President of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, has acknowledged India's active engagement in the ongoing UN Security Council reform efforts, despite expressing concerns over the slow progress of the reform process. In an exclusive interview, Francis commended India, along with its G4 negotiating bloc, for advocating a more ambitious timeline, aiming to conclude the reform within two years.
During his official visit to India, President Francis emphasized the need for political will from Member States to drive intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform. He lauded India's commitment to the issue and highlighted the country's exemplary leadership in various global initiatives, such as championing democracy, supporting women-led development, and contributing significantly to the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Francis, who is actively overseeing ongoing intergovernmental negotiations, praised the co-chairs Austria and Kuwait for providing essential guidance in advancing the reform process. India, as a founding member of the United Nations, has consistently advocated for a permanent seat at the UN high table, emphasizing the geopolitical realities of the 21st century.
President Francis acknowledged India's diverse democracy, home to one-sixth of humanity, as playing an unparalleled role in the global mission for a safer, more equal, and sustainable world. He highlighted India's recent G20 Presidency and its historic milestone of welcoming the African Union as a permanent member, showcasing solidarity and cooperation across the Global South.
India's contributions, ranging from digital public infrastructure and innovative capacity-building to addressing the debt crisis and providing assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, were commended by Francis. He emphasized India's successful space missions as a testament to the power of science and technology when resources are equally accessible to all countries.
Francis also praised India's significant decline in multidimensional poverty, with almost 250 million people escaping poverty in the last nine years. He acknowledged the India-UN Development Partnership Fund's impact, supporting 76 projects in 54 countries and reflecting India's vision of development and commitment to channeling funds where they are needed most.
Appreciating India's commitment to international peace and security, Francis highlighted the country's substantial contributions to UN peacekeeping, with over 250,000 troops deployed, making it the largest troop contributor. India's policy of gender equality and the deployment of a Female Formed Police Unit in Liberia were also commended, emphasizing the high standards maintained by Indian troops and police officers in challenging circumstances.
(With Agency Inputs)
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