect on the effectiveness of
the UN in achieving the goals and objectives that its founders had set out
75 years ago.
5. The multitude of challenges of today’s dynamic and interdependent world
cannot be addressed with outdated systems that were designed to deal with
the challenges of the past.
6. The COVID-19 pandemic has sharpened our awareness of the depth of global
interdependence, and on the fact that the world is only as resilient as the
least resilient country. The events of the past year have clearly
demonstrated how imperative it is for all countries to coordinate responses
to the various challenges that the pandemic has brought to the fore.
7. It is the lack of a coordinated global response that has exposed the
vulnerabilities and weaknesses of the multilateral system as it stands
today, providing a timely reminder for the pressing need for comprehensive
reform. While the pandemic exposed the fault lines from unreliable global
supply chains to inequitable vaccine distribution, it has also underlined
the need for global solidarity and strengthened multilateralism. The
re-imagined post-pandemic world will make profoundly different demands from
the multilateral system, which must evolve accordingly so as to be fit for
purpose and capable of inspiring confidence in its ability to effectively
meet those demands.
Mr. President,
8. At the core of India’s call for reformed multilateralism, lies the
reform of the UN Security Council, reflective of the contemporary realities
of today. When power structures continue to reflect the status quo of a
bygone era, they also start reflecting a lack of appreciation of
contemporary geopolitical realities. Multilateral institutions must be made
more accountable to their membership, they must be open and welcoming to a
diversity of viewpoints and cognisant of new voices. The Council must be
made more representative of developing countries if it is to continue to
engender trust and confidence in its ability to provide leadership to the
entire world. It can deliver effective solutions only if it gives a voice
to the voiceless rather than zealously guarding the status quo of the
mighty.
9. Today, the UN has 193 Member States, nearly a fourfold increase from
1945. The narrow representation and privileges of a few in the primary
decision-making organ of the UN poses a serious challenge to its
credibility and effectiveness. How can we explain the contradiction of
Africa not being represented in the Security Council in the permanent
category, even though African issues dominate its agenda?
10. Speaking on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the UN last year,
the Prime Minister of India gave a clarion call for UN reform, and I quote:
"For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of
the United Nations? Reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the
very character of the UN is the need of the hour. It is a fact that the
faith and respect that the UN enjoys among the 1.3 billion people in India
is unparalleled.”
Mr. President,
11. As a founding member of the UN, India has consistently displayed its
commitment to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We
remain committed to upholding the rules-based international order,
underpinned by international law, premised upon respect for the sovereignty
and territorial integrity of all Member States, resolution of international
disputes through peaceful negotiations and free and open access for all to
the global commons.
12. India stood at the forefront during the UN's tumultuous years of
struggle against colonialism and apartheid. During our eight terms as a
member of the Security Council, we have always endeavoured to be a voice of
reason and understanding, a voice of the underrepresented developing word,
a bridge-builder for narrowing divides and fostering consensus. We have
been the leading advocate of the concerns and aspirations of developing
countries and the creation of a more equitable international economic and
political order.
Mr. President,
13. India has contributed immensely to maintaining international peace and
security as a leading troop contributing country towards UN Peacekeeping
Missions, having sacrificed the highest number of lives in this noble
endeavour.
14. We have also fostered global socio-economic development through
transparent, viable, sustainable and demand driven partnership programmes.
On climate action, India is today one of the few countries, which is on
track to meet its mitigation commitments under the Paris Agreement. We have
also taken the lead in launching important multilateral initiatives on
climate action like the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
15. Over the past year alone, we have provided COVID-19 vaccines,
pharmaceuticals and medical equipment to more than 150 countries across the
world. In that same spirit of friendship and solidarity, we extend deep
appreciation to those that have come forward to provide us with some
priority requirements to battle the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
that we are currently facing.
16. India has also worked with South Africa and other partners in the World
Trade Organisation to seek a relaxation in the norms of the TRIPS agreement
to ensure quick and affordable access to vaccines and medicines for
developing countries during the COVID pandemic. This waiver will be an
important step for enabling the rapid scaling up of manufacture and timely
availability of affordable COVID-19 vaccines and essential medical products
on a global basis.
17. In conclusion, Mr. President, we believe that a renewal of vows towards
a reformed UN-centered multilateral system will require genuine efforts on
behalf of all Member States. For its part, India has always sought to
strengthen the forces of cooperative multilateralism.
Thank you, Mr. President.
