UN, February 20 (IPS) – Paralyzed by its own Charter and structure, the world organization charged with preventing war faces an existential challenge from Ukraine’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia.
When the permanent member of the Russian Security Council sends troops into a smaller neighbor that defies the UN Charter and all norms of international relations a year ago next Friday, Antonio Guterres, “This is the saddest moment of my tenure as Secretary-General of the United Nations.” .
In addition to the sadness over betrayal and the pain inflicted on the nations of the world, especially the poorest, war has struck the very foundation of the United Nations built nearly 78 years ago.
Guterres warned this month, “I fear the world does not sleepwalk into a wider war, I fear it is opening its eyes to do so”.
And the invasion called into question the resolve of the United Nations “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war,” as the first sentence of its Charter states.
However, the Charter itself crippled the UN by giving veto power to the permanent members of the Security Council, the only body able to act. The Russian veto has left the Council mired in inaction, renewing calls for reform.
Describing the situation, General Assembly President Csaba Korosi said, “The Security Council – the main guarantor of international peace and security – remains blockaded, unable to fully perform its duties. “.
“More and more people are demanding a reform of the Council,” he said, noting that at Council Summit Week in September, “a third of world leaders emphasized the urgent need Council must be reformed – this number will double by 2021.”
While the reform process – in which India has particular interest as a candidate for a permanent seat – has been thwarted for nearly two decades, has come to the fore. , it’s not likely to happen anytime soon.
But the General Assembly, which has no enforcement powers like the Assembly, used the mayhem to set a precedent forcing permanent members when they used their veto power to face it and explain their actions.
Russia appeared before Congress to answer about its veto while facing a barrage of criticism.
The General Assembly also revived a rarely used action under the Unification for Peace Resolution of 1950, which called for an urgent special session when the Council failed in its primary task of maintaining peace. peace and security.
It passed a resolution in March demanding that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from Ukrainian territory within internationally recognized borders”.
It received 141 votes – reaching more than two-thirds of the 193 votes needed for it – while India was among the 35 countries that abstained. This, as well as the next three provisions passed last year, is ultimately just an exercise of moral authority with no way to enforce it.
A proposal put forward by Mexico and France in 2015 calling on permanent members not to use their veto power on matters concerning them was also rebroadcast– to no avail.
India, which was a member of the Council last year, has been caught between polarization at the United Nations, both at the Council and the Council, because of its reliance on Russian weapons and the support it has provided. received at key moments in the Security Council. Council from its predecessor the Soviet Union.
India abstained at least 11 times on substantive Ukraine-related resolutions in both houses of the United Nations, including those in the Moscow-sponsored Council.
India faces tremendous pressure from the West to participate in the vote on resolutions against Russia and publicly take a firm stance condemning Moscow.
Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar told the Security Council in September, “As the Ukraine conflict continues to raging, we are often asked whose side we are on. And our answer, “every time, frankly and honestly. India is on the side of peace and will stay firmly there.”
And while remaining neutral while voting, India came closest to supporting Ukraine — and by reasoning against Russia — when he said, “We’re on the side of respecting the Union Charter.” United Nations and its founding principles”.
Now out of the Council, New Delhi’s profile has been lowered and it doesn’t have to show its usual austerity publicly, although it may have to do so again in the coming weeks. this week when the Council will likely have a resolution around this issue. Commemorate the invasion.
The pain of the invasion was felt far beyond the borders of Ukraine.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing untold suffering to the Ukrainian people, with profound global implications,” Guterres said.
The aftermath of the war has hampered the UN’s multimedia development goals.
Immediately, some countries were on the verge of famine, and the ghost of hunger still lurked around the world because of the lack of agricultural inputs, while many countries, including many developed countries, faced with serious energy and financial problems.
The war halted grain exports from Ukraine and restricted exports from Russia, two countries that have become the world’s food pantry.
Besides depriving many countries of grain, shortages have raised global prices.
The United Nations’ only victory was the Black Sea agreement signed with Russia, Ukraine and Turkey in July to allow safe passage of food vessels from Ukrainian ports.
Guteress spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in about 1,500 ship journeys to date, “more than 21.3 million tonnes of grain and food products have been transported during the initiative, helping to lower global food prices and market stability”.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also made an impact during the war, working to protect nuclear facilities in Ukraine that have been occupied by Russian forces while shelling around them.
It said it was trying to arrange safety and security expert teams at Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and at Chernobyl, the site of the 1986 disaster “to help reduce the risk of a nuclear accident.” serious in the ongoing conflict in this country”.
Arul Louis is a non-resident senior fellow in New York with the New Delhi-based think tank, the Association for Policy Studies.
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