India pushes for reform of ‘stagnating’ UNSC
18 April 2013 7:01 AM IST
India has made a strong case for reform of the UN Security Council, saying that while 80 more countries have joined the UN in the past 50 years the council has not undergone the slightest change, terming this an ‘unnatural situation of stagnation’ in a dynamic international environment.
Asoke Kumar Mukerji, India's new Permanent Representative to the UN, in his maiden speech after presenting his credentials to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said that despite nearly 80 percent of the Security Council's work being focused on Africa, the Council did not have even one permanent member from any of the 54 states of the continent. He termed this a ‘truly bizarre situation’.
Mukerji said the argument for reforms ‘is more compelling than ever before.’
‘It appears to be just a matter of time when the body may either have to willingly embrace change or be made to accept change as a fait accompli,’ said Mukerji, who has taken over from Hardeep Singh Puri, who stepped down 28 February.
Mukerji was addressing the ninth round of Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council, said a statement Wednesday.
Mukerji said that eight rounds of negotiations have already taken place and proposed that it was time to move from words to action ‘from a mere repetition of old stated positions to achieving tangible progress’. He also said ‘we must avoid falling into long periods of stasis and inertia.’
He said the African group and the L69 Group - comprising countries from Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific - have converged. Countries of the Caribbean Community CARICOM - an organisation of 15 nations and dependencies - are also pushing for reforms, stressing, ‘We are committed to seeking reforms.’
Asoke Kumar Mukerji, India's new Permanent Representative to the UN, in his maiden speech after presenting his credentials to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said that despite nearly 80 percent of the Security Council's work being focused on Africa, the Council did not have even one permanent member from any of the 54 states of the continent. He termed this a ‘truly bizarre situation’.
Mukerji said the argument for reforms ‘is more compelling than ever before.’
‘It appears to be just a matter of time when the body may either have to willingly embrace change or be made to accept change as a fait accompli,’ said Mukerji, who has taken over from Hardeep Singh Puri, who stepped down 28 February.
Mukerji was addressing the ninth round of Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Council, said a statement Wednesday.
Mukerji said that eight rounds of negotiations have already taken place and proposed that it was time to move from words to action ‘from a mere repetition of old stated positions to achieving tangible progress’. He also said ‘we must avoid falling into long periods of stasis and inertia.’
He said the African group and the L69 Group - comprising countries from Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific - have converged. Countries of the Caribbean Community CARICOM - an organisation of 15 nations and dependencies - are also pushing for reforms, stressing, ‘We are committed to seeking reforms.’
Next Story
