Terming India as the world's pharmacy, UNGA president Abdulla
Shahid on Monday said that New Delhi has reached not only the
neighbouring countries but also as far as Latin America and the
Pacific and has shown its human face of compassion.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Shahid, the Foreign Minister of
the Maldives, who is on a visit to India, said, "India is the
world's pharmacist and has reached out to several countries. I have
found that India has reached not only the neighbouring countries
but also as far as Latin America and the Pacific. India has really
shown its human face of compassion."
Moreover, while speaking on the menace of terrorism, he
highlighted that "when it comes to terrorism, we have to agree that
it has no religion, no creed, and it is pure evil. The world should
be able to unite against this."
Calling out for reforms in UN governance, Shahid on Monday said
that the Security Council must reflect the reality of geopolitics
of the current world order.
"The IG and the inter-governmental negotiating process for the
security council reform have been going on for 14 years. Time and
time again I have during this one year, called on the member states
to hasten this process because the security council has to be
reflective of the current geopolitics of the world, it cannot be a
thing of the past because it that happens the credibility of the
organ itself will continue to fail."
This statement is in resonance with India's call for UN
reforms.
At a UNSC briefing on "Maintenance of International Peace and
Security: Promote Common Security Through Dialogue and
Cooperation", India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira
Kamboj noted, "The most urgent thing therefore for us to do is to
make the Security Council more representative of developing
countries, so as to reflect current geopolitical realities."
While noting the dynamic leadership of UNGA President and Foreign
Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, Vice-President Jagdeep
Dhankhar on Sunday praised his work in revitalizing the UN and
added that his visit to India will further bolster the
multi-faceted ties with the Maldives.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, on Sunday, called on Shahid
and discussed further deepening of India's relations with the
Maldives. Secretary Kwatra congratulated the UNGA President on his
'Presidency of Hope' and for his visionary leadership in the 76th
session of the UNGA. Notably, in November, the UNGA president
launched the President of the General Assembly's (PGA) Harnessing
Opportunities for Promoting Empowerment of Youth Fellowship - the
PGA's Fellowship for HOPE.
With the generous support of Member States, the Fellowship seeks to
benefit eight young diplomats over the remainder of the 76th
session.
Shahid, who arrived in Delhi on Sunday, held a productive visit,
meeting and interacting with members of the UN Country Team, to
enhance the India-UN relationship.
The UN Country team hosted the UNGA president at the UN House in
New Delhi. "Inspiring exchange on his 5 Rays of Hope for unity
through turbulence, overcoming Covid and empowering women & youth.
Underlined India's leadership role at all levels for Sustainable
Development Goals," Kwatra said. Last year, in his address to the
opening of the 76th General Debate, Shahid talked about his five
rays of hope."Vaccinating the world is my top focus. We simply must
close the gap on vaccine access," he said of his first hope. The
second is rebuilding sustainably from the pandemic. Third, he
promised to address climate change. The fourth hope for his
presidency is related to gender issues and the fifth is on
uplifting the rights and roles of women globally.