Politics

UNGA President calls on PM Modi; lauds India’s transformational initiatives for communities

Korosi met PM Modi, EAM S Jaishankar, and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with an overall focus on pressing global issues including those related to the UN

PGurus Newsdesk

January 31, 2023

Korosi met PM Modi, EAM S Jaishankar, and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with an overall focus on pressing global issues including those related to the UN

UNGA president says lack of ability to tackle Ukraine war reflects UNSC’s ‘dysfunctional’ system

While on a three-day visit to India, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Csaba Korosi called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and lauded India’s transformational initiatives for communities, including in the area of water resource management and conservation.

This is the UNGA President’s first bilateral visit to any country after he took over the office in September 2022. PM Modi assured Korosi of India’s fullest support of his presidency initiatives during the 77th UNGA including the UN 2023 Water Conference.

During his talks with Modi, Korosi spoke about the importance of India being at the forefront of efforts to reform global institutions. The Prime Minister, on his part, appreciated his approach based on science and technology to find solutions to global problems.

On Monday, Korosi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri with an overall focus on pressing global issues including those related to the UN.

Korosi said, “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 the crisis reinforces the urgent need for its reform.”

In an address at a think-tank, Korosi strongly pitched for reform of the UN Security Council to reflect the changing balance of global power and economic heft of various countries and criticized the slow process that was started around 17 years back to bring the changes.

Separately, at a press conference, the UN diplomat said New Delhi has done a lot to advance the US Security Council reform and was very active in all Ukraine-related issues both in the body as well as in the UN General Assembly.

Korosi 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. He said the war in Ukraine has caused untold suffering and displacements and “unleashed” an energy and food crisis across the globe.

The president of the UN General Assembly 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.

On the reform of the UN Security Council, the UNGA president urged the member states to make compromises and consider even making partial agreements under a step-by-step approach to reform of the UNSC. “Otherwise, it will be very very difficult.” Korosi identified the Ukraine war and lack of agreement on a text for taking forward the reform process as the two major problems facing it.

“The Security Council was created in 1945 to be the prime responsible organ for catering to international peace and security, to make sure that there would be no more wars,” he said.

The aim of the UNSC was to avert war and large-scale destruction, and, therefore, extraordinary powers have been placed into the hands of the Council, he said. The UNGA president said millions of people who were expecting the UN to deliver were frustrated by the UNSC’s approach towards the Ukraine crisis.

Korosi said the composition and the working method of the UNSC were based on the situation in 1945-46 following the Second World War. “Since then, much has changed. The world economy has changed, the balance of power in the world has changed…so it is absolutely understandable that the countries and the leaders of the world are more and more impatiently demanding that the Security Council should be reformed,” he said.

The UNGA president said the reform process can be taken forward if the member states want. The UNGA president said there were divisions among the UN General Assembly member countries on the UNSC reform process and that there has been an impression that the five permanent member countries are not very enthusiastic about it.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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