United Nations General Assembly President Csaba Korosi (File Photo: Arul Louis/IANS)
The resolution reviewing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy reiterated the obligation of all countries to “deny terrorist groups safe haven…writes Arul Louis
The UN General Assembly has called for the adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism that was proposed by India and has been languishing for more than a quarter of a century.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the Assembly urged its 193 members “to make every effort to conclude a comprehensive convention on international terrorism”.
The resolution reviewing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy reiterated the obligation of all countries to “deny terrorist groups safe haven, freedom of operations, movement and recruitment and financial, material or political support” and to bring to justice or extradite terrorists and their supporters.
The Assembly adopted the resolution during the Counter-Terrorism Week at which a high-level meeting was convened and several programmes on fighting the scourge were held.
The main roadblock to adopting the convention proposed by India in 1996 is the definition of terrorists, with some countries claiming that their favoured terrorists are “freedom fighters”.
UN Assembly President Csaba Korosi said, “We must ask ourselves, should we continue to bicker over what constitutes terrorism or violent extremism? To languish in details and remain blind to the bigger picture?”
“Or should we come together and channel all our resources to fight terrorism in all its forms,” he asked, as he called for “political and moral will to act together”.
Speaking at the high-level meeting on Tuesday, India’s Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry, Praveen Vashishta, had said, “Unfortunately, there are also some countries who seek to undermine or subvert our collective resolve to fight terrorism. That cannot be allowed to pass.”
“There cannot be any exception or any justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of motivations behind such acts,” he had said.
It is “vital that we do not take a selective, tactical or even a complacent view of the problems we face” and “must never countenance sanctuaries for terrorists or overlook the raising of their resources”, he had said.
“And when we see state hospitality being extended to those with innocents’ blood on their hands, we should never lack the courage to call out this double-speak,” he added in an obvious reference to Pakistan.
Another element in the resolution of relevance to terrorism from Pakistan asks for cooperation between countries in investigations of terrorism, but it is unlikely to be implemented.
It asked UN members “to provide full coordination and afford one another the greatest measure of assistance” in “criminal investigations or criminal proceedings relating to the financing or support of terrorist acts, especially with those states where, or against whose citizens, terrorist acts are committed, including obtaining evidence for the proceedings involving terrorist organisations, terrorist entities or foreign terrorist fighters”.
It added, “All states must cooperate fully in the fight against terrorism on the basis of mutual legal assistance and the principle of extradite or prosecute.”
New Delhi, Jan 30 (ANI): Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA), meets External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo)
UNGA President Csaba Korosi says that the most complex crisis in the last 70 years is just at hand now and the G20 presidency under India is sailing well…reports Asian Lite News
G20 is witnessing the most complex crisis in the last 70 years, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Csaba Korosi, on Monday (local time), said and added that the presidency under India is sailing well.
“Now there is a new challenge. The most complex crisis in the last 70 years is just at hand now. And the G20 is trying to address this most complex crisis. It is a very difficult issue, particularly that now we are talking about not only financially saving the world, but we are talking about climate, water, social stability, disaster risk reduction, and social security. So it is the biggest task you can have. But I see that the G20 presidency, India is sailing well,” Korosi said in an exclusive interview with ANI. “And I remember my meeting with the Indian G-20 sherpa (Amitabh Kant) and it was one of the most inspiring discussions I had in the last couple of months,” he added.
Talking about the resolution which was adopted by the UNGA to establish a new ‘Memorial Wall’ for fallen Peacekeepers that India piloted, Korosi said that it was long overdue.
“There are many, many servicemen and women who brought their ultimate sacrifice for world security and peace. Many of them were Indians. And I was very happy when I saw that India championing this resolution in the General Assembly could garner 190 countries co-sponsoring the resolution. It means it is a cause that is equally important for all of us. And I’m very, very happy that this role in the memory of the fallen servicemen and women will be created right now,” he stated.
Calling out India as a potential superpower country, the UNGA Chief said that in terms of population, economy, science and technology India is rapidly rising.
#WATCH | New York, US | Csaba Kőrösi, President of the United Nations General Assembly, speaks on PM Narendra Modi joining the United Nations Headquarters on International Yoga Day, he said, "I had the pleasure of meeting Prime Minister Modi a few months ago in New Delhi. I was… pic.twitter.com/ZX0f0dVXis
He also recalled his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “I met Prime Minister Modi a couple of months ago in New Delhi, and I had a deep impression after our meeting. A person with vision, a person with strategic thinking, a person who has a very deep tradition bringing with himself a very deep tradition of a nation and a clear vision of where modern India should look like. And I’m very happy to greet him. He is very much welcome in the United Nations. He’s one of the most highly respected leaders in the world coming here in a short period of time. India is one of the biggest countries in the world.” (ANI)
Csaba Koro arrived in India on Sunday on a three-day visit. Korosi on Monday delivered the 40th Sapru House Lecture on ‘Solution through Solidarity, Sustainability and Science at the UN’ in New Delhi…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (PGA). The two leaders discussed the importance of conserving and optimising global water resources.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to multilateralism including at the United Nations. “Happy to welcome @UN_PGA Csaba Korosi on his first visit to India. Reaffirmed India’s commitment to multilateralism, including at the UN. We discussed the importance of conserving and optimising global water resources. Welcomed his support for #G20India,” PM Modi said in a tweet.
Happy to welcome @UN_PGA Csaba Kőrösi on his first visit to India. Reaffirmed India's commitment to multilateralism, including at the UN. We discussed the importance of conserving and optimising global water resources. Welcomed his support for #G20India. pic.twitter.com/nLbLv1rYtg
Earlier, UNGA president met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as he hosted him for a millet lunch. The two leaders also discussed the G20 agenda, UN reform, and the Ukraine conflict.
“Welcomed President of General Assembly Csaba Korosi, hosting him for a millet lunch. Discussed global challenges, UN reform, the Ukraine conflict and the G20 agenda. Assured him of India’s fullest support in developmental progress and reformed multilateralism,” the minister said in a tweet.
Csaba Koro arrived in India on Sunday on a three-day visit. Korosi on Monday delivered the 40th Sapru House Lecture on ‘Solution through Solidarity, Sustainability and Science at the UN’ in New Delhi.
Jaishankar holds talks
The President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Csaba Korosi was welcomed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday as he hosted him for a millet lunch. The two leaders also discussed the G20 agenda, UN reform, and the Ukraine conflict.
During the meeting, Jaishankar assured Korosi of India’s support in developmental progress and reformed multilateralism. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar tweeted, “Welcomed President of General Assembly Csaba Korosi, hosting him for a millet lunch. Discussed global challenges, UN reform, the Ukraine conflict and the G20 agenda. Assured him of India’s fullest support in developmental progress and reformed multilateralism.”
The Hungarian diplomat who assumed his role as President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2022, arrived in India on Sunday on a three-day visit at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Csaba Korosi praised India’s demands for peace in Ukraine and around the world on Monday.
“We are approaching the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine that caused suffering and displacement. A war that has unleashed an energy and food crisis across the globe. I commend India for your calls for peace in Ukraine and across the world,” Korosi said while delivering the 40th Sapru House Lecture.
New Delhi, Jan 30 (ANI): Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA), meets External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo)
Bagchi also shared an image of Korosi with India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, and Joint Secretary (UNP), Ministry of External Affairs, Prakash Gupta…reports Asian Lite News
United Nations General Assembly President Csaba Korosi met G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, saying that G20 provides an important platform to exchange ideas and solutions.
Taking to Twitter, Korosi said, “G20 provides an important platform to exchange ideas & much-needed solutions. Good to meet again with @g20org Sherpa @amitabhk87 & team to discuss measures/solutions devised under ‘s leadership of the group to support transformation.” Kant tweeted that they held a fascinating discussion on the geopolitical scenario, multilateralism, and global supply chains at the working dinner, which was hosted by Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Deputy Executive Director UN Women, Lakshmi M Puri.
#G20 provides an important platform to exchange ideas & much needed solutions.
Good to meet again with 🇮🇳 @g20org Sherpa @amitabhk87 & team to discuss measures/solutions devised under 🇮🇳’s leadership of the group to support transformation. pic.twitter.com/36iWpraqOg
On Sunday, Korosi arrived in India for a three-day visit. Ministry of External Affairs Official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet on Sunday said that Korosi’s visit is an opportunity to exchange views on global challenges that the United Nations is currently seized with.
“A warm welcome to @UN_PGA Csaba Korosi to India. This is his first bilateral visit to any country. An opportunity to exchange views on global challenges that the United Nations is currently seized with,” Bagchi tweeted on Sunday.
Bagchi also shared an image of Korosi with India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, and Joint Secretary (UNP), Ministry of External Affairs, Prakash Gupta.
Korosi upon his arrival to India, tweeted: “Namaste, India. Glad to be in New Delhi, to commence my first bilateral visit as PGA. Heartened by the very warm welcome by PR @ruchirakamboj, UNRC @ShombiSharp, @MEAIndia Joint Secretary UNP @PrakashMEA.”
Namaste, India 🇮🇳.
Glad to be in New Delhi, to commence my first bilateral visit as PGA.
A press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said that Korosi at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister, will visit India from January 29-31, 2023 and the visit will be Korosi’s first bilateral visit to any country since he assumed UNGA Presidency in September 2022.
The release said that the PGA during the visit will hold talks with EAM on key multilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. PGA has outlined five priorities for his UNGA Presidency: i) Standing firm on basic principles of the United Nations Charter; ii) Making significant and measurable progress in sustainability transformation; iii) Aiming at integrated, systemic solutions; iv) Enhancing role of science in decision-making; and v) Increasing solidarity to better endure new chapters of crises facing the world.
According to the ministry release, given PGA’s strong interest in India’s expertise in water management and experience in SDG’s, he would also be interacting with senior officials of NITI Aayog and India’s G20 Presidency team to explore the scaling up of India’s best practices. On 30 January, PGA will deliver a public address at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on his Presidency theme of “Solutions through Solidarity, Sustainability and Science in the UN”.
Korosi will pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on January 30, the occasion of Martyrs Day.
He will travel to Bengaluru on January 31, where he will interact with scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). He will pay a field visit to an IISc-led water conservation project. PGA is expected to visit development projects in/around Bengaluru and interact with the UN- India country team. The Governor of Karnataka would be hosting a dinner in his honour.
According to the ministry press release, PGA’s visit to India would help reinforce India’s abiding commitment to multilateralism, including through its ongoing G20 Presidency. (ANI)
Csaba Korosi, president of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), speaks during the third Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Moment, a high-level event that serves to place an annual spotlight on the SDGs, at the UN headquarters in New York, Sept. 19, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying/IANS)
The visit’s primary goal is to forge links between the General Assembly and science, particularly on the water issue, in advance of the UN-Water Conference in March..reports Asian Lite News
The President of the United Nations General Assembly, Csaba Korosi is all set to make an official visit to India from January 29 to 31 and will hold key meetings on priorities of the General Assembly.
During his visit, the UNGA President will meet with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi, while continuing on topics raised during their last meeting in December like India’s engagement with the UN body, the official statement of the UNGA read. These priorities are also expected to be on the agenda when Korosi visits India’s G20 Secretariat, and meets with a delegation led by Amitabh Kant, the G20 Sherpa.
His trip will also include conversations with government officials, leading national scientists and academics, and include field visits related to sustainable water use, according to the UNGA statement.
President Korosi’s official visit, at the invitation of the Indian government, coincides with the assassination anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and Martyrs’ Day, which the President will commemorate by laying a wreath at Rajghat.
Among his other public appearances in New Delhi, Korosi will give a public address at the Indian Council of World Affairs under the theme of his priorities for the current General Assembly session, which is “Solutions through Solidarity, Sustainability and Science,” the official statement said.
The visit’s primary goal is to forge links between the General Assembly and science, particularly on the water issue, in advance of the UN-Water Conference in March.
The President will discuss India’s water conservation projects with senior officials and experts at the National Institute for Transforming India, otherwise known as NITI Aayog, a commission whose primary responsibility is to implement and coordinate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) efforts in India.
The President is scheduled to participate in field visits in Bengaluru, where he will visit a water project site. While in the city, the President will also interact with national scientists and academics at the Indian Institute of Science.
The President will also meet with the UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp.
During the visit, Korosi will be joined by his Chef de Cabinet, Laszlo Szoke, the Chief Scientific Advisor, Johannes Cullmann, and two senior office colleagues.
Notably, the costs of the visit are covered by the Government and the OPGA Trust Fund. All efforts are made to keep the President’s trips as cost, time and environmentally efficient as possible.
Meanwhile, after wrapping up his India visit, Korosi will head to China, where he will visit the International Research Centre of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals, which facilitates the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In China, the UNGA President will also meet with senior government officials in the country.
Later Korosi is slated to visit Japan in the middle of February where the UNGA President will participate in a conference on water resilience, among other objectives, the official statement read. (ANI)
Csaba Korosi (at the podium and on the screens), president of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, speaks at the first plenary of the 77th session of the General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 13, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying/IANS)
Another high-level delegate to praise India was Jamaica Foreign Minister Kamina J Smith, who expressed gratitude towards India for its assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic…reports Asian Lite News
At the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session India has been winning praise from several developing and developed nations both for its economic and foreign policy.
Some of the most powerful voices, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and French President Emmanuel Macron have referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India in a positive light. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also acknowledged the key role India can play in the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Countries like France, Jamaica and Portugal also heaped praise on India.
“It is not for revenge against the West or for opposing the West against the east. It is the time for a collective time for our sovereign equal states. To cope together with challenges, we face,” Macron said while referring to the conversation between PM Modi and Putin during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Samarkand.
UN chief Guterres, in his message to a special ‘India@75’ event on showcasing the ‘India-UN Partnership in Action’, underlined that as home to the largest youth generation in history, India will be decisive in the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov “explicitly’ backed India for a permanent seat, straight 60 minutes after he met up with his Indian counterpart. Addressing the UNGA session, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov said that the country sees India as a “key international actor” and a “worthy candidate for permanent membership within the Council.”
Another high-level delegate to praise India was Jamaica Foreign Minister Kamina J Smith, who expressed gratitude towards India for its assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At UNGA, Bhutan lauds India for Vaccine Maitri; FM Tandi Dorji says his country's vaccination was possible "due to the heart warming goodwill of friends and partners, including India, whose Vaccine Maitri initiative enabled the full first round of vaccinations" pic.twitter.com/MlHy5rDLTM
Guyana Foreign Minister Hugh Hilton Todd also hailed India in UNGA. “Small countries like Guyana would have benefitted immensely from India’s growth trajectory as it has always been an economy that focuses on human development, putting humans ahead of any other form of development,” he said.
UNGA concludes general debate
This year’s general debate of the UN General Assembly concluded, after representatives of 190 member states spoke around the theme of “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges”.
Csaba Korosi, President of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, said on Monday in his closing remarks that 126 heads of state and government took part in this year’s general debate.
“The sheer number of you who took part in this debate points to the importance that the general debate holds in international affairs,” Korosi added.
He said he got five messages from the member states during the general debate.
The first is the growing awareness that humanity has entered a new era, he added.
“Facing complex challenges and multi-layer crises, we reached a time of paradigm shift, because the movements, the adjustments that we see around us cannot be called mere modifications any longer: they are significant transformations in the making,” he said.
The second message is that the conflict in Ukraine should end, said Korosi.
“You also pointed out that its effect is being felt around the world. You described the pain of shortages, inflation, the impact of refugees as far as South America and Africa, concerns about the safety of nuclear plants, and fears of a nuclear attack. You also highlighted the dangers of misinformation and propaganda,” the UNGA President added.
The third message is that climate change is gradually destroying humanity, he said.
“We heard about countries simultaneously experiencing droughts and flooding. We spoke about unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, eating up the fish and filling our waters with plastics, even as waves of rising seas drown shorelines. We heard calls to achieve global net-zero (emissions) and appeals to assist the countries most affected by climate change, not of their own making. We heard clearly the calls for climate justice and honouring commitments,” he said.
Fourth, calls for improving the state of human rights and meeting the needs of those most vulnerable to exploitation were heard, Korosi added.
The fifth key issue, for which there is strong support, is the need to modernise the United Nations, revitalise the General Assembly and reform the Security Council, he said.
Korosi called for collective action to tackle the challenges.
“We are all in agreement on the main challenges. We want a peaceful post-Covid world with increased trust, where we can work together to mitigate and adapt to climate change,” he added.
Korosi said he plans to launch a series of consultations with many actors, including the scientific community, after the conclusion of the general debate, with the aim to strengthen universally accepted and owned foundation for action.
The general debate is an annual gathering of heads of state and government as well as other high-level representatives of UN member states at the beginning of the new session of the General Assembly.
Mijito Vinito, First Secretary in India's United Nations Mission, gives the right of reply at the General Assembly to Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif's attacks on India earlier on September 23, 2022. (Photo Source: UN)
Indian diplomat disputed Pak PM’s claims about wanting peace with New Delhi pointing out that Islamabad’s actions do not match his words, reports Arul Louis
Indian diplomat Mijito Vinito said that peace is possible in the sub-continent only when Pakistan stops cross-border terrorism, “comes clean” and ends persecution of minorities.
Replying to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s attacks on India at the high-level UN General Assembly meeting on Friday, Vinito disputed his claims about wanting peace with New Delhi pointing out that Islamabad’s actions do not match his words.
He zoomed in on Islamabad’s history of terrorism and said: “A polity that claims it seeks peace with its neighbours would never sponsor cross-border terrorism, nor would it shelter planners of the horrific Mumbai terrorist attack, disclosing their existence only under pressure from the international community.”
Hafiz Saeed, leader of the Lashkar-e-Taiba who masterminded the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack in which about 175 people died, is living openly in Pakistan, as is another operative involved in the attack, Sajid Mir.
A country that truly seeks peace “would not make unjustified and untenable territorial claims against neighbours, it would not covet their lands and seek to illegally integrate them with its own”, Vinito said referring to Pakistan’s continued occupation of parts of Kashmir in violation of Security Council Resolution 47 of 1948, which ordered it to withdraw its troops and nationals from there.
Vinito, who is from the 2010 Indian Foreign Service batch and is a first secretary in India’s UN mission, drove his stinging responses home with a calm demeanour.
Exercising India’s right of reply, he countered Sharif’s claims about the treatment of minorities in India and held a mirror to Pakistan’s own record.
“It is not just about the neighbourhood that we have heard false claims today, it is about human rights, about minority rights and about basic decencies.
“When young women in the thousands from the minority community are abducted as an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), what can we conclude about the underlying mindset?” he asked.
According to the Human Rights Council of Pakistan, Hindu and Christian girls are victims of kidnapping and forced marriages.
“The desire for peace, security and progress in the Indian subcontinent is real. It is also widely shared and it can be realized,” Vinito said.
“That will surely happen when cross-border terrorism ceases, when governments come clean with the international community and with their own people, when minorities are not persecuted, and not least when we recognize these realities before this Assembly.”
In his speech at the Assembly, Sharif had claimed that he wanted peace and offered to speak to India’s leaders, but only after New Delhi gives in to his demands.
The premier said he wanted to turn the page on the 20th century and take on the challenges of the 21st century but quickly went back 75 years raking up the Kashmir dispute, attacking the withdrawal of special constitutional status for that territory.
He catalogued what he said were India’s actions against the Muslim minority.
Saima Saleem, a counsellor in Pakistan’s UN mission, who responded to Vinito, repeated almost verbatim a lot from Sharif’s speech.
She directed many of her remarks against the RSS and also strung together isolated incidents and remarks by fringe characters to make them appear as state policy.
In a bid to stir up Muslims, she brought up the remarks made in a TV programme about Prophet Mohammed by a former BJP functionary but did not say that she is now facing criminal charges.
Highlighting China’s stranglehold on the Security Council sanctioning Pakistan-based terrorists, Jaishankar denounced the politics giving them impunity…reports Asian Lite News
Highlighting China’s stranglehold on the Security Council sanctioning Pakistan-based terrorists, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday denounced the politics giving them impunity.
“Politics should never provide cover to evade accountability. Nor indeed to facilitate impunity,” he said when the Security Council met on impunity for the crimes in Ukraine.
“Regrettably, we have seen this of late in this very Chamber, when it comes to sanctioning some of the world’s most dreaded terrorists”, he said alluding to China blocking sanctions against Pakistan-based terrorists Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Sajid Mir, involved in the 2008 Mumbai attack, Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) leader Abdul Rauf Azhar, and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) leader Abdul Rehman Makki.
“If egregious attacks committed in broad daylight are left unpunished, this Council must reflect on the signals we are sending on impunity. There must be consistency if we are to ensure credibility”, he said alluding to the Pakistan-based terrorists escaping sanctions with China’s support.
Jaishankar did not name China, Pakistan or the terrorists.
Speaking at another forum, Sanjay Verma, Secretary, West in the External Affairs Ministry, called for justice for victims of terrorism.
At the Ministerial Meeting of Groups of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, Verma asked the international community to uphold the right to justice for the victims of cross-border terrorist attacks including 26/11 Mumbai attacks, by bringing the perpetrators to justice.
On the topic of Ukraine under direct discussion at the Security Council, Jaishankar said: “Even in conflict situations, there can be no justification for violation of human rights or of international law (and) where any such acts occur, it is imperative that they are investigated in an objective and independent manner.”
He said that India backed independent investigations into the killings in Bucha, a city in Ukraine where more than 400 bodies were found in April after Russian troops withdrew from there.
China blocks action against Pak-based terrorist
Meanwhile, China has again blocked action in UN Sanctions Committee against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader and 26/11 Mumbai attacks accused Sajid Mir, drawing strong criticism from India.
China’s move to stymie the proposal, tabled by the US and co-sponsored by India, in the UN Security Council’s 1267 Committee for subjecting Mir to an assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo, comes soon after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the recently-concluded 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan.
Sources said China again provided a big favour to Pakistan, as the Sajid Mir matter was discussed there with both countries’ top officials well aware of the proposal coming up in the upcoming UNGA Sanctioning Committee meet on September 17.
After his arrest in May this year, Mir was sentenced to 15-and-a-half years in prison along with a fine of Rs 420,000 in June, after which he is currently serving his sentence at the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore. But sources said that he is somewhere else in safe custody.
China’s veto in the Mir matter was the third time such an action has been taken by it in recent times.
The Iranian President also claimed that US hegemony is coming to an end…reports Asian Lite News
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi launched a scathing attack against US foreign policy in his address to the UN General Assembly and announced the emergence of a new world order.
Raisi said American foreign policy over the past century had proved that the “unilateralist” approach was one in which the US had pursued self-interest at the expense of partnerships, Arab News reported.
“What is happening in Europe today has been seen all over the world before. The fate of many countries shows America pursues its own interests against the interests of its allies,” the report quoted Iranian President as saying.
“Unilateralism has been the tool to hold many countries back. On a selective basis, America cannot be allowed to determine which countries have the right to stand on their own two feet because even friends of America do not benefit from this.”
The Iranian President also claimed that US hegemony is coming to an end.
US President Joe Biden
“This order has lost its power, and a new order is shaping up to tackle it as this old system’s policies are defeated,” he said.
“We are witnessing a change of the world order, a world order of hegemony in which financial power gains a control over ‘standards’ of human behaviour which are used to subjugate. This is coming to an end,” he added.
Also, Raisi claimed that Daesh was a US construct, slamming what he contended was the hypocrisy of a country claiming a base in justice and humanity.
A day before his UNGA speech, Raisi reiterated that Iran needs reassuring guarantees as well as the closure of the ongoing inquiry into the Islamic republic by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) before a nuclear deal can be reached.
According to a statement published on the Iranian presidency’s website, Raisi on Tuesday made the remarks in a meeting with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Iran is ready to reach a “fair and stable” nuclear agreement, but considering the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran’s demand to “receive reassuring guarantees” is “completely reasonable and logical”, said Raisi.
The Iranian president also described the IAEA’s inquiry as “a serious obstacle to reaching an agreement,” noting that “we believe that without the closure of Iran’s cases, it is not possible to reach an agreement”.
As for Iran-Europe relations, Raisi said that the improvement of Iran’s relations with Europe depended on the independence of the countries of the European continent from the will and opinion of the US.
After his meeting with Korosi, Jaishankar tweeted: “Assured him of India’s fullest support. Discussed the criticality of SDG agenda for global progress. Shared Indian experiences in that regard.”..writes Arul Louis
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has capped a day of intense diplomacy with a meeting with General Assembly President Csaba Korosi discussing global development and the UN’s role while assuring him of India’s support.
On Monday, the eve of the high-level Assembly meeting, he held bilateral meetings also with eight foreign ministers and attended two multilateral sessions covering a geography from Indonesia to Trinidad and topics ranging from security, food and agriculture to economy and development.
Jaishankar tried to bring focus in his meeting with Korosi and others to matters of vital importance to the developing nations like energy and food security, fertiliser availability, health issues, global debt concerns and trade disruption problems, according to an official source.
After his meeting with Korosi, Jaishankar tweeted: “Assured him of India’s fullest support. Discussed the criticality of SDG agenda for global progress. Shared Indian experiences in that regard.”
SDGs are the 17 sustainable development goals set by the UN to be achieved by 2030 and cover topics ranging from environment to education, and from poverty to peace but which are now facing a setback from the Covid pandemic and the fallout of the Ukraine war.
Jaishankar’s first meeting of the day was with Argentina’s Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero, who is the President pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), along with Foreign Ministers Mario Adolfo Bucaro Flores of Guatemala and Amery Browne of Trinidad and Tobago.
The meeting aimed at highlighting the growing relations between India and the CELAC countries in areas ranging from health and science to trade and energy and to develop them further, the source said, pointing out that India, for example, ranks among the top five trade partners of Brazil and Argentina.
Cafiero tweeted, that CELAC “reactivated after 5 years the region’s link with India”.
“The unity of the countries of the global south will make it possible to strengthen the energy and food security agenda, which is key to the development of our peoples,” he added in the Spanish language tweet.
The source said that Jaishankar’s trilateral meeting with Foreign Ministers Catherine Colonna of France and Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates follows the contemporary development in diplomacy, moving beyond bilateral and regional relations to interest-based groupings spanning geographic areas.
Cooperation in the areas of food, energy and security were among the topics discussed, the source said.
Colonna tweeted in French that it was the “launch of a new trilateral format in the Indo-Pacific zone with India and the Emirates” with “a common ambition to move forward in 4 areas: security and defence, Climate, Technologies and people(-to-people) exchanges”.
Jaishankar also met one-on-one with Al Nahyan, with whose country India has close multilateral ties.
He tweeted after their meeting: “Appreciated his assessments and insights on the global situation.”
At their meeting, Jaishankar and Browne reviewed the ties between Trinidad, whose population of Indian descent is about 40 per cent, and India and discussed strengthening it, according to a source.
Indonesia is the president of the G20, the group of developed and emerging nations, and is scheduled to hand over the baton to India in December.
Jaishankar’s meeting with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi centered on the work of the G20 and the transfer of the presidency, the source said.
“We spoke on G20 cooperation, including ensuring concrete deliverables for G20 2022,” Marsudi tweeted.
The source said that during the meeting with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry of Egypt they noted the closely shared outlook on many issues, especially in development, and spoke about cooperation in the nonaligned movement and at the UN, the source said.
Jaishankar tweeted that they “discussed our close cooperation at the UN and NAM (Nonaligned Movement). Recognized the value Egypt’s participation in G20 will bring next year.
Of importance to India is that Egypt is hosting in November the next UN climate change meeting which is formally known as COP27 for the 27th edition of the Conference of Parties to one of the international agreements on climate.
Regarding the meeting with Albania’s Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka, the source said that both countries that are currently on the Security Council have worked together, and New Delhi wants to build on that in other spheres.
Echoing the sentiments, Xhacka tweeted: “Albania and India work together as non-permanent members to the #UNSC. Time to strengthen cooperation and relations in many areas of interest.”
Jaishankar said in a tweet that he “exchanged views on Ukraine and energy security” with the Minister whose country is in the vicinity of the embattled nation.
Jaishankar also met Foreign Minister Ian Borg of Malta with which India shares commonwealth ties.
India has business interests there and sees Malta as a gateway to the European Union now that Britain is out of it, the source said.
Malta will be joining the Security Council next year as India leaves it ending its two-year term.
Borg tweeted: “We spoke about UNSC developments and our priorities on the Council as from Jan2023.”
Development was the main theme of Jaishankar’s meeting with Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, according to the source.
India, which has had a long relationship with Cuba in diplomatic, developmental and economic spheres, is now helping the country in economic straits with a 100 million euro line of credit that was extended in July primarily to buy rice.
Cuba is expected to take over the leadership of the G77, the 137-member group of developing countries, from Pakistan.
Parilla tweeted in Spanish: “We highlight the historical ties of friendship between both countries, India, Cuba. We express our willingness to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation and developing economic, trade and investment ties.”
Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, who also holds the foreign ministry portfolio, briefed Jaishankar on the conflict involving the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which has flared up again, according to the source.
They discussed cooperation including in education, noting that Indian teachers have been the mainstay of that country’s education system for decades, the source said.
Ethiopia’s Education Minister Berhanu Nega was also at the meeting.
The Assembly’s high-level week brings leaders from around the world to the UN and Jaishankar noted in a tweet that it “is full of friends” after he casually ran into Serbia’s Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic.
Jaishankar is scheduled to meet on Tuesday with two presidents from Africa, Nana Akufo-Addo, of Ghana and Azali Assoumani of the Comoros.
He has scheduled bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers Mevlut Cavusoglu of Turkey, Denis Moncada Colindres of Nicaragua, Alexander Schallenberg of Austria, and Najla M. El Mangoush of Libya.
Jaishankar will also be a guest at a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macros.
