US backs China & Russia, blow to Indian UNSC dream

[Hindustani78]

India pitches for anti-terror treaty, UN reforms | Zee News

New Delhi: Asserting that no country could be immune to the threat of terrorism especially with emergence ISIS, India on Sunday made a strong pitch for finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the UN during a meeting with the President-elect of the global body.

During her talks with President-elect of the UN General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft, who is here on a two-day visit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj stressed on the need for UN Security Council reforms on the occasion of 70th anniversary to reflect current geopolitical realities and increasing role of developing nations.

The Indian sides also strongly pitched for early finalisation of the CCIT, a treaty proposed by India in 1996 to ban terrorists and make it binding for countries to deny funds and safe haven to them.

"No country can be immune to the threat of terrorism especially with the emergence of ISIS. It is important that there should be a collective effort to deal with this menace," Swaraj conveyed to the UN President-elect, while referring to the terror organisation (ISIS).

In this regard, she also conveyed India's expectations to achieve concrete forward movement under his presidency on the finalisation of the CCIT.

Lykketoft was unanimously elected by the UN General Assembly as the President of the 70th Session on June 15 and is scheduled to assume his new responsibilities with the commencement of the Session from September 15.

Earlier, Lykketoft was the Speaker of the Danish Parliament and has served as Finance Minister and Foreign Minister of Denmark.

"The minister had productive and good discussions with the visiting dignitary. It is also significant given that he will be playing a pivotal role as we discuss key issues during the 70th session of the UN," the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.

She also congratulated him on his election as President of the landmark 70th Session which is expected to address several important issues, including adoption and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UN Security Council Reform, Review of UN Peacekeeping Operations, Climate Change, and Review of the Tunis Agenda (World Summit on Information Society).

Swaraj also conveyed to him that India was already in the process of implementing 11 out of 17 Sustainable Development goals which also match with government's flagship programmes such as 'Make in India' and 'Beti Bachao'.

Lykketoft, who is scheduled to call on the Prime Minister tomorrow, conveyed that the theme of his Presidency would be 'the United Nations at 70 - A New Commitment to Action'.

PTI

Mogens Lykketoft, President of the General Assembly of the United Nations offers floral tributes at Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, in New Delhi.

 

[Hindustani78]

India will only have potentials but no substance.

Updated: August 31, 2015 04:38 IST
UNGA president-elect sounds ‘positive’ in talks with Sushma - The Hindu


Meeting comes ahead of key U.N. decision on Security Council expansion.
As India’s hopes for the U.N. Security Council expansion process hinge on a vote at the United Nations in the next fortnight, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met with the incoming president of the U.N. General Assembly Mogens Lykketoft here on Sunday.

The UNGA is required to take a decision to “roll over” the text that contains positions of all countries on the U.N. reform and inducting permanent members into the U.N. Security Council, as India and other countries have demanded. The text for the U.N. reform that has been circulated by the outgoing UNGA president Sam Kutesa, will lapse on September 15, and diplomats at the U.N. are already hard at work to push the decision through “between September 10 and 15.”

Mr. Lykketoft will take charge as UNGA President on September 16 only after that vote or decision is taken to adopt the text. But if it is cleared, as India is confident it will be, he will be responsible for squaring the U.N. reform process in the U.N.’s 70th year, along with an Inter-Governmental Panel (IGN). According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Ms. Swaraj “conveyed India’s expectations to achieve concrete forward movement under the presidency of Mr. Lykketoft on the U.N. Security Council reform negotiations as well as finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.”

To meet Modi
While officials said Mr. Lykketoft’s visit is part of a “tradition” to invite the new UNGA presidents before they assume office, the timing of the visit, with just days to go for the UNGA decision is seen as part of India’s push for the U.N. reform. On Monday Mr. Lykketoft will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in a recent conference for Pacific islanders advocated a time-bound process to “quickly adopt the draft presented by the president of the General Assembly as the negotiating text and conclude negotiations during the 70th session of the General Assembly.”

Last month, the government had been taken aback by letters from the U.S., Russia and China that were circulated by UNGA president Sam Kutesa, that didn’t explicitly support India’s case for a permanent Security Council seat, as other countries had. While U.S. Ambassador to India Richard Verma and Russian President Sergei Ivanov have since clarified that they continue to support India’s claim, China has made no clear statement on its plan, leaving diplomats apprehensive that China could still oppose or try to scuttle the process. A senior official told The Hindu, Mr. Lykketoft was “extremely positive” in talks with Ms. Swaraj about India’s hopes for the U.N. reform process, but “wouldn’t give a firm assurance” yet.

Peacekeeping operations
Apart from the U.N. reform and the Convention on Terrorism (CCIT), senior officials said Ms. Swaraj took up India’s case for a greater role in planning U.N. Peacekeeping operations, given its large contribution to the forces. Ms. Swaraj and Mr. Lykketoft also discussed the upcoming Climate Change COP21 summit in Paris, as well as the 10th year Cyber Review of the WSIS (World Summit for the Information Society), both of which will be held in December.

(With inputs from Smriti Kak Ramachandran)

 

[Hindustani78]

Time to make UN vibrant with India as permanent member: Mahajan | Zee News

Last Updated: Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - 11:34

United Nations:Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has emphasized the need for urgent UN Security Council reform, saying it is time to make the powerful body "vibrant" with the inclusion of India as a permanent member.


She made the remarks during her meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon here on August 31 on the sidelines of the ongoing Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament.

In the around 30-minute long meeting, Majahan discussed critical issues of UNSC reforms, terrorism, peacekeeping and climate change with the UN Chief, sources told PTI.

Ban commended the vibrancy of India's democracy to which Mahajan responded that "now the time has come for a vibrant Security Council" which includes India as a permanent member.

She told Ban that India is ready to accept this new responsibility and the world's largest democracy and emerging economy will make the Council?more vibrant and representative.

She said the UNSC must be reformed and restructured to reflect current political realties and more developing nations should be included as permanent and non permanent members.

Mahajan noted that the lack of reform has affected the credibility and effectiveness of the Security Council and said nations count on Ban?s leadership for urgent reform of the UN.

She stressed that India strongly believes that democratic norms must percolate in the institutions of global governance including the UN and an early reform of the UN and expansion of the Security Council is an important priority for India.

With the world body commemorating its 70th anniversary this year, she said the milestone provides a historic opportunity,?which?must be grasped,?for UN reforms.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Pallath Joseph Kurien as well as other Indian officials were also present during the talks.

This was the second meeting between the two in about eight months. Ban had met the Lok Sabha speaker in January this year during his visit to New Delhi.

Voicing concern over the scourge of terrorism, Mahajan urged Ban that action must be taken not just against terrorism but also against states that support and sponsor such groups and provide safe havens to terrorists.

She noted that acts of terrorism, wherever they take place, must be condemned by the international community. In this regard, she highlighted the need for the early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

She also voiced India's commitment to assisting the UN in the maintenance of international peace and security.

Noting India's longstanding contribution to UN peacekeeping, Mahajan said India's cumulative contribution of nearly 200,00 peacekeepers, including a fully formed Female Police Unit, exemplifies and cements India's strong credentials as a responsible member of the world community.

Mahajan also voiced appreciation for Ban's initiative to convene the Climate Summit in Paris in December and expressed hope that the developed countries will make good their commitment to assisting the developing nations in meeting the challenges in the common interest.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

'Negotiating text for UNSC reform likely to be tabled soon' | Zee News
Last Updated: Monday, September 7, 2015 - 00:34

United Nations: The stage is set for talks to begin on the long-stalled UN Security Council reform process in the upcoming General Assembly session with its president expected to present a negotiating text in the next few days for adoption.


UNGA President Sam Kutesa had achieved a breakthrough of sorts by circulating a text to UN members that will form the basis for the Inter-Governmental negotiations on the reform of the Security Council.

As the 69th session of the General Assembly nears an end, the text is expected to be put to vote this week for adoption to be carried forward to the 70th session of the Assembly.

Since the 70th session will begin from September 15, the vote has to take place before that date for the document to be carried forward in the next session.

Sources told PTI that it is up to the UNGA President to rule whether a simple majority or a 2/3rd majority will be needed for adoption.

Once adopted, the text will be the significant basis for members states to begins talks on reform of the Security Council, a long-stalled process.

Kutesa had appointed?Jamaica's?Permanent Representative Courtenay Rattray to chair on his behalf the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council Reform.

Kutesa, in a letter dated July 31 to all UN members, said he is also circulating letters containing the positions of groups and Member States that indicated they did not wish their proposals to be included in the body of the negotiating text.

These countries include US, Russia and China.

India has maintained that the process to expand the powerful UN body "cannot be seen to be an exercise ad infinitum" and a results-based timeline is crucial to achieve a concrete outcome.

"Those who ask for not imposing artificial timelines may be advised to desist from inflicting artificial delays on this process," India's Ambassador to the UN Asoke Kumar Mukerji has said in the past.

Sources said that India believes that the 70th anniversary of the UN, being commemorated this year, is an appropriate milestone to propel the reform process, which should be completed within the next one year.

India has received support from France and UK, the two remaining permanent members of Security Council.

American Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power had said in her letter to Kutesa that the US is "open in principle" to a "modest" expansion of both permanent and non-permanent members but added the condition that "any consideration of an expansion of permanent members must take into account the ability and willingness of countries to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security and to the other purposes of the United Nations."

Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council,had said last week that it does not foresee "a historic compromise" being reached in the near future on admitting new permanent members, an assessment that does not bode well for India which sees itself as a rightful permanent member in a Council that needs to be reformed and expanded without any further delay.

"On the Security Council reform, the negotiation has been there for a long time. We want a historic compromise to be reached between the two main camps - those who want to have new permanent members and those who don?t want new permanent members," Russia's Permanent Representative and President of the Security Council for the month of September Vitaly Churkin had said.

Churkin said those who do not want new permanent members advocate a new category under an intermediate option of having countries that will be elected for a longer period of time than the current two years for non-permanent members.

"At this point I do not see that historic compromise any way near," Churkin said.

Russia had said in its letter to Kutesa that the "prerogatives of the current Permanent Members of the Security Council, including the use of the veto, should remain intact under any variant of the Council reform."

"The intergovernmental negotiations on the UN Security Council reform should proceed in a calm, transparent and inclusive atmosphere free from artificial deadlines.

If a consensus on this issue is not possible to achieve, then in any case it will be politically necessary to secure the support by the overwhelming majority of the member states - a substantially greater number than the legally required two thirds of votes at the General Assembly," Russia said.

Russia had said that it is prepared to consider the so-called "intermediate solution", provided that this option enjoys the widest possible consent at the UN.

China, in its letter to Kutesa, had said that UNSC reform

is "multifaceted", covering not only issues such as enlarging the Council's membership and strengthening representation, but also increasing efficiency and improving working methods.

It added that member states are still seriously divided on the UNSC reform and no general agreement has been reached on any solution so far.

"Security Council reform should not be carried out at the expense of the unity of member states. All member states should remain committed to the intergovernmental negotiations process, adopt a flexible and pragmatic attitude, gradually build mutual trust and meet each other halfway.

No solution on which member states are seriously divided or approach that may cause division among member states will have China's support," it said.

"Member states still need to engage in patient consultations to find a solution that accommodates each other's interests and concerns," China said, a position different from that of India's which has stressed that the 2015 "is a year for decisive action" and for it, another round of the IGN with business like the earlier rounds would "not be acceptable."

India has said it would then find it very difficult to meaningfully engage with the process.

China also stressed that new seats of the Security Council should be reasonably distributed.

"The principle of geographic balance should be adhered to, with representation of different civilizations and cultures taken into consideration," it said.

PTI

 

[Guynextdoor2]

Wow....an indian calling Great Britain a joke??? Wonder shall never end. This joke country who is helping you to build a simple trainer jet, and still you are struggling to build it according to instructions. Calm down man, you are in no position to make fun of us to be honest.

The only reason why India is behind in aviation was because of policy decisions. We should have continued building jets after the Ajeet, we didn't do that so we have to pick ourselves from scratch (and we're doing quite well there). Where we maintained continuity, we have been ahead of you (as seen in the video below).

In any case your post is anachronistic. UK aviation industry is on the verge of irreparable collapse, so funny you should quote your jets as an achievement. What after EFT and Hawk? Nothing from UK as such. Your orders are going to F 35 which will blow a black hole the size of the Solar System in both your budget and capabilities. Another Trident in the making.

 

[Emperor Modi]

We are never interested in UN or its UNSC membership.
Modi has full capability to lead Indian diplomacy on the very right track.
He is always his way to save other nations without UN.

 

[Hindustani78]

A file photo of the U.N. Security Council in session. India is part of the G-4 group that is hopeful of the Security Council membership.

Updated: September 13, 2015 19:18 IST
Decisive day for U.N. reforms process on Monday - The Hindu


Hopes for India, others demanding UNSC seat hinge on resolution being cleared
Indian officials are bracing for “last minute surprises” that could stall the U.N. reform process when United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) president Sam Kutesa on Monday presents a resolution to continue the negotiations for another year.

The negotiations of the Inter-Governmental committee (IGN), which for the first time, have included written submissions from all countries could give the process for an expansion of the U.N. Security council some momentum. However, if countries like China, or other groups opposed to the UNSC expansion demand a division, India and other countries who are bidding for a Security Council seat may have to muster up the numbers for a vote to pass the resolution.

If passed, the draft resolution, forwarded by Mr. Kutesa to all the ambassadors to the U.N. on September 10th would include in the U.N. agenda for next year the “Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council."

‘If it doesn’t go through, we would be back to square one’

India is part of the G-4 group that is hopeful of the Security Council membership. “This is a necessary step for India, if we wish to realise our dream of making progress in the U.N.’s 70th year. If it doesn’t go through, we would be back to square one,” an official told The Hindu ahead of the resolution.

The resolution will be presented by Mr. Kutesa on his last day as president of the UNGA at 10 a.m. (7.30 p.m. IST), he announced in his letter.

Senior diplomats told The Hindu they hoped the resolution would be adopted without any opposition. However, if members call for a division, it would be up to the UNGA to decide whether a simple majority or a two-thirds majority would be required.

Opposition to the expansion

Officials in Delhi and New York admit they face challenges from many countries. The U.S. has expressed support for India and Japan, but hasn’t included the support in its written submission. Neither has Russia, which supports India and Brazil as BRICS members to be in the Security Council, but has shown no inclination to push the reform process forward. China has made no official submission, but is unlikely to help any attempt to include its rivals Japan and India in the power-group of the U.N.

India also has to contend with opposition from a group of 13 countries, made up of rivals to the G-4 including Pakistan, Italy, South Korea, and Colombia called Uniting for Consensus (UFC). The UFC demands a 25-member Security Council with more non-permanent members instead of a few more permanent members. Ahead of the resolution, Pakistan’s U.N. Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi called the plan for only 4 countries to be included an expansion of the “club of the powerful and privileged”.

“That is why we believe the best way to achieve this is to ensure an expansion of non-permanent members because that will give a chance to more countries to serve in and have a voice in the Security Council,” she said in an interview to The News.

Then, there is the question of whether new members in the Security Council would be given the veto at all, which the U.S. and Russia have made very clear they would not favour.

 

[Hindustani78]

Long-stalled UN reform process to begin today

United Nations: Sep 14, 2015, pti
General Assembly to decide on change

UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa will present a negotiating text on Monday on Security Council reform for adoption, a significant step to begin talks on the long-stalled reform process in the assembly.

With the 69th session of the General Assembly concluding on Monday, Kutesa will present the text for adoption and to be carried forward to the 70th session starting on September 15.

Kutesa had achieved a breakthrough of sorts by circulating a text to UN members that will form the basis for the inter-governmental negotiations on the reform of the UNSC.

It is up to the President of the General Assembly to rule whether a simple majority or a two-third majority will be needed for adoption.

Once adopted, the text will be the significant basis for members states to begin talks on reform of the UNSC.

In a letter dated September 10 to all permanent representatives of UN member states, Kutesa said he will convene a plenary meeting of the General Assembly on September 14 to take action on the draft decision on the “Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters.”

The draft decision, to be voted upon in the 193-member UN body, states that the General Assembly “decides to immediately continue Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform in informal plenary of the General Assembly at its 70th session building on the informal meetings held during its 69th session, as well as the positions of and proposals made by Member States, reflected in the text and its annex circulated by the President of the General Assembly in his letter dated July 31, 2015.”

The draft also states that an open-ended Working Group on the Question of Equitable Representation and Increase in the Membership of the Security Council will be convened during the 70th session “if Member States so decide.”

Sources said India feels the 70th anniversary of the UN, being commemorated this year, is an appropriate milestone to propel the reform process, which should be completed within the next one year.

Kutesa had appointed Jamaica’s Permanent Representative Courtenay Rattray to chair on his behalf the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council Reform.

In a letter dated July 31 to all UN members, Kutesa had circulated the text containing the positions of countries on Security Council reform and how the UN body should be expanded in its permanent and non-permanent categories.

He also circulated letters containing the positions of groups and Member States that indicated they did not wish their proposals to be included in the body of the negotiating text. These countries include US, Russia and China.

India has maintained that the process to expand the powerful UN body “cannot be seen to be an exercise ad infinitum” and India has stressed that negotiations on the UNSC reform over the last seven years have been conducted without the basis of any text, with nations making statements, repeatedly of known positions, without any effort to find a compromise.

 

[Hindustani78]

UN adopts text-based negotiations on UNSC reforms, boosts India's bid for permanent seat | Zee News
Last Updated: Monday, September 14, 2015 - 22:04

United Nations: The UN General Assembly on Monday adopted a negotiating text by consensus for the long- pending Security Council reforms, setting the stage for talks on the issue at its 70th session beginning tomorrow, boosting India's bid for a permanent seat in the revamped world body.

India termed as "historic" and "path-breaking" the adoption of the document, saying the decision puts the Inter- Governmental Process formally on an "irreversible text-based negotiations path" and changes the "dynamics" of the negotiations on achieving UNSC reforms.

Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, said, “It’s a very significant & historic moment in the whole process of UN Security Council reform."

He further said, "GoI (Government of India) welcomes decision by UN General Assembly to carry forward text presented by General Assembly Pres on issue of Security Council reform."

"Fact that India stood together with group of countries which was in favor of UNSC reform means now we hv broad consensus on way forward," Swarup added.

UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa convened a plenary meeting here to take action on the draft decision on the "Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters".

During the meeting, he also circulated letters containing the positions of key countries, including Russia, the US and China which refused to contribute to the negotiating text.

There was no voting on the decision to continue text- based UNSC reforms in the 70th session of the General Assembly and it was adopted by consensus.

The draft decision contains a negotiating text which has positions of UN member states on Security Council reforms and how the powerful 15-nation body should be expanded in its permanent and non-permanent categories.

The adoption is a significant step towards beginning talks on the long-stalled reforms process in the 70th session of the Assembly on the basis of a negotiating text, a first in the last seven years of Inter-Governmental Negotiations that have been conducted so far without the basis of any text.

India's Ambassador to the UN Asoke Mukerji said the "most important aspect" of today's decision is the text circulated by Kutesa in July which "we have agreed will be the guiding basis for our deliberations in the 70th General Assembly session".

"What you have delivered today... To all 193 Member States of the United Nations, is truly historic and path- breaking on several counts," Mukerji told the Assembly.

"It becomes especially memorable taking into account the stiff challenges and pressures that were brought upon you and your office to step back from this issue, which has been on the agenda of the UNGA for nearly 23 years," he added.

With the 69th session of the General Assembly concluding tomorrow, Kutesa presented the text for adoption and to be carried forward to the 70th session beginning tomorrow.

He had achieved a breakthrough of sorts by circulating the text to UN members that will form the basis for the Inter- Governmental negotiations on the UNSC reforms.

With the adoption, the General Assembly decided to "immediately continue Inter-Governmental Negotiations on Security Council reform in informal plenary of the General Assembly at its 70th session, building on the informal meetings held during its 69th session, as well as the positions and proposals made by member states..."

The draft also states that an open-ended Working Group on the negotiating text will be convened during the 70th session "if member states so decide".

Kutesa had appointed Jamaica's Permanent Representative Courtenay Rattray to chair on his behalf the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reforms.

Kutesa, in a letter to all UN members in July, had circulated the text containing the positions of countries on Security Council reforms and how the UN body should be expanded in its permanent and non-permanent categories.


He also circulated letters containing the positions of groups and member states that indicated they did not wish their proposals to be included in the body of the negotiating text. These countries include the US, Russia and China.

Mukerji today said the need for a supportive international peace and security environment is urgent and "if the Security Council continues to be ineffective, the lives of millions of people and the uninterrupted flow of trade, investment and technology, all of which depend on a stable and predictable global political environment will be jeopardised".

He said the decision to carry forward the reforms process is not just a "technical decision, nor is it a rollover but highly substantive".

"This is the first time in the history of the Inter- Governmental Negotiation (IGN) process that a decision on UNSC reform has been adopted through an official formal L Document of the UNGA.

"This is the most positive and unique development, as so far, over the last seven years we have only been making statements in the air, or at each other, with easily deniable or disputable summaries, or at times compilation text(s), to register our endeavours," he said.

He said the adoption of such a "substantive decision" on UNSC Reforms "changes the dynamics of the Inter-governmental negotiations" completely.

Mukerji noted that India was among the first to seek to conclude the UNSC reform process by the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

(With Agency inputs)

 

[Hindustani78]

Every nation should negotiate on UNSC reform text: India | Zee News

Last Updated: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - 14:22
United Nations: With the "path-breaking" decision by the UN General Assembly to advance efforts for UN Security Council reforms, India's top diplomat here today said that countries should now negotiate on the text on the table and give their national positions on the issue.


"We have got something after 23 years which is a document on the table. From now it is going to be much more in terms of what they are used to doing at the UN which is to negotiate with a text in front of us," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Asoke Mukerji said.

"Now the decision today puts the paper on the table and it is now for every country to negotiate on that paper giving their national positions," he told PTI here.

The 193-member General Assembly adopted by consensus yesterday, on the last day of the 69th session, a text that sets the stage for negotiations on the long-pending issue of UNSC reform during the 70th session that commences today.
Mukerji insisted that the decision to carry forward the intergovernmental negotiations on Council reform and the negotiating text is not a roll-over or technical decision.

"It is a substantive decision taken unanimously by the General Assembly fully within the meaning of any decision on UNSC issues. In this case we had a complete census. That is the important part that the entire membership has agreed and it is as much a reflection of commitment of member states as of the President of the General Assembly (Sam Kutesa) who achieved this outcome for us," Mukerji said.

He added that in cases of negotiations on Security Council reforms, there are procedures which the countries have already agreed to on how to take decisions on issues about which there are convergent or divergent views.

He also underscored that the UNGA decision has a "direct impact" on the 2030 Sustainable Development agenda that will be adopted by world leaders later this month.

"You cannot delink the world in which we live, which is being marked by so many crises, from the implementation of the agenda," he said.

India has been a leading voice in the UN to commencing the process of Security Council reform on the basis of a negotiating text.

In a statement after the adoption, Mukerji had said "this is the first time in the history of the Inter-Governmental Negotiation process that a decision on UNSC reform has been adopted through an official formal L Document of the UNGA.

"This is a most positive and unique development, as so far, over the last 7 years we have only been making statements in the air, or at each other, with easily deniable or disputable summaries, or at times compilation text(s), to register our endeavours."

 

[Green Angel]

RIP ............

 

[Hindustani78]

We are never interested in UN or its UNSC membership.
Modi has full capability to lead Indian diplomacy on the very right track.
He is always his way to save other nations without UN.

India has been a leading voice in the UN to commencing the process of Security Council reform on the basis of a negotiating text.

In a statement after the adoption, Mukerji had said "this is the first time in the history of the Inter-Governmental Negotiation process that a decision on UNSC reform has been adopted through an official formal L Document of the UNGA.

"This is a most positive and unique development, as so far, over the last 7 years we have only been making statements in the air, or at each other, with easily deniable or disputable summaries, or at times compilation text(s), to register our endeavours."

 

[Hindustani78]

Ukraine campaigns to strip Russia of UN veto power | Zee News

Kiev: Ukraine redoubled its efforts Wednesday to see Russia stripped of its veto power on the UN Security Council when the global body`s General Assembly meets in the coming weeks.

Numerous nations are upset with Russia for being one of the five permanent council members that together with China has blocked a series of UN efforts to impose sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad`s regime.

But Ukraine is especially angry that Moscow has also shot down UN attempts to condemn what Kiev views as Russia`s "aggression" in its separatist industrial east.

Russia views Ukraine`s 17-month crisis in which nearly 8,000 have died as a "civil war" in which it has played no role.

The United States along with Britain and France -- the other three veto-wielding members and strong supporters of Ukraine`s new pro-Western leadership -- have refrained from openly backing such a drastic measure against Russia and the increasingly unpredictable President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine`s parliament Wednesday unanimously voted in favour of a recommendation for the council to strip Moscow of its right to block UN resolutions in cases when "conflicts grow especially fierce".

Kiev`s UN envoy Yuriy Sergeyev tweeted that 67 of the General Assembly`s 193 members have already supported the move.

Moscow swiftly dismissed the proposal and denounced Kiev`s push to expand veto rights to the other 10 non-permanent Security Council members.

Ukraine hopes to be elected as one of the new rotating Council members at a vote in New York scheduled for October 15.

"We stand in favour of preserving (veto) rights for the five permanent Security Council members," Russia`s RIA Novosti state news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov as saying.

Gatilov called discussions about allowing the other 10 Council members the right to block resolution "premature".

AFP

 

[Hindustani78]

Always favoured expanding UN Security Council: Ban Ki-moon | Zee News
Last Updated: Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 16:17

United Nations: Terming the adoption by the UN General Assembly of a negating document on Security Council reform as a process in the right direction, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for expanding the Council to make it more broadly representative, democratic and transparent.


"And on Security Council reform, I think I have always favoured expanding the Security Council in order to make it more broadly representative and democratic and transparent," Ban told reporters here yesterday in a? press briefing ahead of the 70th General Assembly session.

"The world has changed and considering such huge, dramatic changes in the international community, the Security Council should also be able to adapt to this changing situation."

He said he has taken note that the General Assembly has adopted the resolution to continue text-based negotiations on reforms in the current session.

I "think this kind of process, even though it has been taking long and very slow process, is, I think, the right direction", Ban said.

He said that with the 70th anniversary of the UN, Member States have been pushing for accelerating institutional reforms, including the Security Council.

In terms of revitalising the General Assembly, member states have adopted a resolution in making its role in selecting and appointing the Secretary-General process in a more transparent and more representative way, he added.

"So we are making a lot of changes in terms of efficiencies and accountability, transparencies of change management of the United Nations," he said.

On being asked if his successor should be a woman, Ban said "it is high time" for Member States to discuss and consider such an aspiration.

"...I have been hearing a lot of voices coming from many quarters of the world, saying that this is the time for a woman - a qualified, accomplished and leadership woman should lead this United Nations," Ban said.
"As I'm very much committed to gender empowerment and gender equality, and as I'm the eighth Secretary-General, male, then I think it is high time for Member States to discuss and consider this kind of aspiration of many people.

"It's not only women or female...Women community. Many people are asking for that. But as the Secretary-General at this time, while I recognise that there are many qualified, experienced, and committed women leaders, it's entirely [up to] Member States of the United Nations to decide who should be the best person who will lead this organisation," he said.

Ban further said he will convene a high-level meeting on September 30 to mobilise a "humane, effective and rights-based response" to a global crisis that has seen 60 million people flee their homes by an unprecedented number of brutal conflicts, the breakdown of basic governance and mounting economic despair.

In less than 10 days world leaders will gather at UN Headquarters for general debate of the 70th session of the General Assembly at "a time of turmoil and hope", he said.

"Turmoil - because conflicts have deepened in so many places, and civilians are paying the price," he said.
"Hope - because a historic number of world leaders will gather here to forge solutions and adopt an inspiring new development agenda."

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Updated: September 17, 2015 07:39 IST
Reform eludes UN Security Council - The Hindu


The framework document adopted at the General Assembly did not break the impasse on reforms, but brought some clarity as to who was on which side. It also became clear that any plan to introduce a substantial draft resolution in the next session would be futile.
The adoption by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) of a consensus resolution for beginning discussions at the Intergovernmental Negotiations Group (ING) on the basis of a framework document has been hailed as historic and path-breaking, but, in actual fact, the UN has not moved anywhere closer to an agreement on reform. The proposal should have been routinely adopted, coming as it did from the president of the General Assembly. Sam Kutesa, the outgoing President of the General Assembly had circulated the framework document at the end of July 2015 after extensive consultations, to serve as a sound basis for the next stage of consultations at the next session. He claimed that it was developed through an “inclusive and transparent process”, which included written submissions.

T. P. Sreenivasan

Trouble arose when some powerful states and groups made submissions, but insisted that their proposals not be included in the framework document. As a result, the president had to prepare his text in two parts, one containing collated views of a number of member states and another reproducing the letters of others.



The document revealed, not for the first time, that the positions of member states remained as wide apart as before and that there was not an iota of hope that a meeting point could be found during the 70th anniversary and beyond.


Opposition to expanison



Many countries, particularly small and middle powers, submitted detailed opinions on each of the specific points on which ideas were sought, such as categories of membership, veto, regional representation, size of the enlarged Council and its working methods and the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly. France and the U.K. made their submissions and their views were reflected in the document.



The setback to the whole exercise came from China, Russia, the U.S. and some others, including the Uniting for Consensus Group (opponents of expansion) when they expressed their opinions in vague, but negative terms and kept out of the framework document. This meant that they would prefer the negotiations to continue in the Intergovernmental Negotiations Group without a text at a snail’s pace.



The substance of the positions of China, Russia and the U.S. came as a shock to India and others, who had believed that they had the support of these countries in one form or another. China declared that the time had not come for any serious negotiations, but it would support necessary and reasonable reform, with greater representation for developing countries. Russia was equally vague and supported “any reasonable option of expanding the Council”, but without any change in the veto. The U.S. favoured a “modest expansion”, without supporting any formula under consideration and no alteration or expansion of the veto. Unlike France and the U.K., these countries made no mention of their support to India as a permanent member. Although the U.S. and Russia later said that there was no change in their position of support to India, their written submissions revealed that their support had no practical value.



Among the permanent members, France was the closest to the Indian position, favouring the inclusion of India, Brazil, Japan and Germany (G-4) and an African representative as permanent members and expansion of the non-permanent category of members. France even expressed no objection to the veto power being extended to the new permanent members. The U.K. supported G-4 as the new permanent members, but without veto.



The positions of China, Russia and the U.S. cast a gloom on the G-4, which proposed a draft resolution to remit the framework document to the ING, under its new chairman, Ambassador Courtenay Rattray of Jamaica. China spread a rumour that it would seek amendments to the draft and even press for a vote. But in the end, China decided to join the consensus to commence text-based discussions, even though it had made clear that the time was not ripe for specific formulations.



The latest decision of the 69th session of the General Assembly did not amount to any change in the impasse on reform of the Security Council, but brought some clarity as to who was on which side. It also became clear that any plan to introduce a substantial draft resolution in the 70th session would be futile. The G-4 or any other group does not have the votes to get a resolution adopted by the General Assembly even to pressurise the Security Council to consider a concrete proposal. The compiled views in the framework document did not show any convergence even within the various groups outside the P-5. A G-4 diplomat told me in New York that the framework document was not likely to add any momentum to the negotiations. It would only ensure that the debate would go on for many more years without any result. The numerous paragraphs within brackets will remain in the text for long. The apparent progress in moving to text based negotiations is illusory. It is the lack of political will that has inhibited progress, not the lack of drafting skills.



India and the G-4 have exhausted all the arguments in favour of expansion and they have to be more and more inventive in promoting their proposals. They have already made a compromise on the veto, the claim to which would be suspended for fifteen years or so. The next step will be to accept anything less than permanent membership, such as extended non-permanent terms, subject to re-election every five years or more. The only achievement that they can boast of is the support of France and U.K., but it can melt away as part of a P-5 consensus at very short notice.



G-4 has so far maintained a façade of unity, but each of them may be amenable to bilateral deals if any one of them becomes a liability for the other three. Germany has already toned down its demand for permanent membership because of over representation of Europe. This may well be the motive for France and U.K. also to support G-4.



They may feel that a limited expansion by way of some additions now may be better for Europe than confronting a proposal for a thorough reorganisation of the Security Council later. Japan is clearly a liability because of the open opposition by China. India and Brazil too have opposition from their regions, but nothing serious to block their entry in the event of a settlement.



India’s claim to membership



India has upgraded its claim to “right” and remained the leader of G-4. But there is a section of opinion that India’s position on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its border “disputes” with Pakistan and China might be impediments to its permanent membership. The India-U.S. nuclear deal was expected to give de facto recognition to India’s nuclear status, but its non-NPT status came in the way of its entering the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). No amount of extra effort by India can resolve the NPT, Pakistan and China issues in a hurry. But the expansion of the Security Council is not contingent on any action of omission or commission on the part of India and so there is no particular pressure on India to relent on these issues.



More than 34 years of struggle with the issue of “equitable representation” in the Security Council has not brought us any closer to an expansion of the Council. An Indian Foreign Secretary had once remarked that India had the choice of either acquiring real power through the manufacture of nuclear weapons or pursuing illusory power by seeking to become a permanent member of the Security Council. Having acquired real power, India could as well give up the pursuit of illusory power, he had said. But in keeping with the present Government’s “power push”, our quest for permanent membership will continue. But the best we can get, if at all, may be a semi-permanent status, requiring us to get elected every few years.



As for the UN itself, reform of the Security Council is an existential requirement for the organisation. If it resists all proposals for change in the years to come, there is a real risk of the UN being sidelined or rival organisations taking over its agenda. Therefore, it is likely that some changes would be accommodated on the basis of one of the two alternatives proposed by Kofi Annan in his report, ‘In Larger Freedom’ in March 2005. According to this plan, there would be no new permanent seats, but a new category of eight four-year renewable term seats and one new two-year non-permanent (and non-renewable) seat to be divided among the various regional groups. The plan would continue to be unacceptable to India and some others, but it might well be the lowest common denominator to be tried out. But what the UN requires is not a fix like that, but a fundamental change to reflect the realities of the present century.


(T.P. Sreenivasan, who was a counsellor (1980-83) and the Deputy Permenent Representative (1992-95) in the Indian Mission to the UN, New York, was at the UN recently for a conference.)