UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will attend the 14th ASEAN-UN Summit in Vientiane, Laos on October 11, 2024. Photo Credit: AP
India was notably left out of a letter signed by 104 countries, including European and African countries as well as most of the global South, which “condemned” the issue. Israel to impose sanctions on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres From entering Israeli territory.
While India has broken with the Global South on several resolutions criticizing Israel, abstaining from at least four such major resolutions on Palestinian issues, the decision not to sign the letter circulated by Chile, and Brazil, Colombia, Africa, Uganda, Indonesia, Spain, Guyana and Mexico, supported by the South, are particularly important because it is seen as protecting the UN Secretary-General and the UN itself, rather than protecting any party in the conflict.
Most of South Asia’s neighboring countries, as well as West Asia, South America and Africa – which make up the developing world – signed the letter that was circulated at the United Nations last week.
The letter said 105 signatories, including 104 member states and the African Union, expressed “deep concern and condemnation” over Israel’s decision to declassify the Secretary-General. personalityless“Such actions undermine the ability of the United Nations to fulfill its mandate, which includes mediating conflicts and providing humanitarian assistance,” the letter said.
Israel’s order, Mr. Guterres’ announcement personalityless (PNG) On October 2, it was issued by its Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who accused the UN Secretary-General of not “explicitly” criticizing Iranian missile attacks on Israel, even though Mr Guterres criticized Iran’s actions. Statements were issued. Before and after the ban. Mr Katz said that as a result Mr Guterres “does not deserve to set foot on Israeli soil”.
“As member states of the United Nations, we call for respect for the leadership of the United Nations and its mission,” the letter issued by Chile’s foreign ministry said. “We reaffirm our full support and confidence in the Secretary-General and his work,” it added. The letter follows a similar show of support for the UN Secretary-General, when the 15-nation UN Security Council issued a statement last week saying it “does not engage with the UN Secretary-General or the UN Any decision to do so is counterproductive, especially in the context of rising tensions in the Middle East”.
Chile’s letter was endorsed by at least 10 UN Security Council members, including France, Russia, China, Slovenia and Switzerland, although the US, Britain, Japan and South Korea did not sign it.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not respond to requests for comment on why India did not sign the letter. On October 4, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson had said that for India, Mr Guterres is the UN Secretary-General, and “what anyone else says about it, what any third person says is not our area of view or subject to comment.” No”, without commenting on the ban.
published – October 12, 2024 10:51 PM IST