I now give the floor to his Excellency
Minister for external affairs of India
Mr. President, Excellencies,
Distinguished Members of the General Assembly, I bring to you the greetings of 1.3
billion plus people from the world’s largest democracy.
They join me in congratulating you, Mr. President, on your election to chair
the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly.
They follow closely developments at the UN, reflecting the increasingly globalized
nature of our existence.
We meet at a challenging time for the world order. This session’s
theme - “A Watershed Moment: Transformative Solutions to
Interlocking Challenges” – seeks to capture its seriousness.
Excellencies, The year 2022 is
an important milestone in India’s journey towards growth, development and prosperity.
India is celebrating 75 years of its independence,
what we call “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
The story of that period has been one of toil, determination, innovation
and enterprise of millions of ordinary Indians.
They are rejuvenating a society pillaged by centuries of foreign attacks and colonialism.
And they are doing so in a democratic framework, whose steady
progress is reflected in more authentic voices and grounded
leadership. This ‘New India’
, under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
is a confident and resurgent society. Its agenda for our
centenary will be achieved through the five pledges that we committed
to on Independence Day. One, we are resolved to
make India a developed country in the next 25 years. For the world, that creates
more capacities for global good.
Two, we will liberate ourselves from a colonial mindset.
Externally, this means reformed multilateralism and more
contemporary global governance. Three, our rich civilizational heritage
will be a source of pride and strength.
This includes care and concern for the environment, so ingrained in our
traditional ethos. Four, we will promote
greater unity and solidarity. This expresses a coming together on global
issues, such as terrorism, pandemics or the environment.
And five, instilling consciousness of duties and responsibilities.
This applies to nations, as much as it does to citizens.
These five pledges affirm our age-old outlook that sees the world
as one family. We believe that national good and global good can
be entirely in harmony.
It is this conviction that led us to supply vaccines to over 100
nations. Similarly, our evacuation operations in HADR
(Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) situations
always have had room for other nationals in distress.
Even as we meet our own development targets, India offers
partnerships to our brothers and sisters in Asia, Africa and Latin
America. And we do so based on their needs and priorities.
Today, that focus is on green growth,
better connectivity, digital delivery and accessible health.
Our solidarity is not just words; you can see them in 700 projects across the world.
Mr. President, Even while India contributes
to global betterment, we recognize the sharp deterioration in the
international landscape. The world is already struggling with challenges
of post pandemic economic recovery. The debt situation
of the developing is precarious. To this, is now added the rising
costs and shrinking availability of fuel, food and fertilizers.
These, along with trade disruptions and diversions, are among the many
consequences of the Ukraine conflict.
The Indo-Pacific too witnesses fresh concerns about its stability
and security. And climate events have added an overlay on these
mounting anxieties. As we saw in the case of the Covid pandemic,
the South will be most impacted, even if
the immediate causes are well beyond. It is imperative that global conversations
recognize this unfairness.
The inequity of vaccine distribution should not be replicated in other domains.
Mr. President, As the Ukraine conflict continues to rage,
we are often asked whose side we are on.
And our answer, each time, is straight and honest.
India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there.
We are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding
principles. We are on the side that calls
for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way out.
We are on the side of those struggling to make ends meet, even
as they stare at escalating costs of food, fuel and fertilizers.
It is therefore in our collective interest to work constructively,
both within the United Nations and outside, in finding an early
resolution to this conflict.
Excellencies, While the global
attention has been on Ukraine, India has also had to contend with other challenges,
especially in its own neighbourhood.
Some of them may be aggravated by the Covid pandemic and
ongoing conflicts; but they speak too of a deeper malaise. The
accumulation of debt in fragile economies is of particular
concern. We believe that
in such times, the international community must rise above narrow national agendas.
India, for its part, is taking exceptional measures in exceptional times.
We do so, when we sent 50,000 metric tons of wheat and multiple
tranches of medicines and vaccines to Afghanistan. When we extend credits of 3.8
billion dollars to Sri Lanka for fuel, essential commodities and trade settlement.
When we supplied 10,000 metric tons of food aid and vaccine
shipments to Myanmar. When we fill the gap in humanitarian
needs left unaddressed by political complexity.
Whether it is disaster response or humanitarian assistance, India
has stood strong, contributing particularly to those nearest
to us.
Excellencies, The world, as we knew it,
is poised for transformational changes. It has been impacted in recent
times by a succession of shocks, each of them significant by itself.
The Covid pandemic called into question the over-centralized
nature of globalization and has led all of us to seek greater
resilience and reliability of supply chains.
The repercussions of the ongoing Ukraine conflict have further
heightened economic stresses, especially on food and energy.
Climate events have added to the disruption that the world is
already facing. As for the promise
of technology, it has certainly multiplied our capabilities but also added to vulnerabilities.
Trust and transparency are legitimate expectations of a more
digitized world. The quest to create a better
global order would necessarily have to address all these issues.
Among them, some are clearly more existential in nature and necessitate
intense coordination by the international community.
Climate action and climate justice are particularly noteworthy
in this respect.
In their pursuit, India has worked with partners on the International Solar Alliance,
the One Sun-One World-One Grid initiative and the Coalition
for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
We stand ready to support any collective and equitable endeavor
to protect our environment and to further global wellness.
“Lifestyle for Environment” or LiFE, as declared by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi in Glasgow on the sidelines of COP26 is
our homage to Mother Nature. India remains deeply committed
to fighting climate change under the UNFCCC (United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change)
and the Paris Agreement. We do so on the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities,
in the light of different national circumstances.
We have announced our updated Nationally Determined Contributions after COP26.
Excellencies, India’s steadfast
commitment to South-South Cooperation is well established. Our approach is
based on principles of mutual respect and national ownership
with a commitment to sustainable development for all.
As we begin the G-20 presidency this December, we are sensitive
to the challenges faced by developing countries. India will work
with other G-20 members to address serious issues of debt,
economic growth, food and energy security and particularly,
environment. The reform of governance of multilateral financial
institutions will continue to be one of our core priorities.
Excellencies, India would be completing its
tenure as a member of the Security Council this year.
In our term, we have acted as a bridge on some serious but divisive issues confronting
the Council. We have also focused on concerns such as
maritime security, peacekeeping and counter terrorism.
Our contributions range from providing technology with a human touch
to ensuring the safety and security of UN Peacekeepers.
As the Chair of the Counter Terrorism Committee this year,
India would be hosting its special meeting in Mumbai and New
Delhi. I invite all member states to participate in it. We need to
create a global architecture that responds to the new tech tools
deployed against open, diverse and pluralistic societies.
Having borne the brunt of cross border terrorism for decades,
India firmly advocates a ‘zero-tolerance’ approach. In our view,
there is no justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of
motivation. And no rhetoric, however sanctimonious
can ever hide blood-stained hands.
The United Nations responds to terrorism by sanctioning its
perpetrators. Those who politicize the UNSC 1267 Sanctions
regime, sometimes to the extent of defending proclaimed
terrorists, do so at their own peril. Believe me, they advance
neither their own interests nor indeed their reputation.
India has always espoused a cooperative, inclusive, and
consultative approach to international relations. We believe that multipolarity, rebalancing,
fair globalization and reformed multilateralism
cannot be kept in abeyance. The call for reformed
multilateralism – with reforms of the Security Council at its core – enjoys
considerable support among UN members.
It does so because of the widespread recognition that the current
architecture is anachronistic and ineffective. It is also perceived
as deeply unfair, denying entire continents and regions a voice
in a forum that deliberates their future.
India is prepared to take up greater responsibilities. But it seeks
at the same time to ensure that the injustice faced by the Global
South is decisively addressed. Our call is to allow serious negotiations
on such a critical matter to proceed sincerely.
They must not be blocked by procedural tactics. Naysayers cannot hold the IGN
process hostage in perpetuity.
In these turbulent times, it is essential that the world listens to
more voices of reason. And experiences more acts of goodwill.
India is willing and able on both counts.
We believe and advocate that this is not an era of war and
conflict. On the contrary, it is a time for development and
cooperation. Mr. President,
In the past, this august assembly has served as a meeting point
of views and a catalyst for action. It is vital that we continue to
believe in the promise of diplomacy and the need for international cooperation.
Therefore, Mr. President, let us strive to return to the course of
seeking peace, progress and prosperity. I thank you.
I thank the minister for external Affairs of India