Speech by Chitra Tripathi at the Multipolarity Forum in Moscow, 26 February 2024

Speech by Chitra Tripathi at the Multipolarity Forum in Moscow, 26 February 2024

Dear Friends,

I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Russian government and our friends here for allowing me to be a part of this program. It is a great opportunity for me to speak on the topic of the United Nations. I have been a student of Defense Studies, so this subject is very dear to me. I come from the land of India, which has always been an advocate of peace. I come from that India which is the most populous country in the world. I come from that India which is the fifth largest economy in the world and is rapidly moving forward. Although our independence is not yet a hundred years old, we have firmly established our presence on the world stage. We desire peace, we desire brotherhood, we desire harmony, but unfortunately, at times, we have had to be part of wars, where we have had to both win and step back several times. However, there is a stark difference between the India of then and today. Today, we have transformed our world with our abilities and hard work. We are thankful to our friend Russia, who has maintained the same camaraderie with us since our fight for independence. Thank you for standing by us in both good and challenging times.

Now, coming to my topic -

India, the shore of the ocean of history from where I come, and the land of Russia on the other shore. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was believed that history is always written for, by, and about the victors. However, India and Russia are two lands that have changed the course of history. One walked on the path of truth and non-violence towards peace, while the other moved through revolution.

While both the paths of peace and revolution had succeeded in bringing humanity to the threshold of history, the responsibility of making it mainstream lay with the international organization called the United Nations, established after the Second World War. In a world still echoing with the wounds of war, the aim of illuminating it with the torch of peace and tranquility fell upon the United Nations. The question is: has the United Nations been successful in fulfilling its responsibility? Are the questions arising about the role of the United Nations in the present era justified? Or are they entirely relevant?

In 2024, the United Nations has an opportunity for its redemption, which it must seize or establish a parallel system that allows us to move towards peace from war. Can we stop every reason for war before it happens, can we focus more on efforts for peace rather than the word war? But how will this be possible?

The "Peak Summit Conference of the United Nations" is providing it with a rare opportunity to redefine itself and prepare itself anew to uphold its credibility and deal with the challenges of international peace and stability.

Today, more than a dozen wars are raging around the world. From the civil war in Myanmar and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza to the war between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and the violence in South Sudan, they have spread. Just as the scope and severity of these conflicts kept changing in 2023, one thing remained the same this year as in the past few years—the United Nations continues to appear inadequate in dealing with these situations in a swift and effective manner.

At the end of the second World War, which began as a grand venture of the United Nations filled with high hopes and praises, it now appears entirely helpless. Today, the United Nations is failing to fulfill its primary responsibility defined by its charter—maintaining international peace and security—meaning it is failing to fulfill the foundation of its existence. And its future does not seem bright. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that in the coming times, "tensions, divisive activities, and worsening situations are on the rise."

The United Nations, through its charter, is failing to fulfill its main responsibility of maintaining international peace and security—meaning it is failing to fulfill the foundation of its existence.

Ultimately, what is the reason that the United Nations, more than 75 years old, is unable to fulfill its primary responsibilities? Critics have pointed to many reasons behind this. The paralysis of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) due to the lack of consensus among the five permanent members, the current policies The lack of visible power balance and inadequate representation of emerging economies have contributed to eroding the United Nations' credibility and reliability in handling international cooperation. If its member countries do not promptly address these issues, the UN will continue to move towards becoming entirely ineffective in the future.

The rapid emergence of new technologies that are now providing tools that introduce complexities and destruction in the ways wars are fought has never been seen before. Not only that, these technological capabilities, instead of limiting conflict times, are extending them. Yet, the United Nations lacks an effective system to turn these emerging technologies into weapons and establish any control over their proliferation.

In the coming years, this trend will strengthen, making it even more challenging for the United Nations to fulfill its responsibility of establishing international peace and security.

This trend is also finding support from the changing mindsets of nations. Many countries are now showing interest in dealing with their disputes on the battleground of negotiations rather than resorting to direct warfare.

Key conflicts in Tigray, Ethiopia, and the Nagorno-Karabakh region are indicative of this shift in perspectives of countries. Today, countries are showing less interest in using multilateral means for peace and more inclined towards resolving their conflicts through unilateral sanctions and trade embargoes. The result is that diplomacy and efforts to establish peace have taken a backseat. In the coming years, this trend will continue to grow stronger, making it even more challenging for the United Nations to fulfill its responsibility of establishing international peace and security.

Another major trend that is emerging is the rise of non-military methods that create pressure against the use of force, such as bans and economic sanctions. Due to the lack of consensus among the five permanent members, the United Nations Security Council's system of sanctions is proving ineffective. Western countries are resorting to unilateral imposition of sanctions against their adversaries, and despite a few selective cases, these sanctions are failing to bring about any change in their behavior, and in the future, we will see a further increase in the use of sanctions under policies to avoid direct confrontation with their enemies.

In September 2024, the United Nations is set to host its ambitious event, the "Summit of the Future." This conference includes a set program on "A New Agenda for Peace." The UN Secretary-General has already put forth his vision for establishing peace and an effective collective security system. The discussions held on this platform are expected to contribute to the September program.

To make this vision a reality, the UN must understand that the root of some conflicts may not lie in confrontation but could also stem from resource scarcity, climate change, poverty, and economic disparities. Therefore, in order to prevent conflicts and alert member countries to potential conflicts, new methods need to be developed. In addition, the United Nations will need to develop a global administration framework that safeguards against the misuse of emerging technologies' destructive potential.

The UN must tread this challenging yet hopeful path to strengthen its ability to maintain international peace and security.

Failures

Among the numerous success stories of the United Nations, its failures often remain hidden and are not commonly discussed.

Twenty-five years ago, in Rwanda, Africa, nearly eight hundred thousand people were killed within about a hundred days.

During this genocide, the United Nations peacekeepers were present in Rwanda. However, their role was limited to evacuating government officials and expatriates.

Another glaring failure of the United Nations was seen in Srebrenica in Europe.

In July 1995, the Bosnian Serb Security forces in Srebrenica killed more than eight thousand people. Those who were killed had sought refuge in the place where they had assumed themselves to be safe under the protection of UN peacekeepers. After the Second World War, this was the first instance of genocide on such a large scale in Europe.

Similarly, the United Nations' inefficacy was evident in the struggles of Yugoslavia. It was bypassed entirely in the wars in Vietnam and Iraq.

During the civil war in Syria, the United Nations also failed to pave the way for peace talks. There were many occasions when the United Nations became part of the problem rather than the solution.

Even the Blue Helmet peacekeepers faced serious allegations. In light of all these events, the United Nations needs to introspect about its operational system. However, instances are rare when the United Nations has had the luxuries of time for such reflections.

The United Nations has often been seen as a wrestling ring between the permanent members of the Security Council, with one side represented by the United States and the United Kingdom, and the other by Russia and China. The Security Council's divisions are also evident among its non-permanent members. As a result, India, when vying for a permanent seat in the Security Council, faces opposition from Pakistan, which is nurturing and promoting terrorism and also seeks this status for itself.

The current global situation and the rise of conflicts have made the search for peace an increasingly challenging endeavor for the United Nations. It is now certain that when it comes to making improvements, the UN will have to deal with political and procedural challenges. However, the "Summit of the Future" will provide the United Nations with an important political momentum to become a useful and enduring organization. The UN must embark on this challenging yet hopeful path to strengthen its ability to uphold international peace and security. As Secretary-General Guterres stressed, the UN must "adapt or perish." Therefore, the presence of representatives from various countries on this platform prompts me to strongly assert that in the evolving global circumstances, you must be effective in your role rather than dominant on one another as often emphasized by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on global platforms to become cooperators.

In conclusion, I would like to pause my words in every corner of India to make my voice stronger with the prevailing lines, enhancing the feeling of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," the concept of the world as one family, and stronger -

"May all be happy, May all be healthy,

May all see auspiciousness, May no one suffer."

 

Thank you, Regards,

Chitra Tripathi

Journalist

AajTak, India

 Les Nations unies ont-elles réussi à s'acquitter de leur responsabilité ?

 Haben die Vereinten Nationen ihre Verantwortung erfolgreich wahrgenommen? 

 Zijn de Verenigde Naties succesvol geweest in het vervullen van hun verantwoordelijkheid? 

  26 फरवरी, 2024 को मॉस्को में मल्टीपोलेरिटी फोरम में चित्रा त्रिपाठी का भाषण

 CHITRA TRIPATHI'NİN 26 ŞUBAT 2024 TARİHİNDE MOSKOVA'DA DÜZENLENEN ÇOK KUTUPLULUK FORUMU'NDA YAPTIĞI KONUŞMA

Speech by Chitra Tripathi at the Multipolarity Forum in Moscow, 26 February 2024

Dear Friends,

I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Russian government and our friends here for allowing me to be a part of this program. It is a great opportunity for me to speak on the topic of the United Nations. I have been a student of Defense Studies, so this subject is very dear to me. I come from the land of India, which has always been an advocate of peace. I come from that India which is the most populous country in the world. I come from that India which is the fifth largest economy in the world and is rapidly moving forward. Although our independence is not yet a hundred years old, we have firmly established our presence on the world stage. We desire peace, we desire brotherhood, we desire harmony, but unfortunately, at times, we have had to be part of wars, where we have had to both win and step back several times. However, there is a stark difference between the India of then and today. Today, we have transformed our world with our abilities and hard work. We are thankful to our friend Russia, who has maintained the same camaraderie with us since our fight for independence. Thank you for standing by us in both good and challenging times.

Now, coming to my topic -

India, the shore of the ocean of history from where I come, and the land of Russia on the other shore. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was believed that history is always written for, by, and about the victors. However, India and Russia are two lands that have changed the course of history. One walked on the path of truth and non-violence towards peace, while the other moved through revolution.

While both the paths of peace and revolution had succeeded in bringing humanity to the threshold of history, the responsibility of making it mainstream lay with the international organization called the United Nations, established after the Second World War. In a world still echoing with the wounds of war, the aim of illuminating it with the torch of peace and tranquility fell upon the United Nations. The question is: has the United Nations been successful in fulfilling its responsibility? Are the questions arising about the role of the United Nations in the present era justified? Or are they entirely relevant?

In 2024, the United Nations has an opportunity for its redemption, which it must seize or establish a parallel system that allows us to move towards peace from war. Can we stop every reason for war before it happens, can we focus more on efforts for peace rather than the word war? But how will this be possible?

The "Peak Summit Conference of the United Nations" is providing it with a rare opportunity to redefine itself and prepare itself anew to uphold its credibility and deal with the challenges of international peace and stability.

Today, more than a dozen wars are raging around the world. From the civil war in Myanmar and the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza to the war between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and the violence in South Sudan, they have spread. Just as the scope and severity of these conflicts kept changing in 2023, one thing remained the same this year as in the past few years—the United Nations continues to appear inadequate in dealing with these situations in a swift and effective manner.

At the end of the second World War, which began as a grand venture of the United Nations filled with high hopes and praises, it now appears entirely helpless. Today, the United Nations is failing to fulfill its primary responsibility defined by its charter—maintaining international peace and security—meaning it is failing to fulfill the foundation of its existence. And its future does not seem bright. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that in the coming times, "tensions, divisive activities, and worsening situations are on the rise."

The United Nations, through its charter, is failing to fulfill its main responsibility of maintaining international peace and security—meaning it is failing to fulfill the foundation of its existence.

Ultimately, what is the reason that the United Nations, more than 75 years old, is unable to fulfill its primary responsibilities? Critics have pointed to many reasons behind this. The paralysis of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) due to the lack of consensus among the five permanent members, the current policies The lack of visible power balance and inadequate representation of emerging economies have contributed to eroding the United Nations' credibility and reliability in handling international cooperation. If its member countries do not promptly address these issues, the UN will continue to move towards becoming entirely ineffective in the future.

The rapid emergence of new technologies that are now providing tools that introduce complexities and destruction in the ways wars are fought has never been seen before. Not only that, these technological capabilities, instead of limiting conflict times, are extending them. Yet, the United Nations lacks an effective system to turn these emerging technologies into weapons and establish any control over their proliferation.

In the coming years, this trend will strengthen, making it even more challenging for the United Nations to fulfill its responsibility of establishing international peace and security.

This trend is also finding support from the changing mindsets of nations. Many countries are now showing interest in dealing with their disputes on the battleground of negotiations rather than resorting to direct warfare.

Key conflicts in Tigray, Ethiopia, and the Nagorno-Karabakh region are indicative of this shift in perspectives of countries. Today, countries are showing less interest in using multilateral means for peace and more inclined towards resolving their conflicts through unilateral sanctions and trade embargoes. The result is that diplomacy and efforts to establish peace have taken a backseat. In the coming years, this trend will continue to grow stronger, making it even more challenging for the United Nations to fulfill its responsibility of establishing international peace and security.

Another major trend that is emerging is the rise of non-military methods that create pressure against the use of force, such as bans and economic sanctions. Due to the lack of consensus among the five permanent members, the United Nations Security Council's system of sanctions is proving ineffective. Western countries are resorting to unilateral imposition of sanctions against their adversaries, and despite a few selective cases, these sanctions are failing to bring about any change in their behavior, and in the future, we will see a further increase in the use of sanctions under policies to avoid direct confrontation with their enemies.

In September 2024, the United Nations is set to host its ambitious event, the "Summit of the Future." This conference includes a set program on "A New Agenda for Peace." The UN Secretary-General has already put forth his vision for establishing peace and an effective collective security system. The discussions held on this platform are expected to contribute to the September program.

To make this vision a reality, the UN must understand that the root of some conflicts may not lie in confrontation but could also stem from resource scarcity, climate change, poverty, and economic disparities. Therefore, in order to prevent conflicts and alert member countries to potential conflicts, new methods need to be developed. In addition, the United Nations will need to develop a global administration framework that safeguards against the misuse of emerging technologies' destructive potential.

The UN must tread this challenging yet hopeful path to strengthen its ability to maintain international peace and security.

Failures

Among the numerous success stories of the United Nations, its failures often remain hidden and are not commonly discussed.

Twenty-five years ago, in Rwanda, Africa, nearly eight hundred thousand people were killed within about a hundred days.

During this genocide, the United Nations peacekeepers were present in Rwanda. However, their role was limited to evacuating government officials and expatriates.

Another glaring failure of the United Nations was seen in Srebrenica in Europe.

In July 1995, the Bosnian Serb Security forces in Srebrenica killed more than eight thousand people. Those who were killed had sought refuge in the place where they had assumed themselves to be safe under the protection of UN peacekeepers. After the Second World War, this was the first instance of genocide on such a large scale in Europe.

Similarly, the United Nations' inefficacy was evident in the struggles of Yugoslavia. It was bypassed entirely in the wars in Vietnam and Iraq.

During the civil war in Syria, the United Nations also failed to pave the way for peace talks. There were many occasions when the United Nations became part of the problem rather than the solution.

Even the Blue Helmet peacekeepers faced serious allegations. In light of all these events, the United Nations needs to introspect about its operational system. However, instances are rare when the United Nations has had the luxuries of time for such reflections.

The United Nations has often been seen as a wrestling ring between the permanent members of the Security Council, with one side represented by the United States and the United Kingdom, and the other by Russia and China. The Security Council's divisions are also evident among its non-permanent members. As a result, India, when vying for a permanent seat in the Security Council, faces opposition from Pakistan, which is nurturing and promoting terrorism and also seeks this status for itself.

The current global situation and the rise of conflicts have made the search for peace an increasingly challenging endeavor for the United Nations. It is now certain that when it comes to making improvements, the UN will have to deal with political and procedural challenges. However, the "Summit of the Future" will provide the United Nations with an important political momentum to become a useful and enduring organization. The UN must embark on this challenging yet hopeful path to strengthen its ability to uphold international peace and security. As Secretary-General Guterres stressed, the UN must "adapt or perish." Therefore, the presence of representatives from various countries on this platform prompts me to strongly assert that in the evolving global circumstances, you must be effective in your role rather than dominant on one another as often emphasized by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on global platforms to become cooperators.

In conclusion, I would like to pause my words in every corner of India to make my voice stronger with the prevailing lines, enhancing the feeling of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam," the concept of the world as one family, and stronger -

"May all be happy, May all be healthy,

May all see auspiciousness, May no one suffer."

 

Thank you, Regards,

Chitra Tripathi

Journalist

AajTak, India

 Les Nations unies ont-elles réussi à s'acquitter de leur responsabilité ?

 Haben die Vereinten Nationen ihre Verantwortung erfolgreich wahrgenommen? 

 Zijn de Verenigde Naties succesvol geweest in het vervullen van hun verantwoordelijkheid? 

  26 फरवरी, 2024 को मॉस्को में मल्टीपोलेरिटी फोरम में चित्रा त्रिपाठी का भाषण

 CHITRA TRIPATHI'NİN 26 ŞUBAT 2024 TARİHİNDE MOSKOVA'DA DÜZENLENEN ÇOK KUTUPLULUK FORUMU'NDA YAPTIĞI KONUŞMA