PM Modi addressed the 75th UN General Assembly on Saturday evening via video link
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evening called for a more important role for the UN Security Council – the world’s most important decision-making body for India – and asked, “When will we have to wait? The UN is far from a decision-making process?”
“When we were weak, we did not bother the world. When we became strong, we did not become a burden on the world. How long do we have to wait? India has sent troops to the UN peacekeeping mission and most troops. Lost, “the prime minister said in a powerful opening remarks.
“The ideals of the United Nations and the core principles of India are the same. Vasudev Kutumbakam (The world is a family) The UN hall has resonated many times. He said that India has always thought about the welfare of the world.
Addressing the General Assembly through a pre-recorded speech, PM Modi reminded the United Nations that 100 million Indians still believe in its ideals, but said that the global body needs to adapt and change to stay relevant in the present times. is needed.
The Prime Minister said that the United Nations needs reform and India is waiting for that reform.
The Security Council (UNSC) is the UN’s highest decision-making body and is the only one that can take legally binding decisions, such as imposing sanctions. There are five permanent members – the US, the UK, China, Russia and France, each with veto powers.
India, which had previously served seven terms as a non-permanent and elected member, was re-elected in June (starting January 1, 2021) along with Ireland, Mexico and Norway.
On India’s re-election, Prime Minister Modi reiterated “deeply grateful (to the country) for the overwhelming support from the international community for India’s membership in the UN Security Council.”
Thank you very much for the overwhelming support shown by the global community for India’s membership. U.N. Security Council. India will work with all member countries to promote global peace, security, resilience and equality.
– Narendra Modi (@NarendraModi) June 18, 2020
However, India has long demanded a definite role and reform of the current system.
Last week the government said it was a “top priority” to get a permanent seat at the UNSC that “reflects contemporary global realities”.
India has the support of four of the five permanent members, including the United States. In February, President Donald Trump said he was committed to working with India to strengthen and reform the UN.
However, there is a section of the United Nations that only supports expansion into the non-permanent category, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muralitharan told parliament in a vague reference to China.
After being re-elected as India’s permanent member, China said it would seek to increase cooperation with all parties but did not comment on the campaign for a permanent seat.
On Wednesday, a group of India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) expressed “frustration” with the “slow” pace of Security Council reform and said it was time to move on to a result-oriented process. Key global organization.
The three countries in a joint statement called for speeding up the reform of the UNSC, saying any failure to do so could have serious implications for international peace and security.
In addition to urging for a permanent seat in the Security Council, the Prime Minister also said that India would help the world fight the coronavirus epidemic.
“Today I want to give one more vaccine to the global community,” he said, adding that “India’s vaccine production and distribution capacity will be used to help all humanity fight this crisis.”
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