India Wraps Up UNSC Presidency With Focus On Terrorism, Global South
With a particular emphasis on terrorism, the Global South, and maritime security, India wrapped off its UN Security Council (UNSC) December Presidency on Thursday (local time).
Speaking during the UN Security Council’s final meeting of the year at the end of India’s two-year term, Ruchira Kamboj, India’s permanent representative to the UN, said, “We did not hesitate to raise our voice against the shared enemy of humanity, such as terrorism.”
Speaking on the need for reforms at the UNSC, she said, “We were acutely aware of the fact that reform of the Security Council is the need of the hour. This conviction has only been strengthened after our tenure. As we exit the Council, this tenure, we remain convinced that the more there is resistance to change, the more the danger that the decisions of this body stand the risk of losing relevance and credibility.”
On December 31, India’s non-permanent membership in the UNSC will expire. Diplomats from Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and Norway who were slated to leave the UNSC after a two-year tenure also spoke at the closing session.”On behalf of the Council, I would also like to express the sincere appreciation of the Council to the five outgoing members, namely, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway. I commend their hard work and contributions during their terms on the Security Council,” she said.
Regarding India’s goals in the UNSC, she said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had stated in September 2020, when New Delhi first joined the Council, that India would utilise its status as the greatest democracy in the world for the benefit of all people.
“During the last two years, we spoke out in support of peace, security and prosperity. We did not hesitate in raising our voices against the common enemies of humanity, such as terrorism. We were conscious that when we spoke in the Security Council, we were speaking on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians or one 6th of humanity. But we are also conscious of the fact that we were also the voice of the Global South during our tenure,” said Ms Kamboj.
She said India reaffirmed and strengthened its commitment to the fundamental principles of multilateralism, the rule of law, and a just and equitable international order while highlighting issues of particular relevance to the developing countries.
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