India

Allow me to begin by congratulating you, Sir, on your election as President of the General Assembly and by assuring you of the full cooperation of my delegation. In the interest of saving the Assembly’s valuable time, I will read out only part of my address, the full text of which has been circulated. The United Nations was created, 65 years ago, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to affirm faith in fundamental rights, to establish conditions under which respect for international law can be maintained and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. Six and a half decades later, globalization has made the world a much smaller place. It has also created conditions whereby the problems and challenges of one country or region can very quickly become those of the larger community of nations. Terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, maritime piracy, pandemics and epidemics, organized crime and narcotics smuggling recognize no borders or boundaries. Similarly, the fallout of intra-State conflicts, failed States, climate change, natural disasters, food shortages and financial and economic crises transcend countries and regions. Under those circumstances the international community looks to the United Nations to overcome the common challenges of humankind through the harmonized actions of nations, as stated in the Charter. The United Nations is the only organization that can be at the centre of an international governance system. However, it needs urgent reform to reflect contemporary realities and to effectively meet emerging global challenges. The first step has to be the reform of the Security Council. The overwhelming majority of the membership has been clear in seeking an expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership. It is imperative that we bring the negotiations to an early and logical conclusion. We must also truly revitalize the General Assembly. It must reclaim its position on vital matters such as the appointment of the Secretary-General and the relationship between the United Nations and the Bretton Woods institutions. Along with the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly should also set the paradigms of multilateral engagement for the global economy and for development and developmental cooperation. It is matter of much satisfaction that this year we have significantly advanced the United Nations reform agenda in the areas of gender equality and women’s empowerment. I wish to reiterate our strong commitment to UN Women and to its strengthening. We also need to ensure that the review of the Human Rights Council this year adds to the Council’s role as an effective, credible and premier United Nations mechanism dealing with human rights. My Government accords the highest priority to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. Our development challenges were exacerbated by the financial and economic crisis that started in 2008. Acting in concert, the Group of 20 (G-20), which includes the largest developed and developing countries, reacted promptly and purposefully to stem the global slowdown and send a strong message of confidence and stability. India believes that the G-20 — the premier forum for international economic 10-55396 4 cooperation — can help catalyse strong, balanced and sustainable growth for the benefit of everyone. As a country vulnerable to, and already suffering from, the impacts of climate change, India has an important stake in the success of ongoing international negotiations in that regard. There is no substitute to the United Nations-led process, with its inherent inclusiveness and transparency, to lead us to an ambitious and equitable outcome that respects the provisions and principles of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in particular the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. It is important that there be acceptance of equal sharing of the resource of the atmosphere for all human beings. India has an abiding commitment to achieve universal and non-discriminatory nuclear disarmament within a specified time frame — a vision that was most eloquently articulated in the Assembly by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1988. More than two decades later, that goal still remains distant. Meanwhile, newer threats have emerged, including the danger of terrorists gaining access to weapons of mass destruction. India introduced a working paper on nuclear disarmament in 2006, which contained specific proposals that reflect the spirit and substance of the Rajiv Gandhi action plan. We call for an intensification of discussion and dialogue among Member States and the larger non-governmental community, so as to strengthen an international consensus that can be translated into concrete action to achieve nuclear disarmament. India remains committed to the negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a multilateral, non-discriminatory and internationally verifiable fissile material cut-off treaty that meets India’s national security interests. We hope that the Conference will be able to commence negotiations at an early date. We remain committed to a unilateral and voluntary moratorium on nuclear-explosives testing. Terrorism has emerged as one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. To defeat it, it is imperative for the global community to build on international cooperation and take concerted action against terrorists and their sponsors. There can be no justification for terrorism, just as there can be no good or bad terrorists. We urge Member States to display the necessary political will to finalize and adopt the comprehensive convention on international terrorism. Peace and stability in South Asia is one of our highest priorities. We are committed to good- neighbourly relations with all our neighbours, including Pakistan. In that spirit of solidarity with the people of Pakistan in their hour of need we pledged $25 million in aid, which is being channelled through the United Nations for flood relief efforts in that country. As a neighbour, we wish to provide succour and relief in a timely manner to the victims of that natural disaster. We are saddened by the loss of life and property that Pakistan has suffered as a result of the unprecedented floods. It is well known that many countries have deep- rooted concerns about the growth and consolidation of militancy and terrorism in Pakistan. We share those concerns, particularly because Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India, has been the target of such Pakistan-sponsored militancy and terrorism for many years now. Pakistan must fulfil its solemn commitment not to allow territory under its control to be used for terrorism directed against India. Credible and firm action by Pakistan against terrorist groups operating from its soil is in the interest of the region, as it is in Pakistan’s own interest. Pakistan cannot impart lessons to us on democracy and human rights. If, however, Pakistan were to live up to its commitment not to allow the use of territory under its control by terrorists acting against India, that would significantly help reduce the trust deficit that impedes the development of better bilateral relations between our two countries. We are neighbours, and as neighbours we have an obligation to work together. Afghanistan recently successfully concluded parliamentary elections. We believe the international community needs to be steadfast in its engagement with Afghanistan to ensure the success of its reconstruction efforts and its emergence as a democratic, pluralistic and prosperous society. The continuing existence of safe havens and sanctuaries for terrorists beyond Afghanistan’s borders is the major impediment to the restoration of peace and security in Afghanistan. That should be a primary focus of the international community. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, said in 1948: 5 10-55396 “The fundamental principles on which the United Nations is based are right principles. We believe in those fundamental principles and want to help the Organization in following these principles.” The Government and the more than 1 billion people of India have stood by that commitment. I would like to solemnly reaffirm our faith in the principles that underlie the United Nations, and in the United Nations system itself.