Russia on Saturday (Oct 14) asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to vote Monday on a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas war that calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and condemns violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism.

Russia on Saturday (Oct 14) asked the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to vote Monday on a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas war that calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and condemns violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism. Russia's Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said that no changes had been made to the text since it was given to the 15-member body on Friday and that he expected the vote to be scheduled for Monday. The resolution calls for the release of hostages, humanitarian aid access, and the safe evacuation of civilians in need. It refers to Israel and the Palestinians but does not directly name Hamas. Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Israel-Hamas war The resolution would need at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by the United States, the United Kingdom (UK), France, China, or Russia. Russia's UN envoy slams Israel's evacuation orders On Friday, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia called for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing war and slammed Israel's evacuation orders on Gazans. "Israel's actions of collective punishment on Gaza citizens, as well as its demands to evacuate more than one million civilians in 24 hours and concentrate them in a de facto ghetto in the south of the sector, are also unacceptable and can lead to irreversible catastrophic consequences, regionally and globally," Nebenzia told reporters following a UN consultation on the Israel war. Nebenzia urged the UNSC to immediate action to restart peace talks to conclude a solution to the conflict. He also said that it was the actions of the US in the Middle East over the past decades that have caused the Palestinian-Israeli issue to remain unresolved for a long time. "It is Washington that recklessly and selfishly blocked the work of the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, in an effort to monopolize the peace process and limit it to imposing an economic peace with Israel and the Palestinians and other Arab countries without solving the Palestinian question. We consistently warned against this, saying it would be back for one day, so it did," said Nebenzia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia asks UNSC to vote on draft resolution for Israel-Hamas war ceasefire

Shombi Sharp, the UN Resident Coordinator for India, in an interview to WION spoke on India's remarkable contributions to global diplomacy, while emphasising on New Delhi's role in UN Peacekeeping, South-South Cooperation, and Advocacy for Global South.

Shombi Sharp, the UN Resident Coordinator for India, in an interview to WION spoke on India's remarkable contributions to global diplomacy, while emphasising on New Delhi's role in UN Peacekeeping, South-South Cooperation, and Advocacy for Global South. On UN reforms, and India's bid to be at the high table, UN's top diplomat to India, speaking to our correspondent Sidhant Sibal said, that "India, one could argue, has perhaps the strongest candidacy in that regard." Also read | How China’s ‘smokescreen’ tricks the world against reforms at UN Security Council He emphasised that the United Nations recognises the need for political reform within the Security Council but stressed, "it's up to the member states" to drive this change. Regarding the imperative of UNSC reforms, Sharp acknowledged that the UN's structure dates back to the end of World War II and underscored, "The world has changed dramatically since then. But it's up to the member states." Highlighting India's pivotal role as a voice for the Global South, he commented, "India very clearly has, for a long time, been a leading voice for the Global South." He commended India's G20 presidency, where it prioritized UN issues and the concerns of the Global South, aligning its leadership with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also lauded India's extensive involvement in UN peacekeeping, stating that "India has contributed more personnel, troops and civilians, to UN peacekeeping than any other country since the very beginning." Full interview: Sidhant Sibal: Well, the UN is the most important multilateral organisation in the world. With me is the UN Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp. Sir, welcome to WION. My first question to you is we saw a very hectic two weeks in New York where the general debate happened. If you can give a perspective as to what are the key outcomes from the general debate and essentially outcomes that impact the world. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India: Thank you. Mujhe Yahan Bulaney Key Liye Dhanyavaad. (Thank you for having me) The world came together at this General Assembly, probably the most important general assembly that we've had since 2015, to take stock of the 2030 agenda and we're halfway to 2030. So, this is sort of, in a way, the halftime and the world was looking at where have we gone off track? Where are we on track? And unfortunately, the news is that we're very much behind schedule. We're only on track for about 15 per cent of the global targets on the Sustainable Development Goals. Also read | UN General Assembly 2023: What is stalling the progress of Sustainable Development Goals | Explained For a third of the targets we've basically come to a halt or even regressing in terms of progress. So, the message was urgent. But there was very, very strong support for important political declarations. We had the SDG summits on the margins of the General Assembly. We had the climate ambition Summit. We had pandemic preparedness, high level meetings. So basically, I think what we saw is that the important outcomes are that the world reconfirmed that the SDGs are the only blueprint that we have towards peace and prosperity by 2030. The world reconfirmed the importance of sticking to 1.5 degrees, climate ambition as well. A lot of momentum gained here in New Delhi declaration with India's G20 presidency. In fact, there was a very clear continuum. I authored an op-ed the week in between the two events, arguing that we need to take the momentum from New York to New Delhi from the G20, G21 to the General Assembly and I think that was achieved. Now we look ahead towards additional milestones within this very important year, in this very important calendar. We've got the Marrakesh meeting coming up quite soon, where the Bretton Woods institutions, the World Bank and the IMF come together. Look at how they're going to reform that, we have COP 28 coming up in Dubai, where the world is coming together to look very specifically at climate commitments as well. So, I think this is a very important part of a narrative. And again, here in New Delhi, India's G20 presidency really kicked that off. Sidhant Sibal: So, staying on the general debate, we saw a lot of countries calling for the UN reforms. We saw a lot of countries like Portugal and Bhutan publicly saying that India and Japan should become permanent members of the reform UNSC. How hopeful you are that there will be a movement on the reforming process? Because when it comes to the intergovernmental negotiation process, there hasn't been any movement we have seen. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India: I think everybody is in agreement that reform is necessary. The Secretary General Antonio Guterres has made a reform of the United Nations, reform of multilateralism, broadly speaking, one of his top priorities. Now when we look at reform of the Security Council, for example, and this is something that the structure of the UN has been calling for, everybody recognises that the UN was and many of the associated platforms were designed at the end of the Second World War. The world has changed dramatically since then. But it's up to the member states. So, the institution itself can't change. The member states have to change the institution. And this is where again, I think everybody is on board with the need to reform just how exactly to do that. This is really in the courts of the member states to decide. You know, I think we hear more and more support for reform than we have ever before. And certainly, India, one could argue, has perhaps the strongest candidacy in that regard. So, the United Nations, you know, the staff and the institution, and we very much look forward to that political reform of the P5 of the Security Council, but again, it's up to the member states. Sidhant Sibal: Sir we saw a lot of leaders talking about the impact of the Ukraine conflict on on many of these countries, especially on food, fuel, and commodity prices, the rule of UN and what role UN is playing, if you can talk about that and can play in terms of diffusing this crisis. The UN had a major role when it came to the Black Sea green initiative if you can give a perspective as to the role played by the UN. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India: Sure. Well, of course, I mean, the war in Ukraine has had devastating impacts on, the senseless and massive loss of life and destruction of property in Ukraine first and foremost, but also the impacts on the world have been great, especially the developing world, poor countries, in terms of scarcity and high prices and food and fuel and fertilisers. So, of course, the UN's priority is to bring about a ceasefire to bring about a peaceful resolution. That's, that goes without saying, and the Secretary General has been working very, very hard since the beginning of the war to try to bring that in. But unfortunately, that has remained elusive. So in the absence of peace, the UN has worked hard to try to help mitigate the impacts especially on the poorest countries. The Black Sea grain initiative that you talked about and the associated MOU helped, which was brokered together, between the UN and with the assistance of Turkey made a very important impact and that basically helped to release over 33 million metric tons of cereals of grains onto the market. A lot of that going to developing countries, that helped to bring the price down very considerably, something like around 30 per cent as well. Now that has lapsed, unfortunately, so the UN Secretary General is calling for the reinstatement of that agreement to again allow grains to reach markets and to really relieve the pressure on the poorest countries. Sidhant Sibal: Sir, on the sidelines of the general debate, we saw a number of programs including a program where India and the UN came together to focus on global south where you were also present, we saw a number of leaders, Foreign Ministers present and talking about India's role in the global south. How do you see India's role in the global south? Do you see India as the leading voice of the Global South? Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India: I think India very clearly, has for a long time been a leading voice for the Global South. And I think that very, that's coming out very, very strong. For example, we look at the G20 presidency, not only did India put the voice of UN issues and the concerns of the Global South, on center stage, and oriented the whole G20 presidency around the SDGs. In fact, I like to call it SDG 20 because it was so much aligned the priorities of the UN and the Global South. In addition, it was India's push to expand the G20, to bring in the African Union to bring in another 1.3 billion people of the global south now it's a G21. So, I think we see that leadership very, very clearly. Now, that leadership is both in the sense of geopolitical leadership and policy decision making and influence. Also, India is playing an increasingly important role in terms of helping other countries through South-South cooperation, through providing vaccines in a time of crisis, and pharmacy to the world in many respects. And we had a number of side events that we in the UN here in India together with Government of India and supporting that organised where we saw a number of different countries at the highest level Foreign Ministers, even Prime Ministers coming together and sharing their very heartfelt stories of how India has helped their people, helped human development within their countries, resilience, this sort of thing. And we were even pleased to launch a new partnership between the United Nations, India and the Gates Foundation, where we are amplifying Indian-South, Indian best practice development best practice, and this content is really to the heart of what we're doing here in India, the UN system in India increasingly we're helping to identify Indian development best practice and take that to the international level for the benefit of other countries. Sidhant Sibal: Sir, you already mentioned about G 20, India's G 20 presidency a lot of time but essentially, how do you see the convergence in UN's priorities and priority of India under its G20 presidency. India is still the president. It will give the presidency to Brazil in November. So, if you can talk about the convergences and how these convergences can help the world at a time when we know there are several areas of distress whether the conflict or whether it is the high inflationary prices of the food, fuel and commodity prices. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India: Absolutely, there are a number of key areas of convergence and I will just name a couple that sort of come first to mind. But we were talking about reform of multilateralism. We're talking about the need for financing for development. And here reforming the international financial architecture is absolutely critical. And India's G20 Presidency was putting forth very important language and important ideas and commitments to make that reform happen. There were important studies undertaken by Dr. Singh and Larry Summers, that very much reflected and aligned with the Secretary General's SDG stimulus plan, which the New Delhi declaration actually welcomed which is the need to not just for incremental reforms in terms of the multilateral development bank's the World Bank, IMF and many others, but really a step level change. We need a massive quantum increase in financing for developing countries to make the transition to make the energy transitions, just green energy transitions, digital transformations as well. So, we need at least $500 billion a year and additional resources made available plus several more trillion dollars a year when we look at crowding in private sector financing. So that's one. Two, the importance of gender equality as the Secretary General says gender inequality and this is the great unresolved issue of our age. And India's G20 presidency put women led development at the top of the agenda of the list to do and we saw, for example, the G20-G21. Now we'll have a ministerial level Working Group on gender equality which didn't exist before. And then thirdly, I would say climate action and just Green transitions. The green development pact actually within the New Delhi declaration is looking at a number of really important actions. So, for example, tripling renewable energy capacities across the G20. and embracing the ethos of the Prime Minister's lifestyles for environment as well, understanding that that household's individuals have an important role to play in terms of meeting the climate targets that we have. Sidhant Sibal: Sir, their new grouping, G20, is almost two decades old. They're just furious BRICS. Do you think the rise of these groupings essentially is because the UN is seen as dysfunctional? Or do you see that this could be another form of governance in a world which is rapidly changing? Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India: Well, I think you know, as the Secretary General has said, there's no doubt that the world we live in is increasingly multipolar if we can use that phrase. And within this, for example, India is an incredibly important pole. Now, the fact of multipolarity does not in and of itself, guarantee peace and security. We've seen what what's happened in history, for example, in the hands of the First and Second World Wars. So now more than ever, we need strong multilateralism and I think that you know, what we are seeing is a response to that need. And so what we need to do is to together come together, and this was really the strong support for the outcome documents in New York just last week, to invest in institutions that we have to support multilateralism, and that is the UN I would say, first and foremost, that's also G20, BRICS and all of these different platforms that can really be complementary as we seek to find peace and stability within a new multipolar world. Sidhant Sibal: We've already discussed India and the UN, but essentially, the role India played in the UN and what do we expect, if in terms of India, increasing its role in the UN? How do you foresee it if you can just talk about that? Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India: Well, India has been a founding member of the UN, has been really a strong supporter of the UN since the very beginning. Since even just before independence, the number of ways in which India plays an important role in the UN are both using the UN for important purposes and supporting the structure of the UN are numerous. I would mention just a few, for example, counterterrorism, India has been a very strong supporter of the UN's counterterrorism capacities. And in fact, the Secretary General Antonio Guterres when he came to office his very first priority was to create an office for counterterrorism. India was leading Of course, he was presiding over the Security Council, held a meeting of the Counter Terrorism Committee of the Security Council here in India, Mumbai and here in Delhi, led to the that New Delhi Declaration, which was significantly increasing the capacity of the UN system to combat new technologies in the fight against terrorism and financing these sorts of things. I would also mention that peacekeeping, you know, the UN has, right now, nearly 90,000 peacekeepers, active personnel in 12 different operations across the world. India has contributed more personnel, troops and civilians, to UN peacekeeping than any other country since the very beginning right now. There are about 6000 active personnel serving and India also has been really a trailblazer. In terms of women in peace and security. India provided the first all women police units in 1960 in Congo, provided the first women units in 2007 as well, kind of regular peacekeeping troops. And so, this is another area where India really has shown a lot of leadership. I can name many, many other areas in which India has been a leader. But we see India's role in supporting multilateralism and the United Nations is vitally critical, and we very much appreciate this leadership. Sidhant Sibal: Sir you mentioned counterterrorism, I would like to delve into it. India has been proposing the comprehensive convention on international terrorism, it was proposed in 1996 but it hasn't seen much support, the common definition of terrorism still eludes the world. Do you think that this is something that will take time or will there be a convergence we can see among the member countries? Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India: Well, it's really, it's not for me to predict. It's for the member states. So I would just say that what's very important is that while those processes are ongoing, that India is working with the United Nations and many different structures to strengthen the fight against terrorism and counterterrorism approach, as I've already mentioned, and doing so in a way that is now tackling issues like AI and cyber currencies, financing of terrorism, really modernising the response to the counterterrorism response. So, this is really an important element of the partnership between India and the UN. Sidhant Sibal: My last question, India's contribution you've already talked about, but do you think certain challenges as well, especially when it comes to the security and safety of UN peacekeepers, we saw a UN peacekeepers sacrificing their lives during the Indian UN peacekeepers, recently so on the safety and security, but do you have to say on that, if you can talk about that? Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator for India: Well, I think again, you know, we so greatly value the contributions that India has made towards international peace and security. In many different ways from the support to peacekeeping has been really one of the most flagships, let's say, initiatives. I actually had the opportunity just today to participate in a ceremony at the Center for UN peacekeeping, India's army runs to where India's training, women peacekeepers, both from India but from all of the ASEAN countries all the member states within the region, on how to bring more and more women into peacekeeping. Now this is vitally important, of course, just gender equality as a human right. But what we've seen the evidence is very clear that as women are brought to the negotiating table, the peace table and into the formula for implementing peace to peacekeeping that the results of peace efforts are much more effective and longer lasting, and also better able to adapt to the complexity of today's peacekeeping operations. So, I think that's just another example of India reaching out and supporting other countries with the higher purpose of international peace and security. Sidhant Sibal: Well thank you so much for speaking to WION and giving us perspective as to what happened at the general debate but also what we can expect when it comes to the UN's role in shaping the world of today. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India has the 'strongest candidacy' for reformed UNSC, says UN Resident Coordinator Sharp 

Russia has released a draft United Nations Security Council Presidential statement about the Nord Stream pipeline. Moscow condemned the West for an act of terrorism and demanded an impartial international probe into the matter.

Russia releases draft UNSC statement on Nord Stream blasts, condemns West over explosion | WION

A top UN official said on Tuesday (September 26) that suicide and suicidal ideation are "everywhere" for Afghan women as they face increasing isolation under the Taliban regime. The restrictions often come from male relatives encumbered by the Taliban's increasingly restrictive decrees for women.

"They tell us that they are prisoners living in darkness, confined to their homes without hope or future," Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, told the UN Security Council, warning of "three marked shifts that demand our urgent attention."

Taliban returned to power in 2021 after the US-led coalition left Afghanistan. Since then, the regime has sought to impose its strict interpretation of Islam to restrict women's presence in social life and has even curbed their movement&nbsp;outside homes. Women are banned from school, restricted from visiting public spaces freely and aren't even allowed to work.

Bahous said that women's power over decision-making has reduced dramatically. This, she said, is true not only at national and provincial levels but also within communities, families and even within their homes.

"This is driven by increased poverty, a decrease in women's financial contributions, the Taliban's imposition of hyper-patriarchal gender norms, and women's growing isolation," she said.&nbsp;

Bahous also said that the list of restrictions is ever-growing and the restrictions "are being enforced more frequently and with more severity, including by male family members, as the Taliban hold them accountable to enforce their decrees".

This has led to an increase in child marriages and child labour.

The UN Women chief finally said that there was a heightened concern about Afghan women's mental health.

"As the percentage of women employed continues to drop, 90 per cent of young women respondents report bad or very bad mental health, and suicide and suicidal ideation is everywhere ... They tell us that their elimination from public life is like a continuous fear of violent death."

She called on donors to find "innovative" ways to help Afghan women and girls who have the "courage and creativity" to defy these restrictions -- be it online, through cash assistance and scholarships, or through safe migration.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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A top UN official said on Tuesday (September 26) that suicide and suicidal ideation are "everywhere" for Afghan women as they face increasing isolation under the Taliban regime.

A top UN official said on Tuesday (September 26) that suicide and suicidal ideation are "everywhere" for Afghan women as they face increasing isolation under the Taliban regime. The restrictions often come from male relatives encumbered by the Taliban's increasingly restrictive decrees for women. "They tell us that they are prisoners living in darkness, confined to their homes without hope or future," Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, told the UN Security Council, warning of "three marked shifts that demand our urgent attention." Taliban returned to power in 2021 after the US-led coalition left Afghanistan. Since then, the regime has sought to impose its strict interpretation of Islam to restrict women's presence in social life and has even curbed their movement outside homes. Women are banned from school, restricted from visiting public spaces freely and aren't even allowed to work. Bahous said that women's power over decision-making has reduced dramatically. This, she said, is true not only at national and provincial levels but also within communities, families and even within their homes. "This is driven by increased poverty, a decrease in women's financial contributions, the Taliban's imposition of hyper-patriarchal gender norms, and women's growing isolation," she said. Bahous also said that the list of restrictions is ever-growing and the restrictions "are being enforced more frequently and with more severity, including by male family members, as the Taliban hold them accountable to enforce their decrees". This has led to an increase in child marriages and child labour. The UN Women chief finally said that there was a heightened concern about Afghan women's mental health. "As the percentage of women employed continues to drop, 90 per cent of young women respondents report bad or very bad mental health, and suicide and suicidal ideation is everywhere ... They tell us that their elimination from public life is like a continuous fear of violent death." She called on donors to find "innovative" ways to help Afghan women and girls who have the "courage and creativity" to defy these restrictions -- be it online, through cash assistance and scholarships, or through safe migration. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Suicidal ideation rampant among Afghan women, top UN official tells UNSC

In November 2017, the Indian mission in the United Nations was tirelessly working for a cause which was one of its kind. It was to ensure a simultaneous two-thirds majority of two principal organs of United Nations&nbsp;– the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council&nbsp;– for the re-election of Indian candidate judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-sets-the-tone-for-un-security-council-reforms-before-hosting-g20-leaders-631947">Indian PM Modi sets the tone for UN Security Council reforms before hosting G20 leaders</a>

After several rounds of voting, the last few rounds of the contest put judge Bhandari against the United Kingdom's judge Christopher Greenwood, the latter a candidate from one of the five permanent member states of the 15-member UN Security Council.

The ambassador of a nation, who had promised support for the Indian candidate, was reminded by a UK diplomat of her country's need for the United Kingdom if their issue comes up in the UN Security Council, recalls Syed Akbaruddin, India's then Permanent Representative to the United Nations in his 2021 book, India Vs UK, The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win. 
<img alt="'India Vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win' by India's then UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, documents the insider details New Delhi's aggressive effort that culminated into successful election of Indian judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice | published by HarperCollins Publishers India in 2021" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d2358c46-64bd-41d9-bbf2-f48e561598f6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-14T153015.004.png" />

'India Vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win' by Syed Akbaruddin, India's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, documents the insider details of New Delhi's aggressive diplomatic effort that culminated into successful election of Indian judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice in November 2017&nbsp;| published by HarperCollins Publishers India in 2021

'It is the UK – and not India – which will matter then, as India is not even on the Council,' the ambassador of a nation who had promised support to India for judge Bhandari's re-election&nbsp;was told.

"Nevertheless, the warning is ignored and they decide to stay the course and continue to support us," Akbaruddin writes.&nbsp;

<h2>The call for reforms at the UN Security Council</h2>

The composition of the UN Security Council has remained unchanged since 1963.

As a principal organ of the United Nations, it has the “primary responsibility” to “maintain international peace and security” as specified in the UN charter.

It has five permanent members – UK, China, USA, Russia and France – and ten non-permanent members, who are elected through the two-thirds majority in the UN General Assembly, in line with geographical distribution by region.&nbsp;

India has been an eight-term elected member of the UN Security Council.&nbsp;

But while the occasional status as an elected UNSC member&nbsp;gives India a definitive say in the pursuance of UNSC’s goal of maintaining international peace, New Delhi's voice and that of nine other non-permanent UNSC members, is not as decisive as the five permanent member states of the United Nations.&nbsp;

“Even elected members of the UN Security Council are not able to obtain decisions through majority vote in the Council because of the self-given veto power,” Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations told WION, while referring to the privileged “right to veto” that the five permanent member states of the UNSC have,&nbsp;to disprove the passage of any resolution or decision of the Council. &nbsp;

In November 1979, the first demand for equal participation in the decision-making of the United Nations Security Council was floated by the ten developing countries, including India.&nbsp;

In 1992, after the end of the Cold War, a Working Group began discussing the agenda of UNSC reforms.&nbsp;

In 2008, the UN General Assembly unanimously decided on five&nbsp;topics for UN Security Council reform, “including the issue of the veto”, Mukerji adds.&nbsp;

But since then, “there has been no progress on producing any proposed resolution for the UN General Assembly to adopt to reform the UN Security Council so far by amending the UN Charter”, Mukerji added further.

<h2>China-led ‘smokescreen’ in the Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on Council Reforms</h2>

Since 2008, the Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN) occur in the informal plenary of a session of the UN General Assembly. These "informal" negotiations are meant to address the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council.&nbsp;

By virtue of their "informal" nature,&nbsp;the Inter-Governmental Negotiation (IGN) on UN Security Council reform does not have any draft text on the table to negotiate.&nbsp;

“There are no records of previous meetings of the intergovernmental negotiations available with the UN. There are no deadlines set for the negotiations to conclude. Even the two co-chairs of the negotiations are appointed by the President of the UN General Assembly from the same side of the issue, i.e., the elected non-permanent members,” Ambassador Mukerji adds.&nbsp;

The only reference is the Co-Chairs’ Elements Paper, which includes the reference to the UN General Assembly decision on the manner in which Inter-Governmental Negotiations on UN Security Council reform are conducted.

But at least since 2016, according to Japan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ishikane Kimihiro, even that paper has remained nearly unchanged. 
<img alt="Ishikane Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform on May 4 2023 | Permanent Mission of Japan to United Nations" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9c7cb787-9473-49a1-b5cb-30bad97bfc38" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202023-09-14T154710.158.png" />

Ishikane Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform on May 4 2023 | Permanent Mission of Japan to United Nations

Japan, India, Brazil and Germany are also the part of G4 political cooperative alliance&nbsp;who support each other’s bids for permanent seats in the UN Security Council.

"When I compared the first version from 2016 with the current draft, I found that it looks remarkably similar, with little change in substance. Shall we continue this forever?," the Japanese ambassador <a href="https://www.un.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/ishikane050423_2.html">asked</a> the informal meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform in May 2023.

This, Ambassador Mukerji points out, is due to active opposition of China against&nbsp;any amendment to the UN charter.&nbsp;

"The reason that this decision has the same wording from 2016 till 2023 is the active opposition of China against any amendment to the UN Charter to reform the UN Security Council through a two-third majority vote," Ambassador Mukerji added.&nbsp;

<h2>'To the victor belong the spoils': The privileged status P5 states at UNSC&nbsp;</h2>

On September 5, 2023, Ruchira Kamboj, India’s current Permanent Representative&nbsp;to the United Nations, referred to the privileged status of the Permanent-five member states as "a continuation of the mindset of the post 1945 era: to the victors belong the spoils”, a reference to the way the permanent membership was established at the UN Security Council by the allied powers of second World War who emerged victorious in 1945.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reflective-of-the-world-of-1940s-brazils-president-lula-calls-for-reforms-in-un-security-council-634710">'Reflective of the world of 1940s': Brazil President Lula calls for reforms in UN Security Council</a>

“We can no more hide behind the smokescreen of the IGN in the UN General Assembly and continue to pay lip service by continuing to deliver statements in a process which has no time frame, no text and no defined goal to achieve,” Kamboj said in an Open Debate on UNSC’s working methods.&nbsp;

Slamming the “lack of representative character” of the Security Council, Kamboj pointed out that “to continue to deny member states of the Global South a voice and role in Council’s decision-making only lowers the Council’s credibility”.

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Denying the Global South a voice in Council decisions diminishes its credibility says Indian envoy to UN <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaUNNewYork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaUNNewYork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ruchirakamboj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ruchirakamboj</a> calling for reform of the UNSC <a href="https://t.co/TL8UgNlSSX">pic.twitter.com/TL8UgNlSSX</a>
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India has been calling for a draft negotiating text, a clear deadline to complete negotiations on reforms in the UNSC, in a manner that it represents the voices of developing countries and unrepresented regions, including Africa, Latin America and the vast majority of Asia and Pacific.&nbsp;

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In November 2017, the Indian mission in the United Nations was tirelessly working for a cause which was one of its kind. It was to ensure a simultaneous two-thirds majority of two principal organs of United Nations – the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council – for the re-election of Indian candidate judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice.

In November 2017, the Indian mission in the United Nations was tirelessly working for a cause which was one of its kind. It was to ensure a simultaneous two-thirds majority of two principal organs of United Nations – the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council – for the re-election of Indian candidate judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice. Also read | Indian PM Modi sets the tone for UN Security Council reforms before hosting G20 leaders After several rounds of voting, the last few rounds of the contest put judge Bhandari against the United Kingdom's judge Christopher Greenwood, the latter a candidate from one of the five permanent member states of the 15-member UN Security Council. The ambassador of a nation, who had promised support for the Indian candidate, was reminded by a UK diplomat of her country's need for the United Kingdom if their issue comes up in the UN Security Council, recalls Syed Akbaruddin, India's then Permanent Representative to the United Nations in his 2021 book, India Vs UK, The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win. 'India Vs UK: The Story of an Unprecedented Diplomatic Win' by Syed Akbaruddin, India's former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, documents the insider details of New Delhi's aggressive diplomatic effort that culminated into successful election of Indian judge Dalveer Bhandari to the International Court of Justice in November 2017 | published by HarperCollins Publishers India in 2021 'It is the UK – and not India – which will matter then, as India is not even on the Council,' the ambassador of a nation who had promised support to India for judge Bhandari's re-election was told. "Nevertheless, the warning is ignored and they decide to stay the course and continue to support us," Akbaruddin writes. The call for reforms at the UN Security Council The composition of the UN Security Council has remained unchanged since 1963. As a principal organ of the United Nations, it has the “primary responsibility” to “maintain international peace and security” as specified in the UN charter. It has five permanent members – UK, China, USA, Russia and France – and ten non-permanent members, who are elected through the two-thirds majority in the UN General Assembly, in line with geographical distribution by region. India has been an eight-term elected member of the UN Security Council. But while the occasional status as an elected UNSC member gives India a definitive say in the pursuance of UNSC’s goal of maintaining international peace, New Delhi's voice and that of nine other non-permanent UNSC members, is not as decisive as the five permanent member states of the United Nations. “Even elected members of the UN Security Council are not able to obtain decisions through majority vote in the Council because of the self-given veto power,” Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, India’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations told WION, while referring to the privileged “right to veto” that the five permanent member states of the UNSC have, to disprove the passage of any resolution or decision of the Council. In November 1979, the first demand for equal participation in the decision-making of the United Nations Security Council was floated by the ten developing countries, including India. In 1992, after the end of the Cold War, a Working Group began discussing the agenda of UNSC reforms. In 2008, the UN General Assembly unanimously decided on five topics for UN Security Council reform, “including the issue of the veto”, Mukerji adds. But since then, “there has been no progress on producing any proposed resolution for the UN General Assembly to adopt to reform the UN Security Council so far by amending the UN Charter”, Mukerji added further. China-led ‘smokescreen’ in the Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN) on Council Reforms Since 2008, the Inter Governmental Negotiations (IGN) occur in the informal plenary of a session of the UN General Assembly. These "informal" negotiations are meant to address the question of equitable representation and increase in the membership of the Security Council. By virtue of their "informal" nature, the Inter-Governmental Negotiation (IGN) on UN Security Council reform does not have any draft text on the table to negotiate. “There are no records of previous meetings of the intergovernmental negotiations available with the UN. There are no deadlines set for the negotiations to conclude. Even the two co-chairs of the negotiations are appointed by the President of the UN General Assembly from the same side of the issue, i.e., the elected non-permanent members,” Ambassador Mukerji adds. The only reference is the Co-Chairs’ Elements Paper, which includes the reference to the UN General Assembly decision on the manner in which Inter-Governmental Negotiations on UN Security Council reform are conducted. But at least since 2016, according to Japan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ishikane Kimihiro, even that paper has remained nearly unchanged. Ishikane Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform on May 4 2023 | Permanent Mission of Japan to United Nations Japan, India, Brazil and Germany are also the part of G4 political cooperative alliance who support each other’s bids for permanent seats in the UN Security Council. "When I compared the first version from 2016 with the current draft, I found that it looks remarkably similar, with little change in substance. Shall we continue this forever?," the Japanese ambassador asked the informal meeting of the General Assembly on the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council Reform in May 2023. This, Ambassador Mukerji points out, is due to active opposition of China against any amendment to the UN charter. "The reason that this decision has the same wording from 2016 till 2023 is the active opposition of China against any amendment to the UN Charter to reform the UN Security Council through a two-third majority vote," Ambassador Mukerji added. 'To the victor belong the spoils': The privileged status P5 states at UNSC On September 5, 2023, Ruchira Kamboj, India’s current Permanent Representative to the United Nations, referred to the privileged status of the Permanent-five member states as "a continuation of the mindset of the post 1945 era: to the victors belong the spoils”, a reference to the way the permanent membership was established at the UN Security Council by the allied powers of second World War who emerged victorious in 1945. Also read | 'Reflective of the world of 1940s': Brazil President Lula calls for reforms in UN Security Council “We can no more hide behind the smokescreen of the IGN in the UN General Assembly and continue to pay lip service by continuing to deliver statements in a process which has no time frame, no text and no defined goal to achieve,” Kamboj said in an Open Debate on UNSC’s working methods. Slamming the “lack of representative character” of the Security Council, Kamboj pointed out that “to continue to deny member states of the Global South a voice and role in Council’s decision-making only lowers the Council’s credibility”. Denying the Global South a voice in Council decisions diminishes its credibility says Indian envoy to UN @IndiaUNNewYork @ruchirakamboj calling for reform of the UNSC pic.twitter.com/TL8UgNlSSX — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) September 6, 2023 × India has been calling for a draft negotiating text, a clear deadline to complete negotiations on reforms in the UNSC, in a manner that it represents the voices of developing countries and unrepresented regions, including Africa, Latin America and the vast majority of Asia and Pacific. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

How China’s ‘smokescreen’ tricks the world against reforms at UN Security Council

Turkish President Erdogan endorsed permanent seat for India at the UNSC after successful G20 Summit hosted by New Delhi. He also added that only five permanent UNSC members cannot be the combined voice of the whole world. Watch this video for all details.

Turkiye's Erdogan endorses permanent seat for India at the UNSC after successful G20 Summit 2023

At the United Nations general assembly, the African ministers called for expanding the security council to include permanent representation for their continent and stressed the vital role of socio-economic development in ensuring peace.

After G20, Africa now eyes UNSC

Taking a veiled swipe at China and Pakistan, India slammed the attempts being made at blocking the “evidence-based” proposals to blacklist globally sanctioned terrorists in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Calling for urgent reforms of the top UN body, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj on Tuesday (Sept 5) said that the working methods of UNSC are denting its credibility.

Speaking in the Security Council's open debate on Working Methods, Kamboj said, "Genuine, evidence-based listing proposals for globally sanctioned terrorists to be blocked without giving any due justification is uncalled for, and smacks of doublespeak when it comes to Council’s commitment in tackling the challenge of terrorism.”

She asserted that the working methods of Sanctions Committees must emphasise transparency, and objectivity in listing and delisting and should not be based on political considerations.

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Without taking names, India hits out at China for blocking the listing of Pakistani terrorists at UNSC despite "evidence based listing proposals". Indian envoy to UN <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaUNNewYork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaUNNewYork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ruchirakamboj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ruchirakamboj</a> at UNSC open debate on its working methods: <a href="https://t.co/9SMbC9Hmlj">pic.twitter.com/9SMbC9Hmlj</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1699289527729443213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2>China in past objected to India's bids&nbsp;</h2>

Kamboj was referring to China blocking a proposal moved by India and US to designate Pakistan-based LeT leader Sajid Mir, wanted for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, as a “global terrorist” in the UN.

There have been several instances where China had intervened in blocking bids by India and its allies to list Pakistan-based terrorists.

“What we need is a Security Council that better reflects the geographical and developmental diversity of the United Nations today. A Security Council where voices of developing countries and unrepresented regions, including Africa, Latin America and the vast majority of Asia and Pacific, find their due place at this horseshoe table,” Kamboj said.

She said that an expansion of the council in both categories of membership is absolutely essential.

“This is the only way to bring the Council’s composition and decision-making dynamics in line with contemporary geo-political realities,” Kamboj said.

<h2>Expansion of UNSC membership&nbsp;</h2>

“If countries are truly interested in making the Council more accountable and more credible, we call on them to come out openly and support a clear pathway to achieve this reform in a time-bound manner, through the only established process in the UN, which is by engaging in negotiations based on text and not through speaking at each other, or past each other, as we have done for the last three decades,” she added.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaishankar-stresses-g20-summit-to-be-defined-by-positions-taken-not-leaders-attendance-632671">Jaishankar says G20 Summit to be defined by positions taken, not leaders' attendance</a>

The Security Council has five permanent members — the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom — collectively known as the P5.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/asean-centrality-is-a-central-point-mea-ahead-of-pm-modis-short-visit-to-indonesia-632612">‘ASEAN centrality is a central point…’: India ahead of PM Modi’s ‘short visit’ to Indonesia</a>

The 10 elected members of the Security Council are commonly referred to as the E10.

Among the strong contenders for permanent members has been India, which has found support from almost all permanent members, except China. 
 
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Taking a veiled swipe at China and Pakistan, India slammed the attempts being made at blocking the “evidence-based” proposals to blacklist globally sanctioned terrorists in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

Taking a veiled swipe at China and Pakistan, India slammed the attempts being made at blocking the “evidence-based” proposals to blacklist globally sanctioned terrorists in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Calling for urgent reforms of the top UN body, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj on Tuesday (Sept 5) said that the working methods of UNSC are denting its credibility. Speaking in the Security Council's open debate on Working Methods, Kamboj said, "Genuine, evidence-based listing proposals for globally sanctioned terrorists to be blocked without giving any due justification is uncalled for, and smacks of doublespeak when it comes to Council’s commitment in tackling the challenge of terrorism.” She asserted that the working methods of Sanctions Committees must emphasise transparency, and objectivity in listing and delisting and should not be based on political considerations. Without taking names, India hits out at China for blocking the listing of Pakistani terrorists at UNSC despite "evidence based listing proposals". Indian envoy to UN @IndiaUNNewYork @ruchirakamboj at UNSC open debate on its working methods: pic.twitter.com/9SMbC9Hmlj — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) September 6, 2023 × China in past objected to India's bids Kamboj was referring to China blocking a proposal moved by India and US to designate Pakistan-based LeT leader Sajid Mir, wanted for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, as a “global terrorist” in the UN. There have been several instances where China had intervened in blocking bids by India and its allies to list Pakistan-based terrorists. “What we need is a Security Council that better reflects the geographical and developmental diversity of the United Nations today. A Security Council where voices of developing countries and unrepresented regions, including Africa, Latin America and the vast majority of Asia and Pacific, find their due place at this horseshoe table,” Kamboj said. She said that an expansion of the council in both categories of membership is absolutely essential. “This is the only way to bring the Council’s composition and decision-making dynamics in line with contemporary geo-political realities,” Kamboj said. Expansion of UNSC membership “If countries are truly interested in making the Council more accountable and more credible, we call on them to come out openly and support a clear pathway to achieve this reform in a time-bound manner, through the only established process in the UN, which is by engaging in negotiations based on text and not through speaking at each other, or past each other, as we have done for the last three decades,” she added. Also read | Jaishankar says G20 Summit to be defined by positions taken, not leaders' attendance The Security Council has five permanent members — the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom — collectively known as the P5. Also read | ‘ASEAN centrality is a central point…’: India ahead of PM Modi’s ‘short visit’ to Indonesia The 10 elected members of the Security Council are commonly referred to as the E10. Among the strong contenders for permanent members has been India, which has found support from almost all permanent members, except China. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India takes veiled swipe at China, Pak in UN over blocking proposals to blacklist terrorists

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of G-20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, called for reform of the United Nations to match the changing geo-economic realities of the world and ensure representation of voices that matter.

Modi's call resonates with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, who during last month's BRICS summit in Johannesburg called for reforms in the&nbsp;United Nations Security Council.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-africas-president-ramaphosa-calls-for-unsc-reform-sets-pitch-for-brics-expansion-ahead-of-summit-627366">South Africa's President Ramaphosa calls for UNSC reform, sets pitch for BRICS expansion</a>

In an exclusive interview to the Press Trust of India, Modi said the G20 is one of the institutions that is being looked at with "hope" by many countries as the world is looking for actions and outcomes, "no matter where they come from."

India will host the annual summit of the influential grouping in New Delhi on September 9 and 10. 
 
"Today's world is a multipolar world where institutions are extremely important for a rules-based order that is fair and sensitive to all concerns. However, institutions can retain relevance only when they change with the times," the prime minister said. 
 
"A mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century. So, our international institutions need to recognise changing realities, expand their decision-making forums, relook at their priorities and ensure representation of voices that matter," he said. 
 
"When this is not done on time, then smaller or regional forums begin to attain more importance," Modi said in the 80-minute interview. 
 
"The G20 is certainly one of the institutions that is being looked at with hope by many countries. Because the world is looking for actions and outcomes, no matter where they come from,"&nbsp;PM Modi said while noting&nbsp;that India's presidency of the G-20 has come at such a juncture.

<h2>India a growth engine of the world: Modi</h2>

"In this context, India's position within the global framework becomes especially pertinent. As a diverse nation, the Mother of Democracy, the home to one of the world's largest populations of youth, and the growth engine of the world, India has a lot to contribute to the shaping of the future of the world," he said. 
 
"The G20 has provided a platform for India to further its human-centric vision and also collaboratively work towards innovative solutions to problems that are faced by humanity as a whole."

India has been pressing for reform of the United Nations, especially the UN Security Council.

Also read |&nbsp;India's G20 presidency: what to expect?

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New Delhi has been particularly upset over lack of any meaningful movement forward in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform. India, along with Brazil, Germany and Japan is part of the G4 grouping that seeks reforms in the United Nations.

India is a strong contender for a permanent membership at the UN Security Council (UNSC). 
 
At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the UN. 
 
The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of G-20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, called for reform of the United Nations to match the changing geo-economic realities of the world and ensure representation of voices that matter.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of G-20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, called for reform of the United Nations to match the changing geo-economic realities of the world and ensure representation of voices that matter. Modi's call resonates with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, who during last month's BRICS summit in Johannesburg called for reforms in the United Nations Security Council. Also read | South Africa's President Ramaphosa calls for UNSC reform, sets pitch for BRICS expansion In an exclusive interview to the Press Trust of India, Modi said the G20 is one of the institutions that is being looked at with "hope" by many countries as the world is looking for actions and outcomes, "no matter where they come from." India will host the annual summit of the influential grouping in New Delhi on September 9 and 10. "Today's world is a multipolar world where institutions are extremely important for a rules-based order that is fair and sensitive to all concerns. However, institutions can retain relevance only when they change with the times," the prime minister said. "A mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century. So, our international institutions need to recognise changing realities, expand their decision-making forums, relook at their priorities and ensure representation of voices that matter," he said. "When this is not done on time, then smaller or regional forums begin to attain more importance," Modi said in the 80-minute interview. "The G20 is certainly one of the institutions that is being looked at with hope by many countries. Because the world is looking for actions and outcomes, no matter where they come from," PM Modi said while noting that India's presidency of the G-20 has come at such a juncture. India a growth engine of the world: Modi "In this context, India's position within the global framework becomes especially pertinent. As a diverse nation, the Mother of Democracy, the home to one of the world's largest populations of youth, and the growth engine of the world, India has a lot to contribute to the shaping of the future of the world," he said. "The G20 has provided a platform for India to further its human-centric vision and also collaboratively work towards innovative solutions to problems that are faced by humanity as a whole." India has been pressing for reform of the United Nations, especially the UN Security Council. Also read | India's G20 presidency: what to expect? × New Delhi has been particularly upset over lack of any meaningful movement forward in the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform. India, along with Brazil, Germany and Japan is part of the G4 grouping that seeks reforms in the United Nations. India is a strong contender for a permanent membership at the UN Security Council (UNSC). At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly of the UN. The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian PM Modi sets the tone for UN Security Council reforms before hosting G20 leaders

According to the final declaration of the 15th BRICS summit, the member countries have favoured increased representation of developing nations in the UN Security Council.

The statement has supported Brazil’s, India’s and South Africa’s bid to play a greater role in the UNSC.&nbsp;

“We support a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council's memberships so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Brazil, India and South Africa, to play a greater role in international affairs, in particular in the United Nations, including its Security Council," read the joint statement.

<h2>Indian PM Modi on UNSC reforms</h2>

Earlier on August 23, PM Modi said in his speech that it was high time reforms were introduced at UNSC and multilateral organisations like the World Trade Organization (WTO).

“In his various interventions, Prime Minister highlighted the following: Called for setting defined timelines for UNSC reforms, Called for reform of Multilateral Financial Institutions and Called for reform of WTO,” a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) read.

PM Modi in his statement also called on BRICS countries to support the African Union’s permanent membership of G20.

<h2>China’s stance</h2>

Chinese leader Xi Jinping earlier also supported the increased role of developing nations in global governance.&nbsp;

"It is necessary to elevate the representation and the voice of developing countries in the global governance and to support developing states in achievement of better results," the Chinese leader said.

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Why did Xi Jinping skip the BRICS business forum?

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"It is necessary to adhere to a true multilateralism, to build relations of global partnership in the interest of development and to establish a safe and stable international environment for common development," Xi Jinping said, pointing out that China has always shared a common fate with developing countries.

<h2>UN chief also supports UNSC reforms</h2>

While speaking at the BRICS summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also backed calls for reforming the UNSC.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/south-african-government-refutes-allegations-of-pm-modi-snub-amid-brics-summit-628477">Also read:&nbsp;South African govt refutes media report of snub to PM Narendra Modi amid BRICS summit</a>

Guterres said that “today's global governance structures reflect yesterday's world" and that for multilateral institutions to be universal they needed reform.

"They were largely created in the aftermath of World War II when many African countries were still ruled by colonial powers and were not even at the table," Guterres said in remarks on the final day of the BRICS summit.

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According to the final declaration of the 15th BRICS summit, the member countries have favoured increased representation of developing nations in the UN Security Council.

According to the final declaration of the 15th BRICS summit, the member countries have favoured increased representation of developing nations in the UN Security Council. The statement has supported Brazil’s, India’s and South Africa’s bid to play a greater role in the UNSC. “We support a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council's memberships so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including Brazil, India and South Africa, to play a greater role in international affairs, in particular in the United Nations, including its Security Council," read the joint statement. Indian PM Modi on UNSC reforms Earlier on August 23, PM Modi said in his speech that it was high time reforms were introduced at UNSC and multilateral organisations like the World Trade Organization (WTO). “In his various interventions, Prime Minister highlighted the following: Called for setting defined timelines for UNSC reforms, Called for reform of Multilateral Financial Institutions and Called for reform of WTO,” a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) read. PM Modi in his statement also called on BRICS countries to support the African Union’s permanent membership of G20. China’s stance Chinese leader Xi Jinping earlier also supported the increased role of developing nations in global governance. "It is necessary to elevate the representation and the voice of developing countries in the global governance and to support developing states in achievement of better results," the Chinese leader said. Watch: Gravitas: Why did Xi Jinping skip the BRICS business forum? × "It is necessary to adhere to a true multilateralism, to build relations of global partnership in the interest of development and to establish a safe and stable international environment for common development," Xi Jinping said, pointing out that China has always shared a common fate with developing countries. UN chief also supports UNSC reforms While speaking at the BRICS summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also backed calls for reforming the UNSC. Also read: South African govt refutes media report of snub to PM Narendra Modi amid BRICS summit Guterres said that “today's global governance structures reflect yesterday's world" and that for multilateral institutions to be universal they needed reform. "They were largely created in the aftermath of World War II when many African countries were still ruled by colonial powers and were not even at the table," Guterres said in remarks on the final day of the BRICS summit. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

BRICS final declaration backs UN Security Council reforms to make it ‘effective and efficient’

India has cited its food support to countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on "Famine and Conflict-Induced Global Food Insecurity".

Speaking at the meet which took place under the US chairmanship of the body, Indian ambassador to UN Ruchira Kamboj highlighte, "even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, India provided food aid in the form of thousands of metric tonnes of wheat, rice, pulses, and lentils to several countries, including in our neighbourhood and Africa, to strengthen food security".

Highlighting the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Ambassador Kamboj pointed to India's decision to donate 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the Afghan people. Similarly, New Delhi continued its humanitarian support to Myanmar, offering a grant of 10,000 tonnes of rice and wheat. Additionally, Sri Lanka received essential food assistance from India during its difficult times.

According to UN estimates, 362 million people in 62 countries require humanitarian aid which is a record high. The Covid pandemic, followed by Russia-Ukraine conflict, has put increased the prices of food, fuel and fertiliser prices which has especially pinched the global south.

The Indian ambassador also explained that New Delhi supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in continuing the Black Sea Grain Initiative and hoped for an "early resolution to the present impasse". But expressed concerns that "recent developments in this matter have not helped in securing the larger cause of peace and stability."

Black Sea Grain Initiative allows for commercial food and fertiliser (including ammonia) exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chornomorsk, Yuzhny/Pivdennyi. The deal was an agreement between Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey and facilitated by the UN.

The ambassador mentioned how India will be "leveraging" its Presidency of the G20 to advocate for "greater efforts to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, including SDG 2 calling for zero hunger."

India is the chair of the G20 grouping and will hold the summit in September.

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India has cited its food support to countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on "Famine and Conflict-Induced Global Food Insecurity".

India has cited its food support to countries like Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on "Famine and Conflict-Induced Global Food Insecurity". Speaking at the meet which took place under the US chairmanship of the body, Indian ambassador to UN Ruchira Kamboj highlighte, "even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, India provided food aid in the form of thousands of metric tonnes of wheat, rice, pulses, and lentils to several countries, including in our neighbourhood and Africa, to strengthen food security". Highlighting the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Ambassador Kamboj pointed to India's decision to donate 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the Afghan people. Similarly, New Delhi continued its humanitarian support to Myanmar, offering a grant of 10,000 tonnes of rice and wheat. Additionally, Sri Lanka received essential food assistance from India during its difficult times. According to UN estimates, 362 million people in 62 countries require humanitarian aid which is a record high. The Covid pandemic, followed by Russia-Ukraine conflict, has put increased the prices of food, fuel and fertiliser prices which has especially pinched the global south. The Indian ambassador also explained that New Delhi supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in continuing the Black Sea Grain Initiative and hoped for an "early resolution to the present impasse". But expressed concerns that "recent developments in this matter have not helped in securing the larger cause of peace and stability." Black Sea Grain Initiative allows for commercial food and fertiliser (including ammonia) exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea – Odesa, Chornomorsk, Yuzhny/Pivdennyi. The deal was an agreement between Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey and facilitated by the UN. The ambassador mentioned how India will be "leveraging" its Presidency of the G20 to advocate for "greater efforts to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, including SDG 2 calling for zero hunger." India is the chair of the G20 grouping and will hold the summit in September. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India cites food support to Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka at UNSC meet

In response to Russia pulling out of the grain agreement, the UN Security Council convened an emergency session to examine ways to address the world's food issues. The UK served as meeting's chair, and the topic of the discussion was the humanitarian effects of Russia's withdrawal. According to the head of UN aid, the Halls ingrained Ukraine grain may put millions of people in danger of becoming hungry or worse.

Russia: Agreement allowing fertilizers and food were not met | Black Sea Grain Deal

Mali's junta carried out a partial reshuffle of the government a day before a day later. United Nations Security Council withdraws troops following a referendum.

Mali's military government asks UNSC to withdraw troops

The military junta of Mali reached a deal with Russia to deploy troops from the Wagner group just days before the United Nations Security Council voted to end its peacekeeping mission in Mali. Relations between Mali and the U.N. have been deteriorating ever since the military regime took power in a coup in 2020. The United Nations multi-dimensional integrated stabilisation mission is known as "minusima," and the Malian government declared it a failure and requested for its termination last week.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: Unstinting support to Mali

The UN Security Council on Friday ended a decade-old peacekeeping mission in Mali, whose military junta has aligned with Russia and demanded the withdrawal of the international force battling jihadists.

Under pressure from Mali junta, UN ends peacekeeping mission

The UK foreign secretary James Cleverly has said that India, Japan, Brazil and Germany should be given Security Council seats while adding the global South deserves more powerful voices at the world's most influential table. Cleverly claims the power is now shifting to the Indo-Pacific and Latin America he also said in Future these parts of the world will decide the endurance of different systems.

Cleverly: Give India and Japan and Indian UNSC seats

Africa lacks a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council — a situation that will likely remain for a long time. There are growing calls for the African Union to be included in international forums, not only the UNSC but also the G7 and G20 groups of nations. But, does membership in informal multi-lateral clubs offer Africa a useful alternative voice on global decisions?

Modi, Scholz bat for Africa in G20

Russia plans to bring up the issue of investigating the explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines at the UN Security Council consultations on June 15. Russia has repeatedly said the West was behind the blasts. The West and Ukraine have denied involvement.

Russia to bring up issue of Nord Stream investigation at UNSC

The United Nations security council's most recent report voiced worries about the Taliban returning to its previous system of government prior to the US invasion in 2001, which has been criticised by the Taliban for new claims made against the Islamist group.

UN Security Council raises alarm over Taliban's autocratic rule

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Ukraine called on an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to discuss Kherson dam destruction.

Russia-Ukraine War: Kyiv calls on UNSC to discuss Kherson dam destruction | WION Speed News

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong denounced the United Nations Security Council meeting on the country’s recent satellite launch upon “robbery demands” from the United States, reported the state media KCNA, on Sunday (June 4). She also dubbed the meeting “most unfair” while rejecting sanctions and vowed to take “self-defensive” action.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Very offended’ over the UNSC meeting: Kim’s sister</h2>

The North Korean leader’s sister, as per the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the UN meeting last week was yet another reminder that the council is acting as a “political appendage” to the “gangster-like” Washington. She also went on to say that the UNSC by accepting US’ “robbery demands” is ignoring North Korea’s right to space development.

“I am very offended that the UNSC routinely criticises our exercise of sovereign rights as the United States wants, and strongly condemn and reject this as the most unfair, prejudiced act of interfering in internal affairs and infringing our sovereignty,” said Kim Yo Jong, as quoted KCNA.&nbsp;

She also called North Korea’s satellite launch a “legitimate, self-defensive countermeasure” amid threats from the US and its allies. Pyongyang had also accused Washington of raising tensions in the region with their recent annual military drills.

The North Korean leader’s sister also vowed to continue launching spy satellites which the country has called necessary to counter Washington’s growing US military presence in the region.

“The DPRK will continue to take proactive measures to exercise all the lawful rights of a sovereign state, including the one to military reconnaissance satellite launch,” said Kim Yo Jong, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Additionally, she said Pyongyang will never acknowledge sanctions resolutions by the UN, “even if they slap them hundred, thousand times.”&nbsp;

<h2>What happened at the meeting?</h2>

The UNSC meeting over North Korea’s failed launch of its spy satellite was called by the US last week. The launch has since been slammed by the US, South Korea and Japan who said it violated UN resolutions barring the nuclear-armed country from any tests using ballistic missile technology.

This led the UN’s under-secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo on Friday to take the UNSC to task over the “lack of unity and action” on North Korea’s tests. Meanwhile, analysts have warned that if Pyongyang succeeds in its satellite deployment, the surveillance capabilities would allow North Korea to target the US and its ally South Korea more accurately.&nbsp;

On May 31, North Korea launched its Chollima-1 rocket which minutes later lost thrust and crashed into the sea with its satellite payload. Subsequently,&nbsp;in a rare announcement on the same day, Pyongyang said that it would conduct another test as soon as possible.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong denounced the United Nations Security Council meeting on the country’s recent satellite launch upon “robbery demands” from the United States, reported the state media KCNA, on Sunday (June 4).

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong denounced the United Nations Security Council meeting on the country’s recent satellite launch upon “robbery demands” from the United States, reported the state media KCNA, on Sunday (June 4). She also dubbed the meeting “most unfair” while rejecting sanctions and vowed to take “self-defensive” action. ‘Very offended’ over the UNSC meeting: Kim’s sister The North Korean leader’s sister, as per the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the UN meeting last week was yet another reminder that the council is acting as a “political appendage” to the “gangster-like” Washington. She also went on to say that the UNSC by accepting US’ “robbery demands” is ignoring North Korea’s right to space development. “I am very offended that the UNSC routinely criticises our exercise of sovereign rights as the United States wants, and strongly condemn and reject this as the most unfair, prejudiced act of interfering in internal affairs and infringing our sovereignty,” said Kim Yo Jong, as quoted KCNA. She also called North Korea’s satellite launch a “legitimate, self-defensive countermeasure” amid threats from the US and its allies. Pyongyang had also accused Washington of raising tensions in the region with their recent annual military drills. The North Korean leader’s sister also vowed to continue launching spy satellites which the country has called necessary to counter Washington’s growing US military presence in the region. “The DPRK will continue to take proactive measures to exercise all the lawful rights of a sovereign state, including the one to military reconnaissance satellite launch,” said Kim Yo Jong, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Additionally, she said Pyongyang will never acknowledge sanctions resolutions by the UN, “even if they slap them hundred, thousand times.” What happened at the meeting? The UNSC meeting over North Korea’s failed launch of its spy satellite was called by the US last week. The launch has since been slammed by the US, South Korea and Japan who said it violated UN resolutions barring the nuclear-armed country from any tests using ballistic missile technology. This led the UN’s under-secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo on Friday to take the UNSC to task over the “lack of unity and action” on North Korea’s tests. Meanwhile, analysts have warned that if Pyongyang succeeds in its satellite deployment, the surveillance capabilities would allow North Korea to target the US and its ally South Korea more accurately. On May 31, North Korea launched its Chollima-1 rocket which minutes later lost thrust and crashed into the sea with its satellite payload. Subsequently, in a rare announcement on the same day, Pyongyang said that it would conduct another test as soon as possible. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Very offended’: North Korean leader’s sister slams UN meeting on spy satellite launch

China along with Russia ignored a US call on Friday (June 2) to condemn North Korea in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for its attempt to launch a satellite. Both countries instead blamed Washington for raising tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

From the side of the US, a diplomat from its UN mission Robert Wood made the appeal at the meeting called by the US and the allies. The meeting was called specifically to discuss the North Korea issue.

<h2>War of words</h2>

"We call on all council members to uphold the credibility of the council, join us in condemning this unlawful behavior and urge the DPRK to not follow through on its stated plan to conduct another launch that will further pose a threat to international peace and security," Wood said.

Watch | North Korea's spy satellite mission fails as rocket plunges into sea

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DPRK are the initials of North Korea's official name.

Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, told&nbsp;the meeting that North Korea had "legitimate security concerns". Geng said that the Security Council should promote deescalation and not point fingers at any one party.

Geng and Russia's permanent UN representative Anna Evstigneeva criticised the US for raising tensions in the Korean peninsula by holding joint military exercises with South Korea.

After Geng spoke, Wood took the floor again to note that "the representative the Chinese delegation did not at any point condemn this DPRK space launch."

To this, Geng responded that there was a need for real dialogue that took North Korea's concerns into account.

"The U.S. has been saying that door of diplomacy is open, but at the same time, they have been consistently doing military activities in the peninsula and surrounding areas," he said.

Lana Nusseibeh, ambassador of current Security Council chair the United Arab Emirates, noted that North Korea had given some advance warning of the launch, but added that "such warnings neither legitimize, nor minimize, the illegality of the DPRK's launch."

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier this week that any launch by North Korea using ballistic missile tech would breach Security Council resolutions.

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called criticisms of the launch a "self-contradiction" as the U.S. and other countries have already launched "thousands of satellites."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-may-have-insomnia-alcohol-dependency-south-koreas-spy-agency-599269">North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have 'insomnia, alcohol dependency': South Korea's spy agency</a>

The North Korean attempt to launch a spy satellite had caused quite a flurry in the region. Air raid sirens in Seoul, capital of South Korea, blared and citizens were sent a text message by the authorities asking them to be ready for evacuation. Japan activated its missile alert system shortly after the launch and even said that the projectile would land around Okinawa region in the south.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

China along with Russia ignored a US call on Friday (June 2) to condemn North Korea in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for its attempt to launch a satellite.

China along with Russia ignored a US call on Friday (June 2) to condemn North Korea in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for its attempt to launch a satellite. Both countries instead blamed Washington for raising tensions in the Korean Peninsula. From the side of the US, a diplomat from its UN mission Robert Wood made the appeal at the meeting called by the US and the allies. The meeting was called specifically to discuss the North Korea issue. War of words "We call on all council members to uphold the credibility of the council, join us in condemning this unlawful behavior and urge the DPRK to not follow through on its stated plan to conduct another launch that will further pose a threat to international peace and security," Wood said. Watch | North Korea's spy satellite mission fails as rocket plunges into sea × DPRK are the initials of North Korea's official name. Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, told the meeting that North Korea had "legitimate security concerns". Geng said that the Security Council should promote deescalation and not point fingers at any one party. Geng and Russia's permanent UN representative Anna Evstigneeva criticised the US for raising tensions in the Korean peninsula by holding joint military exercises with South Korea. After Geng spoke, Wood took the floor again to note that "the representative the Chinese delegation did not at any point condemn this DPRK space launch." To this, Geng responded that there was a need for real dialogue that took North Korea's concerns into account. "The U.S. has been saying that door of diplomacy is open, but at the same time, they have been consistently doing military activities in the peninsula and surrounding areas," he said. Lana Nusseibeh, ambassador of current Security Council chair the United Arab Emirates, noted that North Korea had given some advance warning of the launch, but added that "such warnings neither legitimize, nor minimize, the illegality of the DPRK's launch." United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier this week that any launch by North Korea using ballistic missile tech would breach Security Council resolutions. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called criticisms of the launch a "self-contradiction" as the U.S. and other countries have already launched "thousands of satellites." Also Read | North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have 'insomnia, alcohol dependency': South Korea's spy agency The North Korean attempt to launch a spy satellite had caused quite a flurry in the region. Air raid sirens in Seoul, capital of South Korea, blared and citizens were sent a text message by the authorities asking them to be ready for evacuation. Japan activated its missile alert system shortly after the launch and even said that the projectile would land around Okinawa region in the south. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

UNSC: China, Russia join forces to ignore US call to condemn North Korea

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday (May 21) amid the ongoing Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan’s Hiroshima called for reform of the UN Security Council to reflect the realities of the present world.&nbsp;

<h2>UN chief urges reform of Security Council, Bretton Woods</h2>

Addressing a press conference in Japan, Guterres said that it was time to reform both the Security Council and Bretton Woods to align with the “realities of today's world,” adding that both institutions reflected the power relations of 1945 and are in need of an update. He also noted how the global financial architecture had become “outdated, dysfunctional and unfair,” as per Reuters.

This was said in the context of the economic shocks that the world witnessed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine while the system&nbsp;put in place has failed to “fulfil its core function as a global safety net,” said the UN chief.&nbsp;

He also went on to note how he felt a growing consciousness among developing countries at the G7 summit that not enough steps are being taken to reform these decades-old institutions or “remove the frustrations” of the Global South, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

<h2>G7 and the Global South</h2>

In its World Economic Outlook published earlier this year, the International Monetary Fund said that India and China will account for nearly 50 per cent of the world’s growth in 2023. On the other hand, it is also worth noting that the G7 group of wealthy countries’ economic clout has also shrunk in the past three decades or so.&nbsp;

According to the IMF, the seven major economies account for nearly 30 per cent of the global GDP in 2023, as opposed to 50.7 per cent in 1980, reported Reuters. “The G7 members were able to discuss with some of the most important emerging economies in the world,” said Guterres.&nbsp;

As the G7 presidency holder, Japan also invited leaders from the so-called Global South to Hiroshima for talks including Indian PM Narendra Modi, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.&nbsp;

<h2>UN, Security Council will remain just ‘talk shop’ without reform: PM Modi</h2>

During his address at a G7 session in Hiroshima, the Indian PM said that the UN and the Security Council will remain just a “talk shop” if they do not reflect the realities of the present world and called for reform of the global body, reported news agency PTI.&nbsp;

“It is a matter of analysis, why do we have to talk about peace and stability in different forums? Why is the UN, which was started with the idea of establishing peace, not successful in preventing conflicts today?” the Indian PM questioned.&nbsp;

He also went on to ask why even the definition of terrorism has not been accepted in the UN, adding that “If one introspects, one thing is clear - The institutions created in the last century are not in line with the system of the twenty-first century,” as quoted by PTI.&nbsp;

“They do not reflect the realities of the present. That is why it is necessary that reforms should be implemented in big institutions like the UN,” said the Indian PM, adding that these institutions also need to become the voice of the Global South. “Otherwise, we will only keep talking about ending the conflicts. The UN and the Security Council will remain just a talk shop,” said PM Modi, at a G7 session.&nbsp;

New Delhi&nbsp;is eyeing a permanent seat on the UNSC, which is currently held by five countries – Russia, the United Kingdom, China, France and the United States, who wield the power to veto any substantive resolution.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday (May 21) amid the ongoing Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan’s Hiroshima called for reform of the UN Security Council to reflect the realities of the present world.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday (May 21) amid the ongoing Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan’s Hiroshima called for reform of the UN Security Council to reflect the realities of the present world. UN chief urges reform of Security Council, Bretton Woods Addressing a press conference in Japan, Guterres said that it was time to reform both the Security Council and Bretton Woods to align with the “realities of today's world,” adding that both institutions reflected the power relations of 1945 and are in need of an update. He also noted how the global financial architecture had become “outdated, dysfunctional and unfair,” as per Reuters. This was said in the context of the economic shocks that the world witnessed in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine while the system put in place has failed to “fulfil its core function as a global safety net,” said the UN chief. He also went on to note how he felt a growing consciousness among developing countries at the G7 summit that not enough steps are being taken to reform these decades-old institutions or “remove the frustrations” of the Global South, reported Reuters. G7 and the Global South In its World Economic Outlook published earlier this year, the International Monetary Fund said that India and China will account for nearly 50 per cent of the world’s growth in 2023. On the other hand, it is also worth noting that the G7 group of wealthy countries’ economic clout has also shrunk in the past three decades or so. According to the IMF, the seven major economies account for nearly 30 per cent of the global GDP in 2023, as opposed to 50.7 per cent in 1980, reported Reuters. “The G7 members were able to discuss with some of the most important emerging economies in the world,” said Guterres. As the G7 presidency holder, Japan also invited leaders from the so-called Global South to Hiroshima for talks including Indian PM Narendra Modi, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. UN, Security Council will remain just ‘talk shop’ without reform: PM Modi During his address at a G7 session in Hiroshima, the Indian PM said that the UN and the Security Council will remain just a “talk shop” if they do not reflect the realities of the present world and called for reform of the global body, reported news agency PTI. “It is a matter of analysis, why do we have to talk about peace and stability in different forums? Why is the UN, which was started with the idea of establishing peace, not successful in preventing conflicts today?” the Indian PM questioned. He also went on to ask why even the definition of terrorism has not been accepted in the UN, adding that “If one introspects, one thing is clear - The institutions created in the last century are not in line with the system of the twenty-first century,” as quoted by PTI. “They do not reflect the realities of the present. That is why it is necessary that reforms should be implemented in big institutions like the UN,” said the Indian PM, adding that these institutions also need to become the voice of the Global South. “Otherwise, we will only keep talking about ending the conflicts. The UN and the Security Council will remain just a talk shop,” said PM Modi, at a G7 session. New Delhi is eyeing a permanent seat on the UNSC, which is currently held by five countries – Russia, the United Kingdom, China, France and the United States, who wield the power to veto any substantive resolution. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UN chief, Indian PM Modi call for reform of Security Council to reflect ‘realities’ of today

China has called for constructive reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying there should be representation for developing countries, especially the small and medium countries, but remained mum on India's inclusion at the high table of the permanent members.

China has called for constructive reforms in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying there should be representation for developing countries, especially the small and medium countries, but remained mum on India's inclusion at the high table of the permanent members. Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee recently met Tareq MAM Albanai and Alexander Marschik, the co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UNSC reforms and discussed the issue. “The reform of the Security Council should uphold fairness and justice, increase the representation and voice of developing countries, allowing more small and medium-sized countries to have more opportunities to participate in the decision-making of the council," said the Chinese diplomat. ALSO READ | India at UNSC: How long it has to wait for the permanent seat? Notably, China is one of the five permanent members alongside France, Russia, the UK and the US of the 15-member UNSC. The other 10 members are elected as non-permanent members for two-year terms and do not have veto powers. The UNSC has been criticised for being a closed grouping, often out of touch with the ground reality and using the platform to serve selfish interests. For several years, India has been at the forefront, demanding reforms to the Security Council and a place at the table. New Delhi's rotating non-permanent membership in the council ended on December 31, 2022, and thus it becomes all the more important that India is included. UNSC's credibility at stake Prime Minister Narendra Modi has questioned the relevance of the UNSC by stating, “The credibility and effectiveness of global institutions is being questioned. The reason for this is that there has been no change in these institutions despite the passage of time. These institutions reflect the mindset and realities of the world 75 years ago." India with the world's largest population and tag of the fastest-growing economy is rightly deserving of a place in the council, especially if the body wants to restore its credibility, according to experts. Last year, France and UK reaffirmed their support for India as a permanent member during the annual debate on UNSC reforms. WATCH | The never-changing UNSC: Why no permanent UNSC seat for India? | World News | WION × “France endorses the candidacy of Germany, Brazil, India and Japan as permanent members for permanent seats,” said Nathalie Broadhurst Estival, France's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN. Meanwhile, the UK’s Ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, also extended her country’s support for the membership bid of the G4 countries (India, Germany, Japan and Brazil) as well as permanent African representation on the Council. ALSO READ | France, UK back India's bid for a permanent seat on UN Security Council However, despite batting for reforms, China has been blocking negotiations on UNSC expansion. The global economy and population needle is shifting towards the Indo-Pacific and if an inadequate Asian representation and no African representation remains, UNSC might be writing itself into irrelevancy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

China bats for UNSC reforms but remains mum on India's inclusion

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned the Taliban administration for their ban on Afghan women working for international organizations and has asked Taliban to "swiftly reverse" its repressive campaign against the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.

UNSC passes resolution condemning Taliban's crackdown on Afghan women's rights

India is demanding a 'Major Course Correction' in the functioning of the UNSC. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj highlighted the inadequacies of the current system. She spoke during a meeting on "Effective Multilateralism through the Defence of the Principles of the UN Charter". Ruchira Kamboj questioned the effectiveness of practising "effective multilateralism".

Highlighting India's exclusion from global decision-making, Ruchira Kamboj calls for UNSC reforms

At the United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday (April 24), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the 15-member body about the world reaching a threshold “possibly even more dangerous” than during the Cold War. At the same forum, Western diplomats accused Moscow, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UNSC, of hypocrisy while some also condemned its invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

Lavrov’s remarks at the UNSC

Russia’s top diplomat was leading the session titled “maintenance of international peace and security,” which was focused on the maintenance of the UN charter, international rules, and multilateralism. “As during the Cold War, we have reached the dangerous, possibly even more dangerous threshold,” said Lavrov, while addressing the council.&nbsp;

He added, “the situation is worsened with the loss of trust in multilateralism.” The Russian foreign minister also went on to talk about how “nobody allowed the Western minority to speak for all of humankind. They need to be polite and respect all members of the international community.”&nbsp;

Lavrov also accused the “United States and its allies” of “abandoning diplomacy and demanding clarification of relations on the battlefield.”

Notably, the last time Russia presided over the council was February 2022 which is the same month it launched what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.&nbsp;

Lavrov, during his address, mentioned acts of aggression by the West including the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the invasion of Iraq, and so on.&nbsp;

The West slams Russia

During the session, several diplomats including the United States, United Kingdom, and Switzerland condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Our hypocritical convener today, Russia, invaded its neighbour, Ukraine, and struck at the heart of the UN Charter,” said the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.&nbsp;

She added, “This illegal, unprovoked and unnecessary war runs directly counter to our most shared principles – that a war of aggression and territorial conquest is never, ever acceptable.” Furthermore, the US representative also spoke about how as they sit there as “aggression continues…Russian forces continue to kill and injure civilians.”&nbsp;

The US representative also called for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The meeting was also attended by Elizabeth Whelan, an American whose brother, Paul Whelan, is imprisoned in Russia.&nbsp;

Ahead of the UNSC session, the European Union countries, along similar lines, issued a statement which condemned Moscow. “Russia is trying to portray itself as a defender of the UN charter and multilateralism. Nothing can be further from the truth. It’s cynical,” said Olaf Skoog, the EU representative to the UN.&nbsp;

UN chief criticises Russia over its invasion of Ukraine

In his opening remarks to the session, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who was sitting next to Lavrov also condemned the Russian invasion and said that it was in “violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, is causing massive suffering and devastation to the country and its people, and adding to the global economic dislocation triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic”.&nbsp;

He added, “Tensions between major powers are at an historic high. So are the risks of conflict, through misadventure or miscalculation.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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At the United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday (April 24), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the 15-member body about the world reaching a threshold “possibly even more dangerous” than during the Cold War.

At the United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday (April 24), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the 15-member body about the world reaching a threshold “possibly even more dangerous” than during the Cold War. At the same forum, Western diplomats accused Moscow, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UNSC, of hypocrisy while some also condemned its invasion of Ukraine. Lavrov’s remarks at the UNSC Russia’s top diplomat was leading the session titled “maintenance of international peace and security,” which was focused on the maintenance of the UN charter, international rules, and multilateralism. “As during the Cold War, we have reached the dangerous, possibly even more dangerous threshold,” said Lavrov, while addressing the council. He added, “the situation is worsened with the loss of trust in multilateralism.” The Russian foreign minister also went on to talk about how “nobody allowed the Western minority to speak for all of humankind. They need to be polite and respect all members of the international community.” Lavrov also accused the “United States and its allies” of “abandoning diplomacy and demanding clarification of relations on the battlefield.” Notably, the last time Russia presided over the council was February 2022 which is the same month it launched what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine. Lavrov, during his address, mentioned acts of aggression by the West including the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the invasion of Iraq, and so on. The West slams Russia During the session, several diplomats including the United States, United Kingdom, and Switzerland condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Our hypocritical convener today, Russia, invaded its neighbour, Ukraine, and struck at the heart of the UN Charter,” said the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. She added, “This illegal, unprovoked and unnecessary war runs directly counter to our most shared principles – that a war of aggression and territorial conquest is never, ever acceptable.” Furthermore, the US representative also spoke about how as they sit there as “aggression continues…Russian forces continue to kill and injure civilians.” The US representative also called for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The meeting was also attended by Elizabeth Whelan, an American whose brother, Paul Whelan, is imprisoned in Russia. Ahead of the UNSC session, the European Union countries, along similar lines, issued a statement which condemned Moscow. “Russia is trying to portray itself as a defender of the UN charter and multilateralism. Nothing can be further from the truth. It’s cynical,” said Olaf Skoog, the EU representative to the UN. UN chief criticises Russia over its invasion of Ukraine In his opening remarks to the session, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who was sitting next to Lavrov also condemned the Russian invasion and said that it was in “violation of the United Nations Charter and international law, is causing massive suffering and devastation to the country and its people, and adding to the global economic dislocation triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic”. He added, “Tensions between major powers are at an historic high. So are the risks of conflict, through misadventure or miscalculation.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russia’s Lavrov warns about world being on ‘dangerous threshold’, slammed by West at UNSC

Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, has called for a "major course correction" in the functioning of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stating that "India, the world's largest democracy, along with entire continents of Africa and Latin America, are being kept out of global decision-making."

Speaking at a UNSC meeting organised by Russia on the topic of "Effective Multilateralism through the Defense of the Principles of the UN Charter," Kamboj emphasised the need to reform the UNSC and widen its representation to more developing countries for its effectiveness and credibility.

"Our starting premise has to be widening the representation of this core institution, the Security Council, to more developing countries for its effectiveness and credibility," said Kamboj. "If we continue to perpetuate the 1945 anachronistic mindset, we will continue to lose the faith our people have in the United Nations."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-inaugurates-indias-first-water-metro-in-kochi-585944">PM Modi inaugurates India's first water metro in Kochi</a>

Kamboj questioned the effectiveness of practising "effective multilateralism" by defending a Charter that makes "five nations more equal than others and provides each of those five the power to ignore the collective will of the remaining 188 member states". China, Russia, UK, France, and the US are the five permanent members of the UNSC and can veto any issue.

"Can we practise 'multilateralism effectively' in the 21st century through a body that celebrates the principle 'to the victor belong the spoils' privileged more than three generations ago?" asked Kamboj. Last September, at the annual UNGA session, 70 world leaders called for the reforms of the UN.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Lithuania's Ambassador Diana Mickeviciene speaks to WION on ties with India, China

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India has been long calling for reforms of the UNSC, being the 5th largest economy and set to be the most populated country by mid-year. When it comes to the 5-veto holding permanent members, all countries—Russia, US, UK and France have supported India's bid to be permanent members barring one-China.

 
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Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, has called for a "major course correction" in the functioning of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stating that "India, the world's largest democracy, along with entire continents of Africa and Latin America, are being kept out of global decision-making.

Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, has called for a "major course correction" in the functioning of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stating that "India, the world's largest democracy, along with entire continents of Africa and Latin America, are being kept out of global decision-making." Speaking at a UNSC meeting organised by Russia on the topic of "Effective Multilateralism through the Defense of the Principles of the UN Charter," Kamboj emphasised the need to reform the UNSC and widen its representation to more developing countries for its effectiveness and credibility. "Our starting premise has to be widening the representation of this core institution, the Security Council, to more developing countries for its effectiveness and credibility," said Kamboj. "If we continue to perpetuate the 1945 anachronistic mindset, we will continue to lose the faith our people have in the United Nations." ALSO READ | PM Modi inaugurates India's first water metro in Kochi Kamboj questioned the effectiveness of practising "effective multilateralism" by defending a Charter that makes "five nations more equal than others and provides each of those five the power to ignore the collective will of the remaining 188 member states". China, Russia, UK, France, and the US are the five permanent members of the UNSC and can veto any issue. "Can we practise 'multilateralism effectively' in the 21st century through a body that celebrates the principle 'to the victor belong the spoils' privileged more than three generations ago?" asked Kamboj. Last September, at the annual UNGA session, 70 world leaders called for the reforms of the UN. ALSO WATCH | Lithuania's Ambassador Diana Mickeviciene speaks to WION on ties with India, China India has been long calling for reforms of the UNSC, being the 5th largest economy and set to be the most populated country by mid-year. When it comes to the 5-veto holding permanent members, all countries—Russia, US, UK and France have supported India's bid to be permanent members barring one-China. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian ambassador to UN highlights India's exclusion from global decision-making, calls for UNSC reforms

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed a security council meeting. He talked about maintaining world peace and security. Listen in to the video to know more.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov chairs UNSC meeting, speaks on maintaining world peace

Russian officials, on Sunday (April 23) said visas were never issued for their country’s media representatives who were supposed to accompany the foreign minister for the upcoming United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting in New York, United States. This comes as Moscow has taken over the presidency of the UNSC&nbsp;in April which Kyiv has said was a “slap in the face”.&nbsp;

Russia fumes over US’ move

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, on Sunday, took to the messaging app, Telegram and said, “Speaking about the US real treatment of journalists. There are 40 minutes left before their departure. They (journalists) are all at the airport. They have no visas. The US Embassy replied to a our relevant request that ‘they work on it’”.&nbsp;

She added, “It’s an obvious manipulation of the freedom of speech and infringement on the rights of journalists.” Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “We won't forget, we will not forgive this,” referring to Washington’s supposed move. He also denounced it as a “stupid” failure of the US to give visas to Russian journalists.&nbsp;

“A country that calls itself the strongest, smartest, freest and fairest, chickened out,” said the Russian foreign minister, as per AFP, adding that this shows “the worth of their solemn assurances on freedom of speech.” This comes as Moscow has strongly tightened conditions to obtain the accreditations needed to get journalist visas in Russia.&nbsp;

Washington is yet to respond to these allegations.&nbsp;

The Russian foreign minister is said to chair several UNSC meetings in New York. However, Moscow’s UNSC presidency has drawn criticism from Kyiv which has previously called it a “slap in the face”.&nbsp;

Russia warns of retaliatory steps

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, “We will find formats to respond to this so that the Americans remember for a long time that such things must not be done,” he was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.&nbsp;

Citing a Russian diplomatic source, TASS reported that the US should not doubt that American journalists will feel maximally uncomfortable after Washington’s non-issuance of visas to Russian journalists.&nbsp;

Russian journalists also told news agency TASS that the US embassy in Moscow has not yet returned their passports and claimed they were invited to the embassy on visa-related matters on April 22 before the minister’s departure.&nbsp;

No plans for Lavrov-Blinken meeting&nbsp;

“There are no such plans. As a matter of fact, we have no agenda to be discussed by the ministers at this point,” said Ryabkov, on Sunday, ahead of the Russian delegation’s departure to New York, when asked about a possible meeting between the Russian foreign minister and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Russian officials, on Sunday (April 23) said visas were never issued for their country’s media representatives who were supposed to accompany the foreign minister for the upcoming United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting in New York, United States.

Russian officials, on Sunday (April 23) said visas were never issued for their country’s media representatives who were supposed to accompany the foreign minister for the upcoming United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting in New York, United States. This comes as Moscow has taken over the presidency of the UNSC in April which Kyiv has said was a “slap in the face”. Russia fumes over US’ move Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, on Sunday, took to the messaging app, Telegram and said, “Speaking about the US real treatment of journalists. There are 40 minutes left before their departure. They (journalists) are all at the airport. They have no visas. The US Embassy replied to a our relevant request that ‘they work on it’”. She added, “It’s an obvious manipulation of the freedom of speech and infringement on the rights of journalists.” Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “We won't forget, we will not forgive this,” referring to Washington’s supposed move. He also denounced it as a “stupid” failure of the US to give visas to Russian journalists. “A country that calls itself the strongest, smartest, freest and fairest, chickened out,” said the Russian foreign minister, as per AFP, adding that this shows “the worth of their solemn assurances on freedom of speech.” This comes as Moscow has strongly tightened conditions to obtain the accreditations needed to get journalist visas in Russia. Washington is yet to respond to these allegations. The Russian foreign minister is said to chair several UNSC meetings in New York. However, Moscow’s UNSC presidency has drawn criticism from Kyiv which has previously called it a “slap in the face”. Russia warns of retaliatory steps Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, “We will find formats to respond to this so that the Americans remember for a long time that such things must not be done,” he was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. Citing a Russian diplomatic source, TASS reported that the US should not doubt that American journalists will feel maximally uncomfortable after Washington’s non-issuance of visas to Russian journalists. Russian journalists also told news agency TASS that the US embassy in Moscow has not yet returned their passports and claimed they were invited to the embassy on visa-related matters on April 22 before the minister’s departure. No plans for Lavrov-Blinken meeting “There are no such plans. As a matter of fact, we have no agenda to be discussed by the ministers at this point,” said Ryabkov, on Sunday, ahead of the Russian delegation’s departure to New York, when asked about a possible meeting between the Russian foreign minister and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘We will not forgive’: Moscow fumes after US allegedly denied visas to Russian journalists for UN visit

The United Nations Security Council, the United Nations own website says 'it is the responsibility of this council to maintain International peace'. But the question is this that will it live up to its own expectations?

The never-changing UNSC: Why no permanent UNSC seat for India? | World News | WION

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