Pakistan, Ukraine-Gaza war, UN & more, EAM Jaishankar delivers India's message at UNGA

Summary

His Excellency Sabhan Yam J Shanar, Minister of External Affairs of India, addresses the UN General Assembly, highlighting global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, and climate change. He emphasizes India's efforts in social welfare, digital innovation, and global cooperation. Shanar calls for UN reform to ensure peace, sustainable development, and human dignity, urging collective action to prevent further global deterioration.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The world is facing multiple crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, and conflicts in Gaza, which have disrupted development plans and receding SDG targets.
• 🤝 The theme of the 79th UN General Assembly, 'leaving no one behind,' emphasizes the need for peace, sustainable development, and human dignity.
• 🔄 The current state of the world is characterized by fractiousness, polarization, and frustration, with difficult conversations and agreements.
• 🏛️ The UN's founding principles aimed to ensure world peace for global prosperity, but now both peace and prosperity are endangered due to eroded trust and broken processes.
• 🌱 India has been focusing on issues affecting the vulnerable, including women, farmers, and youth, with targeted policies for betterment and access to essential services.
• 💼 India is expanding employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, with significant financial support for small businesses and street vendors.
• 🌟 India is creating replicable templates for digital delivery, governance, public services, and accessible healthcare as examples for the world.
• 🌍 India encourages the Global South to voice shared concerns and has convened Global South Summits to foster collaboration.
• 🌱 India contributes to global well-being by undertaking projects in multiple nations, providing resources, and ensuring maritime safety and security.
• 🌐 India's transformative potential in digital technology, space exploration, 5G, fintech, and housing showcases its capabilities and global relevance.
• 🏛️ The UN must remain the central platform for finding common ground on global issues and must adapt to be effective and representative in the contemporary era.

Q & A

Who is Sabhan Yam J Shanar?

Sabhan Yam J Shanar is the Minister of External Affairs of India, as mentioned in the script.

What is the theme of the 79th UN General Assembly?

The theme of the 79th UN General Assembly is 'leaving no one behind'.

What are some of the global challenges mentioned in the script?

Some global challenges mentioned include the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, unfair trade practices, unviable projects leading to high debt levels, threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity, technological advancements causing anxiety, climate events, food and health security concerns.

What does the script suggest is the reason for the current state of the world?

The script suggests that the current state of the world is due to a combination of structural shortcomings, political calculations, naked self-interest, and disregard for those left behind.

What is India's approach to addressing the issues of the vulnerable, as per the script?

India's approach includes focusing on issues of the vulnerable such as women, farmers, and youth, creating targeted policies and initiatives for their betterment, ensuring access to basic amenities, closing the gender gap in various sectors, and providing financial support to farmers.

How does India plan to expand opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship?

India plans to expand opportunities by offering stronger training, large-scale financial incentives, and providing loans to small businesses and street vendors.

What are some examples of India's replicable templates mentioned in the script?

Examples include digital delivery, enhancing the quality of governance and public services, making medicines and health facilities accessible and affordable, and creating a digital public infrastructure.

What is India's stance on the current globalization model?

India believes that the current globalization model is unfair, with over concentration of production hollowing out many economies. India suggests democratizing global production, building resilient supply chains, ensuring trusted digital services, and promoting an open-source culture.

What does the script say about the role of the UN in resolving conflicts?

The script emphasizes that the UN should play a crucial role in resolving conflicts like the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza, and that the international community seeks urgent solutions.

What is India's position on Pakistan's cross-border terrorism policy, according to the script?

India's position is that Pakistan's cross-border terrorism policy will never succeed, and it should not expect impunity. India believes that actions will have consequences and that the issue to be resolved is the illegal occupation of Indian territory by Pakistan and its long-standing attachment to terrorism.

What does the script suggest about the need for UN reform?

The script suggests that the UN needs to be reformed to be more effective, efficient, and representative, and that it should not remain anachronistic. It emphasizes the importance of the UN as a central platform for finding common ground and addressing global issues.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Global Challenges and the Need for UN Reform

The speaker addresses the UN General Assembly, acknowledging the difficult times the world is facing, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and conflicts in Gaza. The speaker emphasizes the theme of the 79th UN General Assembly, 'leaving no one behind,' and the importance of addressing peace, sustainable development, and human dignity. The paragraph highlights the erosion of trust and the breakdown of processes within the international system, calling for urgent reform of multilateralism. The speaker also points out the negative impacts of unfair trade practices, unviable projects, and technology advancements that cause anxiety. The speech concludes by reflecting on the founding principles of the UN and the need to rekindle optimism and demonstrate that big changes are possible.

05:02

🇮🇳 India's Response to Global Concerns

The speaker outlines India's multifaceted approach to global challenges. India focuses on supporting vulnerable groups such as women, farmers, and youth through targeted policies and initiatives. The country has made significant strides in providing access to basic amenities, reducing the gender gap in various sectors, and supporting small businesses through financial incentives. India also emphasizes the importance of creating replicable models for digital delivery and enhancing governance and public services. The speaker highlights India's role in encouraging the Global South to voice shared concerns and its contributions to global well-being, including undertaking projects in 78 nations and responding to humanitarian situations. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the transformative potential of digital technology and India's commitment to working together to create a larger lifting tide in troubled times.

10:04

🌱 India's Vision for a Digital and Equitable Future

The speaker discusses India's experience with digital transformation and its potential to improve daily lives. India has efficiently delivered public benefits and support to small businesses and farmers through digital means. The country's fintech sector has empowered street vendors and the workforce, ensuring more people are included in the digital economy. India's achievements in space exploration, 5G technology, and housing global capabilities centers showcase its potential as a developed nation. The speaker calls for a fair globalization model that democratizes global production, builds resilient supply chains, and promotes an open-source culture to ensure widespread prosperity. The paragraph also addresses the need to resolve conflicts and the importance of respecting international law and commitments.

15:06

🏛️ Addressing Global Injustices and the Role of the UN

The speaker addresses the issue of countries being left behind due to circumstances beyond their control and those that make choices with disastrous consequences, specifically calling out Pakistan for its cross-border terrorism policy. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of exposing dysfunctional nations and holding them accountable for their actions. The speaker calls for a more representative and efficient UN that can address contemporary global issues and strengthen the world order. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for the UN General Assembly to send a clear message of determination to change the world for the better by coming together, sharing experiences, and strengthening resolve.

Keywords

💡Covid pandemic

The Covid pandemic refers to the global outbreak of the coronavirus disease that began in late 2019. It has had a profound impact on health, economies, and societies worldwide. In the video, the pandemic is mentioned as one of the significant challenges the world is facing, causing development plans to go off track and SDG targets to recede.

💡Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations to address social, economic, and environmental issues by 2030. The script mentions that the targets for SDGs are receding due to various global crises, emphasizing the urgency of addressing these challenges to ensure no one is left behind.

💡Global South

The term 'Global South' generally refers to developing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. The script discusses the need for countries in the Global South to voice their shared concerns and work together, as well as India's efforts to create replicable templates for development that can benefit these countries.

💡Digital transformation

Digital transformation involves the use of digital technologies to create new or modify existing processes, cultures, and customer experiences. The video highlights India's digital transformation, showcasing how technology can be used to empower people and improve public services, such as through digital public infrastructure and People's Pharmacy.

💡Global Commons

The Global Commons refers to shared resources that are collectively managed, such as the oceans, atmosphere, and outer space. The script mentions India's contributions to the well-being of the Global Commons, including undertaking projects in various nations and ensuring maritime safety and security.

💡Climate change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities. The video script discusses climate events occurring with greater intensity and frequency, posing a significant threat to global food and health security.

💡Multilateralism

Multilateralism is the practice of multiple countries working together to achieve common goals. The script emphasizes the need to reform multilateralism to address the current global challenges and ensure that the UN is not paralyzed in the face of division, conflict, terrorism, and violence.

💡Human dignity

Human dignity refers to the inherent worth and respect accorded to every individual. The video script mentions that human dignity is at risk due to the current state of the world, and it is crucial to ensure that the pursuit of sustainable development and peace does not compromise this fundamental value.

💡Globalization

Globalization is the increasing interconnectedness of world markets, cultures, and communication. The script discusses the unfairness of the current globalization model, which has led to over-concentration of production and hollowed out many economies, impacting employment and social stability.

💡Democratizing Global Production

Democratizing Global Production refers to the idea of spreading production capabilities across a wider range of countries to promote more equitable economic growth. The video script suggests that building resilient supply chains and ensuring trusted digital services can promote widespread prosperity and reduce the negative impacts of globalization.

💡Peace and development

Peace and development are often seen as two sides of the same coin, where stability and security are necessary for sustainable development, and vice versa. The script highlights the need for the international community to resolve conflicts and ensure that the economic implications for the weak and vulnerable are addressed.

Highlights

Greetings from 1.4 billion people of India and congratulations to the president of the General Assembly.

Support for the 79th UN General Assembly's theme of 'leaving no one behind'.

The world is facing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, and conflicts in Gaza.

Development plans are off track and SDG targets are receding.

Unfair trade practices, unviable projects, and threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity are highlighted.

Technology advancements are a source of anxiety as well as hope.

The world stands fractious, polarized, and frustrated.

The need for reforming multilateralism is emphasized.

Leaving no one behind means advancing peace, ensuring sustainable development, and strengthening human dignity.

The UN must not be paralyzed by division, conflict, terrorism, and violence.

India's focus on issues of the vulnerable, women, farmers, and youth through targeted policies.

Expansion of opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship in India.

Creating replicable templates for digital delivery and enhancing governance.

Encouraging the global South to voice shared concerns and convening Global South Summits.

India's contributions to the well-being of the Global Commons and responding to pressing needs.

The transformative potential of digital technology in India's daily lives.

India's quest for a developed nation and its global capabilities centers.

The unfairness of the current globalization model and the need for democratizing global production.

The importance of resolving conflicts and the world's inability to be fatalistic about violence.

The need for the UN to maintain respect for international law and commitments.

Condemnation of terrorism and the opposition to global terrorists.

Criticism of Pakistan's cross-border terrorism policy and its impact on the region.

The call for a more representative and efficient UN to address contemporary issues.

The message of determination to change the world for the better through unity and shared resolve.

Transcripts

I now give the floor to his Excellency

sabahan yam J shanar minister of EX

external Affairs of

[Applause]

India Madame President

excellencies distinguished members of

the general assembly

greetings and namaskar from 1.4 billion

people of

bhat I congratulate the president of the

general assembly his Excellency Mr fimon

Y and strongly support the 79th UN

General assembly's theme of leaving no

one

behind Madame

President we are gathered here at a

difficult

time the world is yet to recover from

the ravages of the covid

pandemic a war in Ukraine is well into

its third

year the conflict in Gaza is acquiring

wider

ramifications across the global South

development plans have gone off

rails and sdg targets are are

receding but there is

more unfair Trade Practices threaten

jobs just as unviable projects raise

debt

levels any

connectivity that flouts sovereignty and

territorial Integrity acquires strategic

connotations especially when it is not a

shared

Endeavor technology advancements which

have long been a source of Hope

are now equally a factor of

anxiety climate events occur with

greater intensity and

frequency food security is as worrisome

as health

Security in truth the world stands

fractious polarized and

frustrated conversations have become

difficult agreements even more so

this is surely not what the founders of

the United Nations would have wanted of

us Madame President almost exactly eight

decades ago the first steps towards the

formation of the UN were taken near here

at damat

Oaks refined thereafter at the yta

conference they were finally approved in

San

Francisco the debates of that era

centered around how to ensure World

Peace a prerequisite for Global

Prosperity today we find both peace and

prosperity equally

endangered and that Madame President is

because trust has eroded and processes

have broken down countries have

extracted more from the International

System than they have put into it

enfeebling it in the

process we see that vividly in every

Challenge and every

crisis reforming

multilateralism is therefore an

imperative the urgency of this call is

highlighted by the theme of this

session leaving no one behind means

advancing peace ensuring sustainable

development and strengthening human

dignity this cannot be delivered by a un

paralyzed when faced with division

conflict terrorism and

violence nor can it be Advanced if

access to food Fuel and fertilizer is

jeopardized when capturing markets lacks

restraint it damages the livelihood and

social fabric of others evasion of

climate action responsibilities by the

developed undermine the growth Prospect

of the

developing

indeed when resource crunch Limits The

Very pursuit of sdg targets it is not

just economies but human dignity itself

that is

emper if the world is in such a state

this body must ask itself how has this

come to

pass the problem problem s arise from a

combination of structural

shortcomings political

calculations naked self-interest and yes

disregard for those left

behind it is

natural to feel overwhelmed by what we

confront

now after all there are so many

dimensions different moving Parts issues

of the day and the changing

landscape but every change must begin

somewhere and there is no better place

than where it all

started we the members of the United

Nations must now seriously and

purposefully address ourselves to that

task not because it is a competition of

fore influence or a squabble for

positions but because if we carry on

like this the state of the world is only

going to get worse and that could mean

that more of us are going to be left

behind Madame President as the world

contemplates these

concerns India has sought to respond in

a variety of

ways first by focusing on the issues of

the vulnerable women farmers and youth

and fashioning targeted policies and

initiatives for the

betterment assured access to piped water

to electricity to cooking gas and new

homes are changing millions of

lives the gender gap has started to

close be it in health in education or in

the

workplace our food producers twice a

year get financial support at at the

click of a

button and a third term government has

made Skilling of the youth its key

priority second by expanding

opportunities for employment and for

entrepreneurship including through

stronger training and large scale

Financial

incentives

495 mudra loans 495 million mudra loans

have been given to small business

businesses in the last decade 67% of

them are to

women equally

telling 6.56 million Street vendors have

availed of 8.85 million Swan loans this

is just in the last four years 45% of

the beneficiaries are again

B third by creating templates that are

replicable elsewhere it could be digital

delivery or enhancing the quality of

governance and public

services as indeed making medicines and

health

facilities accessible and

affordable a digital public

infrastructure and a People's Pharmacy

are today examples of what India can

readily offer to the world it is also an

alternative Vision where technology is

used to empower

not to

dominate

fourth by encouraging the global South

to voice it shared concerns and come

together to that end we have convened

three Global South Summits the most

recent in August of

2024 and fifth by contributing to the

well-being of the Global Commons and

responding to the pressing needs of

those in distress

this has ranged from undertaking

projects in 78 Nations providing

resources to neighbors and responding to

HR situations to supplying medicines and

ensuring Maritime Safety and

Security Madame President given the

scale of transformation underway in

India each of these Dimensions underline

that the world's problems can can indeed

be

tackled and that by working together we

can surely create a larger lifting

tide in these troubl times it is

necessary Madame President to provide

hope and rekindle

optimism we have to demonstrate that big

changes are possible and not over a long

period and nothing is more powerful in

this regard than the transformative

potential of the

digital we have seen its impact in our

daily lives in India over the last

decade it is visible when public

benefits from nutritional support and

housing to energy and health are

delivered efficiently and on a vast

scale or when small business loans and

Farmers support are extended without

using intermediate

duties in fact when Street vendors and

exper Workforce confidently use fintech

in their regular

transactions when Services delivery and

benefits move seamlessly and

transparently less people will be left

behind that Madame President is India's

experience and India's

relevance such leap frog

possibilities coupled with people

Centric policies and Visionary

leadership can be real game

changers when India lands on the

moon rolls out its own 5G stack

dispatches vaccines

worldwide Embraces fintech or houses so

many Global capabilities

centers there is a message

here our Quest for a vixit bat or a

developed India will understandably be

followed

closely Madame President an important

cause of many getting left behind has

been the unfairness of the current

globalization

model over concentration of production

has hollowed out many economies

impacting their employment and social

stability

democratizing Global Production building

resilient Supply chains ensuring trusted

Digital Services and espousing an

open-source culture all these promote

widespread

Prosperity there are economic answers

just as there are social ones Madame

President the UN has always maintained

that peace and development go hand in

hand yet when challenges to one have

emerged due regard has not been given to

the

other clearly their economic

implications for the weak and vulnerable

need to be

highlighted but we must also recognize

that conflicts themselves must be

resolved the world cannot be fatalistic

about the continuation of violence on a

large scale no more then be impervious

to its broader

consequences whether it is the war in

Ukraine or the conflict in Gaza the

International Community seeks urgent

Solutions these sentiments must be

acknowledged and acted

upon Madame

President the UN is a testimony to the

agreed principles and shared objectives

of the world order

respect for international law and

commitments are among the foremost in

that

regard if we are to ensure Global

Security and

stability then it is essential that

those who seek to lead set the right

example nor can we countenance egregious

violations of our basic

tenants terrorism is

antithetical of of everything that the

world stands for all its forms of and

manifestations must be resolutely

opposed the sanctioning of global

terrorists by the United Nations should

also not be impeded for political

reasons Madame

President many countries get left behind

due to circumstances beyond their

control but some make ious choices with

disastrous

consequences a premier example is our

neighbor

Pakistan unfortunately their misdeeds

affect others as well especially the

neighborhood when this poity instills

such fanaticism among its people it's

GDP can only be measured in terms of

radicalization and its exports

in the form of

terrorism today we see the ills it

sought to visit on others consume its

own

Society it can't blame the world this is

only

Karma Madame President a dysfunctional

Nation coveting the lands of others must

be exposed and must be

counted we heard some bizarre

assertions from it at this very Forum

yesterday so let me make India's

position perfectly

clear Pakistan's crossborder terrorism

policy will never succeed and it can

have no expectation of

impunity on the contrary actions will

certainly have

consequences the issue to be resolved

between us is now only the evocation of

illegally occupied Indian Territory by

Pakistan and of course the abandonment

of Pakistan's long-standing attachment

to

terrorism Madame President the global

order is inherently pluralistic and

diverse the UN began with 51 members we

are now

193 the world has changed profoundly and

so have its concerns and its

opportunities but to address both and

indeed to strengthen the order itself it

is essential that the UN be the central

platform for finding common

ground and that it certainly cannot be

by remaining

anachronistic large parts of the world

cannot be left behind when it comes to

deciding the key issues of our times an

effective and efficient you

a more representative un and a un fit

for purpose in the Contemporary era is

essential let us therefore send out a

clear message from this un G session we

are determined not to be left behind by

coming together sharing experiences

pulling resources and strengthening our

resolve we can change the world for the

better I thank you mam PR