Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Denouncing the political discord in the Security Council affecting peacekeeping operations, India has called for making its permanent membership more representative, especially with Africa’s participation.
Making his first address to the Security Council on September 9, newly-appointed India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish said, “The lack of political unity in the Security Council, often witnessed in recent years, has negatively impacted UN peacekeeping. The Security Council needs to be more representative of today’s realities- particularly in the permanent category.”
“India has been consistently calling for greater representation of Africa” as demanded by the continent’s nations. In their Sirte Declaration, named for the Libyan city where it was made, and the Ezulwini Consensus reached at the valley in Eswatini, the African nations demanded two permanent seats and three more elected seats at the Security Council.
Participating in the debate on strengthening peacekeeping operations, Harish said the Council should also consider authorising African Union-led peace support operations.
He noted that India is the largest contributor to peacekeeping, having deployed more than a quarter million troops in more than 50 missions over the last seven decades.
Harsh added that, “it is important for major troop-contributing countries to be actively involved in the decision-making process to deal with the challenges that arise from the lack of clarity in the mandates from the Council.”
Harish drew the Council’s attention to the increasing risks peacekeepers face from asymmetric threats, ranging from landmines to IEDs (improvised explosive devices). He said peacekeepers should be equipped adequately to deal with the threats. “Technology and innovation are critical to enhance efficiency”, he said.
The General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution proposed by India to create a Memorial Wall for Fallen United Nations Peacekeepers.
