* Calls for change of pace and direction for stability in Afghanistan
* Says financial crisis has exposed fundamental weaknesses in international system
29 October 2008
India's accomplishments as a long-standing democracy and as a major
contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations have earned the trust and respect
of the other UN member states, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in an exclusive
interview to this newspaper ahead of his first official visit to India.
Mr Ban arrives here Thursday for high-level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee. He will call on President Mrs Pratibha
Devisingh Patil. Mr Ban will deliver the ninth Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Lecture here on
Thursday evening. He will also meet with CEOs of major Indian companies for
discussions on sustainable development issues.
In the email interview which was facilitated by the UN Information Centre here, Mr Ban
said he supported all efforts to make the UN Security Council more representative and
increase its legitimacy.
"I have repeatedly said that the Security Council needs to be expanded [and] I believe
that this is possible, if member states are willing to show the spirit of compromise that is
needed," he said.
Mr Ban appreciated India's support for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, where he
thought the security situation has deteriorated markedly in recent months, with a sharp
rise in insurgent attacks and civilian casualties.
He suggested the world rethink how to reverse negative trends and inspire the Afghan
public. "I believe that a change of pace and direction is required, in which, among other
things, every party to the Paris Conference that took place earlier this year must do its
utmost to implement the commitments made there as early as possible," he said.
Mr Ban said the global financial meltdown underlined the need to equip the world with a
global governance structure that was "better suited to address today's problems and in
accordance with 21st century realities" .
"I believe that today's financial crisis has pointed at fundamental weaknesses in the
international financial system, including the lack of adequate financial regulation and
supervision at the international level and the lack of an international lender of last resort.
"It is necessary to create mechanisms to set new regulatory standards for the global
financial system .... This may not be the only thing that needs reform, but it will be a
central piece of the talks about a new financial architecture," he said.
Mr Ban urged New Delhi to inform him of the outcome of any actions it may have taken
on an internal UN investigation which suggested that the Indian troops in the UN's Congo
mission may have engaged in sexual exploitation and abuse.
"I encourage the Indian Government to keep the UN informed on action taken with regard
to serious misconduct cases, so that the UN can also make public what has been done
in this regard. This will be in conformity with the UN policy of zero tolerance in such
matters," he added.
'India has earned trust and respect of UN members'
Ban Ki-moon (64) of the Republic of Korea is the eighth Secretary-General of the United
Nations (UN). In an exclusive interview to RAMESH RAMACHANDRAN, Mr Ban talks
about reform of the UN and the global financial system, and India's contribution to UN
peacekeeping operations. He greatly appreciates India's support for the reconstruction of
Afghanistan. He also believes India has earned the trust and respect of the other UN
member states and that the expansion of UN Security Council is possible if member
states are willing to show the spirit of compromise that is needed. Excerpts:
Q: Are you satisfied with the pace of the UN reform?
A: Although I would have wished to achieve much more with UN reform than I have done
since taking office as Secretary-General 21 months ago, I believe we are off to a good
start. Since assuming office, I have placed the reform of the UN at the top of my agenda.
The restructuring of peacekeeping is already under way and I have presented proposals
for strengthening of both the political as well as the development pillars. The reform of
the human rights machinery is also well under way. Meanwhile, I have tried to build trust
in how the UN functions. From procurement reform and public financial disclosure of the
assets of senior officials on the website to accountability compacts by senior managers
as well as efforts for a system-wide ethics policy, I have continued to do my utmost to
increase accountability and transparency at the UN. I look to all member states to
strongly support these efforts.
Q: The expansion of the UN Security Council has proved divisive. Is a consensus
possible, if so how?
A: I have repeatedly said that the Security Council needs to be expanded, and I support
all efforts to make the Council more representative and increase its legitimacy. However,
it is up to the member states to determine how Council expansion should be pursued. I
believe that this is possible, if member states are willing to show the spirit of
compromise that is needed.
Q: How do you view India's quest for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council?
A: Again, it is up to the member states, and not to me as Secretary-General, to determine
who should get a permanent seat on the Security Council. Certainly, India's many
accomplishments - as a long-standing democracy, as a country that has advanced the
human development of its people and as a major contributor to UN peacekeeping
operations - have earned the trust and respect of the other UN member states.
Q: Are you satisfied with India's progress in achieving the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs)?
A: I have also been impressed by India's progress in meeting the MDGs. I am
concerned, however, that the recent global food price hike has slowed this progress and
the pending economic crisis could halt or even reverse the positive trends. This is why I
have been calling on the industrialised countries to make sure that the financial crisis
does not affect their commitment to supporting developing nations as we all try to make
sure that the MDGs can be implemented on schedule. I will continue to push that issue
next month, during the Financing for Development Conference in Doha. I believe that, if
we fail to keep our promise on the MDGs, we create conditions that will cause greater
human misery and even global insecurity.
Q: India has criticised the UN and its affiliate organisations for sitting on the sidelines as
the current financial crisis unfolded. Do you agree with India's submission that the
Secretariat ignored the economic crisis?
A: I do not agree with the contention that the UN Secretariat has ignored the unfolding
global financial crisis; in fact, even before its worsening in recent weeks, the UN system
had drawn attention to the growing problems in the world economic environment, from
rising food and fuel prices to the plight of the "bottom billion". I have spoken out on those
concerns repeatedly and made them a major part of my discussions with all the leaders I
have met in recent months. I underlined that our most fundamental concern was the
potential of this crisis to undo the UN's good work in eradicating poverty and disease, as
well as our efforts to fight climate change and promote development. The global financial
crisis compounds the food crisis, the energy crisis, and the crisis of development in
Africa. I have continuously underlined that in the urgency of the moment, we cannot
neglect those who are most vulnerable. In this time of global crisis, we must act in global
solidarity. As for an international response to the current problem, I believe that today's
financial crisis has pointed at fundamental weaknesses in the international financial
system, including the lack of adequate financial regulation and supervision at the
international level and the lack of an international lender of last resort. In 1944 these
functions were not given to the IMF and this limits its capacity to safeguard the stability
of the global financial system and it has weakened even more because of the
deregulation of financial markets which has taken place over the past decades. The
question of the adequate representation of developing countries in the governance
structure of the Bretton Woods Institutions has been raised from time to time and it is a
fact that the division of economic power in the world has changed since 1944. There is
clearly a need to equip the world with a better global governance structure, better suited
to address today's problems and in accordance with 21st century realities.
Q: Can the UN rebuild the global economic and political institutions?
A: Yes. It is necessary to create mechanisms to set new regulatory standards for the
global financial system. In my discussions with world leaders, this has been a central
issue and there is agreement that we have to come up with a new framework that is
internationally coordinated. This may not be the only thing that needs reform, but it will
be a central piece of the talks about a new financial architecture. My central point,
however, would be to underline the fact that the interests of the world's poorest and most
vulnerable must not be ignored or relegated.
Q: India has strongly advocated implementing robust measures within Afghanistan to
fight a resurgent Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements. How do you view India's role in the
reconstruction of Afghanistan?
A: I greatly appreciate India's support for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. At the same
time, I am concerned that the security situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated markedly
in recent months, with a sharp rise in insurgent attacks and civilian casualties. I believe
that a change of pace and direction is required, in which, among other things, every party
to the Paris Conference that took place earlier this year must do its utmost to implement
the commitments made there as early as possible. The Paris Conference must be seen
as more than just an event, and must be used to reverse negative trends and inspire the
Afghan public.
Q: Is there scope for greater cooperation by India in peacekeeping operations around the
world?
A: For the UN, India is one of our most important peacekeeping contributors. As far back
as the 1950s, Indian blue helmets were serving the UN operation in Korea. Since then,
India has provided tens of thousands of troops to UN missions all over the world. You
have given us "boots on the ground" and senior officials, and India today provides more
than 8,000 military personnel and serves as the third-largest troop contributor. Your
contribution has helped to make our peacekeeping operations more effective in some of
the world's toughest places, and I certainly believe that cooperation between the UN and
India in peacekeeping can grow even more in the years to come.
Q: An internal investigation by the UN has "revealed prima facie evidence" that the
Indian troops in the UN's Congo mission MONUC "may have engaged in sexual
exploitation and abuse". What are your expectations from troop-contributing member
states in general and India in particular?
A: India is one of the UN's largest troop-contributing countries and has played a major
role in the UN's peacekeeping efforts over the past six decades. Allegations of serious
misconduct involving Indian peacekeepers have indeed recently come to light. These
allegations include the sexual exploitation and abuse of women and minors and illicit
transactions in natural resources. The Government of India has taken action on a number
of past cases of misconduct concerning their personnel. With regard to the recent
allegations in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), the government has yet to inform
the UN of the outcome of any actions that they have taken. I encourage the Indian
Government to keep the UN informed on action taken with regard to serious misconduct
cases, so that the UN can also make public what has been done in this regard. This will
be in conformity with the UN policy of zero tolerance in such matters.
Q: How do you view the activities of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India
and Pakistan or UNMOGIP?
A: As you know, UNMOGIP has been deployed on the ground for 60 years, and I believe
it has helped in dealing with the problems that have arisen in its area of operations over
the past six decades. I hope that it will continue to play a helpful role.
Q: Can India and the world do more to combat terrorism, prevent pandemics and protect
environment?
A: I believe that all nations can do more to cooperate in the struggle against terrorism,
the fight against such diseases as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and the campaign to
deal with climate change and to protect the environment. On all of these issues,
international cooperation is crucial, and I believe that the UN has a unique advantage in
forging the international consensus that can allow us to make progress on all these
issues.
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