India questioned UNSC effectiveness to address contemporary challenges, global security

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau

UNITED NATIONS, 25th Feb. Indian Ambassador to the UN, Ms. Ruchira Kamboj on Thursday reiterated India’s position in the Russia-Ukraine war and said that dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable way out.

Ruchira Kamboj questioned the fundamental structure of the Security Council and asked if the principal organ is not effective in dealing with contemporary challenges to global peace and security.

She was addressing the UN General Assembly Eleventh Emergency Special Session on Ukraine asked, “Has the UN system, and particularly its principal organ, the UN Security Council, based on a 1945-world construct, not been rendered ineffective to address contemporary challenges to global peace and security?”

“Are we anywhere near a possible solution acceptable to both sides? Can any process that does not involve either of the two sides, ever lead to a credible and meaningful solution?” she further asked.

She said “India remains steadfastly committed to multilateralism and upholds the principles of the UN Charter. We will always call for dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable way out. While we take note of the stated objective of today’s Resolution, given its inherent limitations in reaching our desired goal of securing a lasting peace, we are constrained to abstain.”

India, China and Pakistan abstained on the UNGA resolution on the need to reach comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

The resolution received 141 voted in favor, 32 abstained, including China and India and 7 voted against it.

Ms. Kamboj quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement and said, “We have consistently advocated that no solution can ever arrive at the cost of human lives. In this context, our Prime Minister’s statement that this cannot be an era of war bears reiteration. Escalation of hostilities and violence is in no one’s interest, instead, an urgent return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward.”

She said that international principles and jurisprudence vest responsibility on parties to the conflict to ensure that civilians and civilian infrastructure are not targeted in situations of armed conflicts.

Ambassador Kamboj stated that India’s approach to the Ukraine conflict would continue to be people-centric. India is providing both humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and economic support to some of the neighbors in the Global South under economic distress, even as they stare at the escalating costs of food, fuel, and fertilizers – which has been a consequential fallout of the ongoing conflict.

“India continued to remain concerned over the situation in Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in the loss of countless lives and misery, particularly for women, children, and the elderly, with millions becoming homeless and forced to seek shelter in neighboring countries. Reports of attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are also deeply worrying,” she concluded.