India on Thursday got a major shot in the arm on support for reform of the UN Security Council after the chairperson of the African Union — Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe — lashed out at the UN, s
India on Thursday got a major shot in the arm on support for reform of the UN Security Council after the chairperson of the African Union — Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe — lashed out at the UN, saying the permanent members of the Security Council have to listen to the voices of India and Africa.
Mr Mugabe sought two permanent positions for Africa in the UNSC and supported a permanent place for India as well in the elite club. “We seek equality. Hear us, you who call yourselves permanent members of the UNSC,” Mr Mugabe said. Prime Minister Modi, too, spoke forcefully on the issue of UN reform, saying India and Africa must speak in “one voice” in pushing for reform of the UNSC and cautioning that the UN ran the risk of becoming irrelevant unless it adjusted to the changing world. On the menace of terrorism, he pointed to the need of having a UN Comprehensive Conven-tion on International Terrorism.
Calling India Africa’s geological twin, President Mugabe said Africa would not accept being treated as a “dwarf” by the UN Security Council. “We are saying let us amend the Charter of the UN,” he said, adding, “We (Africa) have remained as underdogs at UN whereas we should have been treated as equal to others.” He also referred to nations which had earlier plundered Africa’s wealth, saying the Africans were not even respected despite this. He thanked India for its development works in Africa but said there should be a “robust evaluation and follow-up mechanism” as some of the projects have been delayed. “These are gifts highly appreciated by us. These do not come from those who have robbed us of our humanity,” the Zimbabwean President said.
On the need for UN reforms, Prime Minister Modi said, “This is a milestone year when we are setting the agenda for our future and celebrating the 70th anniversary of the United Nations. ... Yet our global institutions reflect the circumstances of the century that we left behind, not the one we are in today. These institutions have served us well, but unless they adjust to the changing world, they risk becoming irrelevant. We cannot say what will replace them in an uncertain future. But, we might have a more fragmented world that is less capable of dealing with the challenges of our era. That is why India advocates reforms in global institutions. This is a world of free nations and awakened aspirations. Our institutions cannot be representative of our world if they do not give voice to Africa, with more than a quarter of UN members, or the world’s largest democracy with one sixth of humanity. That is why India and Africa must speak in one voice for reforms of the United Nations, including its Security Council.”
On terrorism, Prime Minister Modi said, “When terror snuffs out life on the streets and beaches, and in malls and schools of Africa, we feel your pain as our own. And we see the links that unite us against this threat. We also see that when our oceans are no longer safe for trade, we all suffer together. And when nations are caught in conflict within, no one around remains untouched. ... That is why we wish to deepen our cooperation in maritime security and hydrography, and countering terrorism and extremism; and, why we must have a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.”
