NEW DELHI: The “dysfunctional” system of the UN Security Council has been reflected in the “absurd” situation arising out of one of its permanent members attacking Ukraine and the global body’s failure to address it, UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi said on January 30.
Addressing a group of diplomats, strategic affairs experts and academicians at the Indian Council of World Affairs, the UNGA President called for urgent reform of the UNSC to reflect the changing balance of global power and economic heft of various countries. He also wondered why there is still no agreement on a text to take forward the reform process.
“Does it have a time frame? No, I think it does not. Does it have a negotiated text, no it does not…Have you ever seen a negotiated process that has no text to negotiate? Have you ever seen a negotiating process that has no clear-cut timeframe for when to deliver,” he asked.
Why the member states cannot do it? Because the interests are very much divided, and for some, it is more preferable to see the current dysfunctional stage than to embark on a reform,” he said.
The Hungarian diplomat, who is currently serving as the President of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, commended India’s call during its recent membership of the UN Security Council, for peace in Ukraine and its humanitarian aid for people hit by the conflict.
The President of the UN General Assembly, on a three-day visit to India, also lauded New Delhi for sending medical aid and Covid-19 vaccines to a large number of countries to help them deal with the pandemic. Korosi also complimented India for the safe evacuation of its citizens from Ukraine after Russia started its invasion of that country in February last year.
Before leaving for India, Korosi had told news agency PTI that the UNSC reforms is both “burning” and “compelling” issue, especially as it reflects “the outcome of the Second World War”. He said that the world and international dynamics have changed remarkably from the time of inception of UNSC.
Advocating for reform and highlighting the dramatic changes world has gone through, he criticised the UNSC for failing to be inclusive, particularly in the case of African continent. He said that the entire continent has been neglected and expressed dismay over the fact that none of the 50-plus countries of the continent have a single permanent UNSC seat.
During his India visit, Korosi met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed key multilateral and regional issues. He also interacted with NitiI Aayog officials and members of India’s G20 presidency team. India has been a strong advocate of UN reforms and had been demanding permanent membership in the UNSC considering the size of its population and role in international affairs.
Speaking at a UN briefing on January 19, Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, emphasised that the reform of the multilateral institutions is an urgent imperative and these should focus on giving voice to the concerns of the developing world while reflecting the realities of the 21st century.
She said India remains concerned about the increasing fragmentation of the international landscape. “As a developing country, we remain concerned about the increasing fragmentation of the international landscape,” she said.
