Friday 26 / April / 2024
United Nations: India on Monday asked the global community to urgently adopt a long-pending global treaty on terrorism as well as implement the UN Security Council reform, saying the world today needs a more contemporary approach to combating terrorism and a Council that is less outdated.
Highlighting the two pending tasks of General Assembly, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said despite the passage of two decades, the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, which was proposed by India in 1996, is yet to be implemented.
"...we will be judged by our action and equally by our inaction. What goals have we achieved and what objectives remain unfulfilled?," she said.
"As a result, we are unable to develop a norm under which terrorists shall be prosecuted or extradited. Therefore it is my appeal that this General Assembly acts with fresh resolve and urgency to adopt this critical Convention," she said.
On Security Council reform, Swaraj said just as the world needs a more contemporary approach to combating terrorism, there is also need for a Security Council that is less outdated and that continues to reflect the world order of an earlier era.
"The vast majority of nations share the belief that the UN should not remain frozen in 1945, just to serve the interests of a few. Whether it is institutions or issues, we must come to terms with present day realities and the challenges that confront us," she said.
Swaraj added that an expansion in the Permanent and non-Permanent membership of the Council to reflect contemporary realities is an urgent necessity.
"We must move forward substantively towards text-based negotiations. If both these long pending issues are addressed during your Presidency, the success of this Session will be ensured," she said.
"The 21st century has begun in the shadow of turmoil, but we can turn this into a golden age in the history of civilisation through united and concerted efforts. But what happens tomorrow will depend on what we do today," she said.
Swaraj also said India will continue to play a leading role in combating climate change but asked developed nations to fulfill their responsibilities through more contribution to finance and technology transfer.
She said climate change is a serious challenge confronting the world as there are "enough resources on this planet to fulfill everyone's needs but not enough to fulfill anyone's greed since greed is limitless".
She told the 193-member UN body that India will submit its Instrument of Ratification of the Paris Agreement on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi who "epitomised a lifestyle with the smallest carbon footprint".
"I assure this assembly that India will continue to play a leading role in combating climate change," she said while noting that in the Paris Agreement, the principle of 'Common but Differentiated Responsibilities' and 'Respective Capabilities' has been acknowledged and accepted.
"This makes clear that while our responsibility is common, obligations are different. Developed nations must discharge their responsibility in the search for the common good, with finance and technology transfer," Swaraj said as she referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call for "climate justice".
Swaraj pointed out that India has launched an ambitious domestic effort to transform its energy mix to achieve 40 per cent energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
"The massive investments required to entail a predictable and stable environment towards which we are working actively. Apart from this, our path-breaking initiative for an International Solar Alliance is intended to make efficient solar technology available for all," she said in her nearly 20-minute speech in Hindi.
Swaraj underlined that the true challenge of the current times is to end the "curse of harsh poverty" that still lurks in so many corners of the world and to ensure that the fruits of growing prosperity reach those who need it most.
Swaraj said nations must take forward the mission of gender equality and protect women where there is gender regression and ensure peace across boundaries, "because there can be no prosperity without peace".
She noted that the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are matched by the development vision of the Modi government, which is geared towards the achievement of these same objectives through various flagship programmes such as 'Swachh Bharat Mission', 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao', 'Make in India', 'Jan Dhan Yojana', 'Digital India' and 'Skill India'.
"These initiatives have added a new dimension to India's growth story, making it the fastest growing major economy in the world at a time of slow global growth," she said.
Noting that 1/6th of humanity lives in India, Swaraj said global success in realising SDGs depends on the success achieved in India.
"We are committed to the wholehearted implementation of the Agenda 2030 as a national effort," she said, adding that it has been decided to dedicate one day in each session of the Parliament for discussions only on SDGs in order to constantly monitor their progress.
"However, in a globalised world, national effort needs to be supplemented by international cooperation for the successful implementation of Agenda 2030. We must curb reckless consumption, and adopt lifestyles in harmony with nature," she said, noting that Yoga, the storehouse of India's ancient wisdom, epitomises a sustainable lifestyle.
