United Nations: Concerned over the UN
Security Council encroaching upon the General Assembly's
agenda, India has said the balance between the world body's
principal organs must be "maintained and respected" and the
centrality of the United Nations restored.
"There has been an increasing tendency to undermine the
prerogatives and authority of the General Assembly by
encroachment of its agenda by the Security Council," Hardeep
Singh Puri, India's envoy to the UN told the UNGA.
At a special debate on 'Revitalisation of the General
Assembly' at the UN headquarters here, Puri noted that the
General Assembly should take a lead in setting the global
agenda and restore the centrality of the UN.
"It is important that the balance between the principal
organs of the United Nations, envisaged in the Charter, must
be maintained and respected," he added.
The Indian diplomat said India was particularly concerned
with the Council's encroachment on issues that have
traditionally been within the Assembly's agenda such as the
process of standard-setting and codification of international
law.
"Of concern also is the holding of thematic debates in
the Security Council on issues that frequently fall within the
purview of the General Assembly or the Economic and Social
Council," he said.
Puri also underlined the need for the GA, as the "voice
of the international community," to play a greater role in the
process of selection of the Secretary-General while not just
playing second fiddle to Security Council in the operation.
He highlighted the UN Charter provisions on Assembly's
power of appointment, due regard to regional rotation and
gender equality, and the possibility of the President of the
General Assembly consulting with member states to identify
potential candidates.
"While the Security Council itself must change to reflect
contemporary realities and expand its membership in both
permanent and non-permanent categories, the General Assembly
cannot remain bound by self-imposed restrictions reflecting an
era gone by," Puri said.
"The General Assembly's role cannot be merely to
rubber-stamp the recommendation of the Security Council," he
added.
India's ambassador to the UN also called for the Security
Council to improve the quality of reports it presented to the
Assembly, and highlighted the need for the Assembly to have a
much greater say in the international economic and financial
matters.
"The UN Conference on the 'World Financial and Economic
Crisis and Its Impact on Development' has successfully
demonstrated the convening power that the General Assembly can
exercise on such global issues," he said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, November 20, 2009, 15:47