News Analysis India

Tag: UN

  • Seeking an ally in India for the transformation of the UN process, says UNGA President

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: In India, we are seeking an ally which will support us in the process of transformation of the UN through reforms which will bring about great changes in the UN, said UNGA 77th session President, Csaba Korosi on his first visit to India. 

    “During my interaction with PM Modi, we spoke about India’s contribution to the UN reform process. Discussions also took place around the subject of humanitarian aid as the world is reeling under the worst food and energy crisis,” President Korosi said adding that he is hopeful that India would become a permanent member of the UN after the reforms process. 

    President Korosi said that all wars come to an end and they hoped that negotiations would work and a ceasefire declared between Russia and Ukraine. Negotiations and discussions, as PM Modi has been reiterating, would possibly lead to an end to the conflict. 

    “Happy to welcome Csaba Korosi on his first visit to India. Reaffirmed India’s commitment to multilateralism, including at the UN. We discussed the importance of conserving and optimising global water resources and welcomed his support for G20 India,” said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

    President Korosi also met with External Affairs Minister, Dr Jaishankar and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Urban Development Hardeep Puri.

    “We hosted a millet lunch for President Korosi. We also discussed global challenges, UN reforms, the Ukraine conflict and G20 agenda. We assured him of India’s fullest support in developmental progress and reformed multilateralism,” said Dr Jaishankar.

    Meanwhile, talking about the reforms process in the UN, which would also include considering India to become a Permanent Member of the UN, President Korosi said that out of the 193 members nearly 73 had spoken about reform.

    The challenges facing our world are great, but they are not insurmountable. To quote the old Indian proverb, “We cannot change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust the sails,” UNGA President said.

    NEW DELHI: In India, we are seeking an ally which will support us in the process of transformation of the UN through reforms which will bring about great changes in the UN, said UNGA 77th session President, Csaba Korosi on his first visit to India. 

    “During my interaction with PM Modi, we spoke about India’s contribution to the UN reform process. Discussions also took place around the subject of humanitarian aid as the world is reeling under the worst food and energy crisis,” President Korosi said adding that he is hopeful that India would become a permanent member of the UN after the reforms process. 

    President Korosi said that all wars come to an end and they hoped that negotiations would work and a ceasefire declared between Russia and Ukraine. Negotiations and discussions, as PM Modi has been reiterating, would possibly lead to an end to the conflict. 

    “Happy to welcome Csaba Korosi on his first visit to India. Reaffirmed India’s commitment to multilateralism, including at the UN. We discussed the importance of conserving and optimising global water resources and welcomed his support for G20 India,” said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

    President Korosi also met with External Affairs Minister, Dr Jaishankar and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Urban Development Hardeep Puri.

    “We hosted a millet lunch for President Korosi. We also discussed global challenges, UN reforms, the Ukraine conflict and G20 agenda. We assured him of India’s fullest support in developmental progress and reformed multilateralism,” said Dr Jaishankar.

    Meanwhile, talking about the reforms process in the UN, which would also include considering India to become a Permanent Member of the UN, President Korosi said that out of the 193 members nearly 73 had spoken about reform.

    The challenges facing our world are great, but they are not insurmountable. To quote the old Indian proverb, “We cannot change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust the sails,” UNGA President said.

  • Credibility of UN depends on its effective response to key challenges of our times: Jaishankar

    By PTI

    UNITED NATIONS: India strongly hit back at Pakistan on Wednesday after it raised the Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council, asserting that a country that hosted slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and attacked a neighbouring Parliament does not have the credentials to ‘sermonize” in the power UN organ.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the credibility of the UN depends on its effective response to the key challenges of our times, be it pandemics, climate change, conflicts or terrorism.

    “We are obviously focused today on the urgency of reforming multilateralism. We will naturally have our particular views, but there is a growing convergence at least that this cannot be delayed any further,” said Jaishankar, who is chairing India’s signature event on reformed multilateralism.

    “While we search for the best solutions, what our discourse must never accept is the normalisation of such threats. The question of justifying what the world regards as unacceptable should not even arise. That certainly applies to state sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Nor can hosting Osama bin Laden and attacking a neighbouring Parliament serve as credentials to sermonize before this Council,” he said.

    Eighteen years ago on December 13, terrorists of the Pakistsan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Indian Parliament complex in New Delhi and opened fire, killing nine people.

    Jaishankar’s strong remarks came after Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto raised the Kashmir issue while speaking in the Council debate on reformed multilateralism.

    Jaishankar arrived here Tuesday to preside over two signature events on counter-terrorism and reformed multilateralism being held under India’s current Presidency of the UN Security Council, before the curtains come down this month on the country’s two-year tenure as an elected member of the powerful 15-nation.

    India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj was chairing the debate when Bhutto spoke in the Council.

    Tensions between India and Pakistan have spiked since New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

    India’s decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

    India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

    India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

    UNITED NATIONS: India strongly hit back at Pakistan on Wednesday after it raised the Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council, asserting that a country that hosted slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and attacked a neighbouring Parliament does not have the credentials to ‘sermonize” in the power UN organ.

    External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the credibility of the UN depends on its effective response to the key challenges of our times, be it pandemics, climate change, conflicts or terrorism.

    “We are obviously focused today on the urgency of reforming multilateralism. We will naturally have our particular views, but there is a growing convergence at least that this cannot be delayed any further,” said Jaishankar, who is chairing India’s signature event on reformed multilateralism.

    “While we search for the best solutions, what our discourse must never accept is the normalisation of such threats. The question of justifying what the world regards as unacceptable should not even arise. That certainly applies to state sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. Nor can hosting Osama bin Laden and attacking a neighbouring Parliament serve as credentials to sermonize before this Council,” he said.

    Eighteen years ago on December 13, terrorists of the Pakistsan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) attacked the Indian Parliament complex in New Delhi and opened fire, killing nine people.

    Jaishankar’s strong remarks came after Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto raised the Kashmir issue while speaking in the Council debate on reformed multilateralism.

    Jaishankar arrived here Tuesday to preside over two signature events on counter-terrorism and reformed multilateralism being held under India’s current Presidency of the UN Security Council, before the curtains come down this month on the country’s two-year tenure as an elected member of the powerful 15-nation.

    India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj was chairing the debate when Bhutto spoke in the Council.

    Tensions between India and Pakistan have spiked since New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

    India’s decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

    India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.

    India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.

  • Three-day India tour of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres begins on Tuesday 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be on a three-day visit to India starting Tuesday, during which he will pay tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai, besides holding talks with his Indian interlocutors.

    It will be the first visit of Guterres to India since his second term in office commenced in January.

    He had earlier visited the country in October 2018 during his first term at the top office.

    The UN secretary general will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event relating to the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) in Gujarat’s Kevadiya on October 20.

    His visit to the country comes more than a week before the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds two-day deliberations in India.

    “Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, will be on an official visit to India from October 18-20,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

    It said Guterres will commence his visit to India by paying tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai.

    He will also deliver a public address at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai on the subject — “India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation.”

    The Taj Mahal Palace hotel was one of the targets of the horrific 26/11 terror attacks nearly 14 years ago.

    The MEA said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with Guterres on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India’s engagement with the UN, including through the country’s upcoming presidency of the G20.

    It said Guterres will attend the launch of the Mission LiFE booklet, logo and tagline in Kevadiya on October 20.

    The concept of LiFE was introduced by Modi during the COP26 at Glasgow in November last year.

    The prime minister had then urged the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.

    “Mission LiFE will be India’s signature initiative at the United Nations and other international platforms for showcasing climate action and early achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the MEA said.

    “Its central idea reflects India’s ethos of respect for mother nature and aims at piloting a focused programme that will mobilise one billion (100 crore) Indians to become pro-planet people (3P), who would practise simple environment and climate-friendly behaviour and actions in their daily lives to promote a shared commitment to protect our planet,” it added.

    In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity, the MEA said, adding that he will also visit the country’s first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area.

    The UN secretary general will also visit the Sun temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination, according to the MEA.

    NEW DELHI: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be on a three-day visit to India starting Tuesday, during which he will pay tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai, besides holding talks with his Indian interlocutors.

    It will be the first visit of Guterres to India since his second term in office commenced in January.

    He had earlier visited the country in October 2018 during his first term at the top office.

    The UN secretary general will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event relating to the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) in Gujarat’s Kevadiya on October 20.

    His visit to the country comes more than a week before the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee holds two-day deliberations in India.

    “Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, will be on an official visit to India from October 18-20,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

    It said Guterres will commence his visit to India by paying tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai.

    He will also deliver a public address at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai on the subject — “India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation.”

    The Taj Mahal Palace hotel was one of the targets of the horrific 26/11 terror attacks nearly 14 years ago.

    The MEA said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar would hold bilateral discussions with Guterres on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India’s engagement with the UN, including through the country’s upcoming presidency of the G20.

    It said Guterres will attend the launch of the Mission LiFE booklet, logo and tagline in Kevadiya on October 20.

    The concept of LiFE was introduced by Modi during the COP26 at Glasgow in November last year.

    The prime minister had then urged the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.

    “Mission LiFE will be India’s signature initiative at the United Nations and other international platforms for showcasing climate action and early achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the MEA said.

    “Its central idea reflects India’s ethos of respect for mother nature and aims at piloting a focused programme that will mobilise one billion (100 crore) Indians to become pro-planet people (3P), who would practise simple environment and climate-friendly behaviour and actions in their daily lives to promote a shared commitment to protect our planet,” it added.

    In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity, the MEA said, adding that he will also visit the country’s first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area.

    The UN secretary general will also visit the Sun temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination, according to the MEA.

  • PM Modi speaks with UN secy-gen; calls for speedy probe into attack on peacekeepers in Congo

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Prime Ministry Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation on Friday with the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres. 

    He discussed the recent attack on the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), where two Indian peacekeepers lost their lives. 

    Modi also urged the UN Secretary-General to ensure expeditious investigations, to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice. He underscored India’s commitment to UN Peacekeeping, with more than 2,50,000 Indian peacekeepers having served under UN Peacekeeping Missions so far.

    Nearly, 177 Indian peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving in UN peacekeeping Missions, the largest by any Troop Contributing Country.

    Meanwhile, Guterres offered his condolences to the families of the two slain Indian Border Security Force personnel, as well as to the government and the people of India. He reiterated his unequivocal condemnation of the attack against MONUSCO and assured all possible action in conducting speedy investigations.

    PM Modi also underscored India’s unwavering support for peace and stability in the Democratic People of the Congo, where nearly 2040 Indian soldiers are presently deployed at MONUSCO.

    NEW DELHI: Prime Ministry Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation on Friday with the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) António Guterres. 

    He discussed the recent attack on the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), where two Indian peacekeepers lost their lives. 

    Modi also urged the UN Secretary-General to ensure expeditious investigations, to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice. He underscored India’s commitment to UN Peacekeeping, with more than 2,50,000 Indian peacekeepers having served under UN Peacekeeping Missions so far.

    Nearly, 177 Indian peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving in UN peacekeeping Missions, the largest by any Troop Contributing Country.

    Meanwhile, Guterres offered his condolences to the families of the two slain Indian Border Security Force personnel, as well as to the government and the people of India. He reiterated his unequivocal condemnation of the attack against MONUSCO and assured all possible action in conducting speedy investigations.

    PM Modi also underscored India’s unwavering support for peace and stability in the Democratic People of the Congo, where nearly 2040 Indian soldiers are presently deployed at MONUSCO.

  • India rejects allegations of harassment of journalist Rana Ayyub as ‘baseless, unwarranted’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Reacting strongly, India on Monday dubbed as “baseless and unwarranted” the allegations by the United Nation’s mission in Geneva of “judicial harassment” against journalist Rana Ayyub, and asserted that the country upholds the rule of law and no one is above it.

    India’s permanent mission in Geneva, in a tweet, said advancing a “misleading narrative” only “tarnishes” the reputation of the UN mission.

    “Allegations of so-called judicial harassment are baseless & unwarranted. India upholds the rule of law but is equally clear that no one is above the law. We expect SRs to be objective & accurately informed. Advancing a misleading narrative only tarnishes @UNGeneva’s reputation,” it said.

    Official sources in New Delhi said the matter will be followed up by a note verbale from the Indian mission in Geneva. A note verbale is a diplomatic communication. “They will also take it up with the UN office in Geneva,” a source said.

    Earlier, the UN in Geneva tweeted about “relentless misogynistic and sectarian attacks online” against journalist Ayyub.

    It quoted UN human rights experts to say that the attacks on Ayyub must be promptly and thoroughly investigated by the Indian authorities and that the judicial harassment against her brought to an end.

    “Relentless misogynistic and sectarian attacks online against journalist @RanaAyyub must be promptly and thoroughly investigated by the #Indian authorities and the judicial harassment against her brought to an end at once, stress @UN_SPExperts,” the UN Geneva tweeted.

    The UN experts quoted by the UN Geneva are Special Rapporteur (SR) on the right to freedom of opinion and expression and Special Rapporteur (SR) on human rights defenders.

    Earlier this month, sources in the Enforcement Directorate said the agency has attached over Rs 1.77 crore worth of bank deposits of Ayyub in connection with a money-laundering probe against her linked to alleged irregularities in charitable funds raised from public donors.

    Ayyub rejected the allegations, saying money-laundering charges levelled against her are “preposterous and wholly mala fide”.

  • India elected to three bodies of UN Economic and Social Council 

    By PTI
    UNITED NATIONS: India has been elected by acclamation to three bodies of the UN Economic and Social Council.

    India was elected by acclamation to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for a three-year term beginning January 1, 2022.

    Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Ghana, Libya, Pakistan, Qatar, Thailand, Togo and the US were also elected by acclamation while Brazil, Dominican Republic, Paraguay, Chile, Cuba were elected by secret ballot.

    India was elected by acclamation to the Executive Board of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for a three-year term beginning on January 1, 2022.

    Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Gambia, Guyana, Kenya, Monaco, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, Turkmenistan and Ukraine were also elected by acclamation to the UN body.

    India was elected to the Executive Board of the World Food Programme, along with France, Ghana, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Sweden by acclamation for a three-year term beginning on 1 January 2022.