INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN THE UNITED NATIONS IS NECESSARY : SHASHI THAROOR

Press Information Bureau Government of India ***** INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN THE UNITED NATIONS IS NECESSARY : SHASHI THAROOR   Kolkata : October 30, 2009                 The Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Shahsi Tharoor has said that todays changing world has two clear trends. One the trend of convergence and simultaneously the trend of divergence. Shri Tharoor was addressing at a symposium on "The Role of United Nations in the Changing World" organised by the West Bengal Federation of United Nations Associations in Kolkata today               Shri Tharoor elucidated his point by saying that world is a global village now. Present economic scenario needs us to remain interconnected all the time. Hence people are always connected through internet, e-mails and social networking sites. At the same time Shri Tharoor pointed out that terrorist and terrorist groups are tearing us apart. Hence simultaneously we are feeling convergent and divergent. The Minister of State said that classic tolls of modern times are also being utilized by the terrorists. He said todays problems are also global which he described as 'Problems without passport'. In this connection he cited the examples of the problems of illegal trafficking of drugs and diseases and problems of climate change. Shri Tharoor iterated that however rich one country may be these problems can not be solved by a singular country. Here lies the importance of an organisation like United Nations, he stressed.               The Minister of State said that some institutional changes are necessary in the United Nations to enable it to cope up with the changing world more successfully. Shri Tharoor reminded that when United Nations was created it had only 52 member countries. Now it has 192 member countries, whereas Security Council has 11 members at that time which now has gone up only to 15. Shri Tharoor described it as a "historical anomaly". The Minister of State stated that India has been a very supportive member of the United Nations since 1945. "We still are amongst the top contributors" Shri Tharoor pointed out. Even in the changing world there is no substitute for UN, India believes. In that backdrop Shri Tharoor called upon the UN members to work in such a way so that it can play its requisite role necessary in the changing world. UN members have a collective responsibility to keep UN relevant for the next 50 years, the Minister of State for External Affairs iterated.   ********* SC/spandey PIB Kolkata