India calls for upholding the purpose and principle of UN Charter at UNSC

By India Strategic Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, September 22. India on Friday iterated its concern over the situation in Ukraine, its collateral consequences on the world. Suggesting it was time to introspect whether an acceptable solution was possible and the efficacy of the UN and the Security, it stressed on the need for reforms in the world body.

Underscoring the country always advocated that neither can any solution be found at the cost of human lives nor escalation of hostilities and violence was in no one’s interest, New Delhi said it subscribes to global order based on international law, principles of the UN Charter and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all States, in its statement at the UN, India said “these principles must be upheld, without exception”.

Taking part in the open debate at the UN Security Council at New York, India, stressed that the only way to settle differences and disputes was through dialogue. The process must be followed irrespective of how daunting it may appear at the moment. “The path to peace requires us to keep all channels of diplomacy open”.

The impact of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine led to rise in prices of food, fuel and fertilisers which has affected the world in general and the member states of Global South in particular, who are now left to fend for themselves.

Lending its voice behind the disadvantaged countries, India said it is critical that these voices were heard and their legitimate concerns addressed. During the G-20 Presidency, India said it ensured that some of these economic pitfalls faced by developing countries were brought to the fore of the G20 Agenda. A road-map was agreed upon through a consensus-based approach to provide a debt-free solution.

“At the present juncture, we must pause and ask ourselves two pressing questions: One, are we anywhere near a possible solution acceptable? And if not, why is it that the UN system, and particularly its principal organ, this very UN Security Council, mandated to primarily maintain international peace and security, rendered completely ineffective to the resolution of the ongoing conflict?

For multilateralism to be effective, India said outdated and archaic structures need reform and reinventing, else their credibility will always be on the wane. Unless this systemic flaw was corrected, the world body would continue to be found wanting.

India said it continues to advocate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s view that “this is not an era of war”. On the contrary, it is a time for development and cooperation. It is indeed vital that we continue to believe in the promise of diplomacy and that eventually, it is always dialogue and diplomacy that delivers.