Press Release

Videsh Niti Series: Second Session on “Relevance of United Nations in the Present Global Order: Reality Check”

1. The Embassy of India, Berlin organized the second session of the “Videsh Niti Series” of Foreign Policy Discussions on February 27, 2017. The series was launched in January 2017 with an aim to ensure greater appreciation of India’s foreign policy positions in Germany and introduce a meaningful dialogue on issues of strategic importance, in a contemporary format with the participation of German policy makers, think tanks and other related individuals and institutions. The Second Session in the series was hosted in collaboration with German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).

2. The theme of discussion in this session was United Nations under the topic “Relevance of the United Nations in the Present Global Order: Reality Check”. The issue of United Nations Reforms is a topic central to both the Indian and the German Foreign Policies. Under the umbrella of G-4, India and Germany have closely associated to bring about comprehensive reforms in the United Nations taking into account the geopolitical realities of the 21st Century, with the aim to guarantee peace and security worldwide.

3. The Panelists for the Session were Dr. Thomas Fitschen, Director for the United Nations, for International Cooperation against Terrorism and for Cyber Foreign Policy, German Foreign Office; Dr. Henning Riecke, Head of Program, USA/Transatlantic Relations, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP); Dr. Janka Oertel, Program Director, Koerber Foundation and Mr. Abhishek Singh, Deputy Chief of the Mission. The select group of participants belong to the German Government, Bundestag, Think-Tanks and Foundations, Diplomatic Missions, academia and others interested in foreign policy matters.

4. Highlighting the Indian Perspective, DCM Mr. Abhishek Singh stressed the need for urgent reform of UN Security Council. He mentioned that UNSC is stuck in a ‘time warp’ and runs the risk of being irrelevant if reforms are not realized urgently. He also briefed the audience on the important contribution of India to peacekeeping operations and discussed the challenges being faced by the UN Peacekeeping Operations. With respect to the discussion on the role of UN in the Counter terrorism issues, he called for early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and stressed the need for bringing transparency in the UNSC Sanctions Committee especially with regard to UNSC Resolution 1267.