New Delhi, Aug 1 (FN Agency) Taking over the presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of August, India said on Sunday its term will be anchored on the ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, or the whole world is a family, and focused on maritime security, peacekeeping and counter terrorism. A short video put out by the Ministry of External Affairs said that its tenure will be guided by the five S’s: of Samman or Respect, Samvaad or Dialogue, Sahyog or Cooperation, Shanti or Peace, and Samriddhi or Prosperity. During its presidency, India will be guided by the principles of transparency, credibility, accountability and effectiveness. Maritime security, peacekeeping and counter terrorism, will be the focus areas for India during its presidency, it said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a short speech in the video, said, “The ideals on which the UN was founded are quite similar to that of India and not different from its own fundamental philosophy.”
“The words Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the whole world is a family, have often reverberated in this hall of the United Nations. We treat the whole world as one family, it is part of our culture, character and thinking.” “We must create systems that address the problems of today and challenges of tomorrow. And we must think of the entire humanity and not merely of those who are on our side of the borders. Humanity as a whole must be at the centre of our thinking and action,” the Prime Minister said. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said, “The real challenges facing the world are those that are truly indivisible and transcend national boundaries; they include terrorism, pandemics and climate change. India will keep the international spotlight firmly focused on the task of combating them.” As a founding member of the UN, India is committed to multilateralism, rule of law, fair and equitable international system. It aims for a new orientation for a reformed multilateral system to reflect contemporary realities and promote greater cooperation, according to blurbs in the video.
“Undertaking a comprehensive approach to world peace and security, India’s vision has been steered by dialogue and cooperation, mutual respect, commitment to international law.” Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, in a statement, said, “India’s call for reformed multilateralism, like the reform of the UNSC, is reflective of the contemporary realities of today. The Council must be made more representative of developing countries if it is to continue to engender trust and confidence in the ability to provide leadership to the entire world. “During our eight terms as a member of the Security Council we have always endeavoured to be a voice of reason and understanding, a voice of the underrepresented developing world, a bridge builder for narrowing divides and for fostering consensus,” he added. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti, in a video message, said India will be organising high-level signature events in the areas of maritime security, peacekeeping and counterterrorism during the month. India’s two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the Security Council began on January 1, 2021. India will again preside over the Council in December next year, the last month of its two-year tenure.