Don’t wait for cataclysmic crisis to foster reforms: India tells UNSC
February 17, 2016, 5:40 am

File photo: Samantha Power, the US permanent representative to the UN, in a jubilant moment at the UNSC [Xinhua]

“It is ironical that the Security Council is working towards the establishment of democracy and Rule of Law in various parts of the world when its own house is not in order,” Indian envoy to the UN Syed Akbaruddin said.

“The current structure and methods of work of the Security Council are divorced from reality and represent a bygone era,” he told the UNSC at a recent meet.

BRICS countries have repeatedly criticised the delay in implementing reforms at the UNSC, the body tasked with keeping international peace.

Akbaruddin said that to regain “its legitimacy there is no option but for the Security Council to reform.”

The terse remarks were made by Akbaruddin during an open debate ‘Respect to the Principles and Purposes of the Charter of the United Nations as Key Element for the Maintenance of International Peace and Security’ at the UN Security Council.

“We hope it does not require a cataclysmic crisis to foster this fundamental change. There has never been a greater need for reform of the Council which is a sine qua non for the optimal efficiency of the Council and would be the real form of tribute to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,” he said.

Akbaruddin said while terrorism remains a cardinal threat to the maintenance of international peace and security, the efforts of the United Nations and the Security Council in taking decisive action to combat terrorism leaves much to be desired.

It has been noticed that even brazen public violations of the sanctions regime by listed individuals and entities, far from attracting punitive measures, do not even elicit the mildest censure, Akbaruddin said.

“Yet, we the general membership of the UN are expected to comply with the decisions of the Council’s Sanctions Committees decisions or lack thereof,” he said.

Observing that the Council has taken the lead in referring to the purposes and principles of the Charter while attempting to maintain international peace and security, he said, however, its own actions have not always been in the spirit of the Charter.

Since 2013 South Africa has demanded that the African continent must have at least two permanent seats at the UNSC.

With more than 80 per cent of issues taken up by the Security Council relating to African affairs and not a single permanent member from Africa, the UN has battled with issues of legitimacy and representativeness.

The UNSC, which has powers to authorize military action, impose sanctions and set up peacekeeping operations, has 10 rotating members. The US, China, Russia, France and Britain are permanent members which wield a veto.

BRICS members, India, South Africa and Brazil have bid for permanent membership of the UNSC.

The 54-nation African continent has a representation of only three non-permanent members without veto power in the UNSC.

“The agenda of the UN Security Council is about us without us. The AU will reiterate calls for the reform of the UNSC,” South African Foreign Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said last year.

TBP and Agencies