UN Security Council out of tune, serves no one's purpose: India

[agamdilawari]

UNITED NATIONS: India has said the UN Security Council in its present structure is "completely out of tune" with global realities and serves "no one's purpose", asserting that an expansion in the 15-member body should have permanent representation from Asia, Africa and Latin America.

India, which assumed this month's presidency of the Security Council ahead of the expiry of its two-year term as a non-permanent member on December 31, said the UN body has remained "polarised and politically divided" on key issues like Syria and this strengthens the need for its reform.

"The Security Council as it is presently structured is not reflective of contemporary realities, it is completely out of tune with what is happening in the world," India's permanent representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters on Friday, outlining the council's monthly agenda.

"In order to give the council effectiveness there is need to enlarge its size. India's point of view is that the Security Council needs to be more transparent," he said.

Puri said the council, in its present structure, "serves no one's purpose", adding that an increase in its membership should have provisions for permanent representation from Africa, Latin America, Caribbean and Asia.

On the use of veto, Puri said while the provision should be retained, there needs to be a discussion on the precise conditions and circumstances under which veto should be used by countries. "There could be a veto restraint agreement."

He said some of the council's permanent members would find it "extremely difficult to justify their place on a new high table."

Expansion of the council does not mean "some permanent members should come off the high table but they need to bring on board other countries which carry weight, participate in the council's work and will lend credibility to its image and functioning," he said.

Puri pointed out that non-permanent members of the council are at a "disadvantage" since by the time they come to grips with a particular issue, it is time for their rotation.

"The five permanent members think the Security Council working methods are their exclusive prerogative. Things take a long time to change but change always comes," he added.

He said India has written to member states to send inputs on how the working methods of the council can be improved and it seeks to put together a concept paper which will incorporate these inputs and serve as a basis for comprehensive discussion on the issue.

UN Security Council out of tune, serves no one's purpose: India - The Times of India

 

[VCheng]

India will have to open up its markets first, and fit in with the existing mechanisms much better before it can get anywhere with its bid to be a permanent member of the UNSC.

 

[Devil Soul]

India slams UNSC, says it serves no purpose
By APP Published: November 4, 2012
UNITED NATIONS: India, an aspirant for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), says the 15-member body is “completely out of tune on what is happening in the world”, while pushing for its expansion.
“I have absolutely no doubt that the Council, as it is presently structured, serves no one’s purpose… You need to coop other countries which carry weight,” Ambassador Hardeep Sing Puri of India, which holds the Security Council’s presidency for November, told a press conference at which he briefed journalists about it’s programme for the month.
India’s intensive bid for the Council’s permanent membership seems to have come to a halt – at least for the time being – after failing to muster majority support in the 193-member General Assembly. Even a year after claiming it had the support of 80 members for its proposals to restructure it, New Delhi has failed to enact it.
The figure given by India is also well short of the two-third majority — 128 votes – required for any proposal to succeed in the Assembly. India’s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the Security Council would end at the end of the current year.
From his national perspective, Puri said there was a need to enlarge the size of the Council, given changes in the international community, advocating permanent seats for Africa, South America, and Asia. He said some of the Council’s permanent members would find it “extremely difficult to justify their place on a new high table.”
The Security Council currently has five veto-wielding permanent members – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States – and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
Puri said the veto could be retained, but a discussion was needed for some sort of agreement on restraint of its use, particularly in situations when genocide was threatened and the Council was deadlocked. “There could be a veto restraint agreement.”
Pakistan, which along with Italy leads the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, opposes any addition to the Council’s permanent members, but seeks enlargement of the non-permanent category with longer terms.

 

[Abingdonboy]

It is true-there is a genuine call by many larger and emerging nations for UNSC reform which includes a permenant seat for nations including India with Veto power. The longer this is denied the less authority the UNSC can act with. As it stands the make up of the UNSC permant seats is a joke and harks back to a long-since passed time where France and UK were powerhouses. The world is so very different today.

 

[applesauce]

>>serves no purpose
>>please let us be permanent member

>>wut

 

[third eye]

In its existing form the UNSC has been reduced to a group of five who hold the keys to the destiny of the world.

There is a felt need to re form the UNSC to remain in line with the changed environment. A constitution drawn back in 1945 or thereabouts cannot remain relevant forever.

Realities of the world as they exist today must find place. It does not matter if India gets a place or not.

Powers like Russia & GB who are hard put to stay afloat and are no where near what they once were are staying on for historical reasons.

Africa, S America have no representation at all. Why should former colonial powers decide for them ?

Things must change.

 

[Sashan]

India should not expect reforms in the next few years as the permanent 5 have an iron grip on power. Focus on economic growth and make the right sound like this now and then. Either SC reformation will happen or SC will become a toothless organization (with the powers of France and Britain on the wane) when the G4 gains ground in terms of ecomonic power and military strength.

But India stands the best chance for becoming a member due to

1. Endorsement from all P5.
2. And many other countries support India including African Union.
3. The only country to oppose is Pakistan. Besides that, no visible opposition from other countries.
4. Also in the most recent SC temporary members elections, India got 187 out of 190 votes from UN member countries which speaks volumes of support India has globally.


Other countries of G4 does not support this kind of support.

 

[faithfulguy]

This is an Indian sour grape piece. If India is so indispensable, then all other's will invite India to be a permanent member. Alas, this is not the case now. With how things r going, things would not change for a long time.

 

[SinoChallenger]

Third world hole throwing a childish temper tantrum.

 

[SHAMK9]

very very off topic but why isn't there a SAARC summit 2012 happening?

 

[Sashan]

very very off topic but why isn't there a SAARC summit 2012 happening?

Though the SAARC was supposed to meet annually, they meet once in 18 months roughly. Last one was in Maldives, I think, in Sept 2011. After that, Nepal was supposed to host it in May 2013 but might get postponed.

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

>>serves no purpose
>>please let us be permanent member

>>wut

Exactly the point! UNSC needs reforms

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

This is an Indian sour grape piece. If India is so indispensable, then all other's will invite India to be a permanent member. Alas, this is not the case now. With how things r going, things would not change for a long time.

This is traditional example of chini Indo-phobia perversion attributed to Stockholm syndrome for the West.

It was the UN in 1992 that UN came up with the proposal of expanding UNSC

Coming from a nation which nation not even part of UN, the above makes no sense to , something tells me it never will

 

[KS]

Screw the UNSC, the three groups that we must be part of is MTCR, NSG, Wassenaar grouping..

 

[Thorough Pro]

Sour Grapes.......................poor india