06-16-2006, 11:16 AM
My post in BRF without knowing bhushan's post above.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->While I am happy that an Indian is being nominated for the UNSG post it means a few things to me:
1) The quest of UNSC reforms initiated by Kofi Anan is dead. Finis. No more. In that case is India being offered a sop to compensate for that?
The point is that it is not traditional for the UNSG to be from a permanent member as it would be conflict of interest and concentration of power. So atleast for the term of Mr Tharoor, India can kiss the UNSC reforms goodbye.
Also there was trial balloon of offering Manmohan Singh the same UNSG position. What happened?
2)Have the mandrins in MEA considered the consequences in case Mr Tharoor does not realize the position? Not only the image will be diminished but he will have to quit his current #2 spot which would be a loss. The MEA since JLN had built up its personnel in the UN secretariat. Is it worth losing that spot?
To date very few initiatives that India has started have been realized in the UN. Most of the NAM desert Indian positions. It is with utmost reluctance these folks have supported India for the UNSC seat. Will have to start with square one.
Also is this another morgantic arrangement like the J18 deal? Seek a lesser temporary postion at UN instead of teh UNSC seat?
Then coming to Mr Tharoor, he has often spoken at SAJA and other johlawala gatherings. Is he truly representing all India or just the internationalist fringe in India? Again from his resume he has been very much an outsider for most of his formative years - education, living etc., The only thing Indian about him is his passport. What are his antecedents? We know atleast Fareed bhai's.
Again why did the MEA spring this out of its cap/hat without preparing opinion at least in India? Is there a vacuum at the MEA? A whole bunch of adhoc policy measures have been implemented since the death of JN Dixit.
All in all good luck to him and may the force be with him.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->While I am happy that an Indian is being nominated for the UNSG post it means a few things to me:
1) The quest of UNSC reforms initiated by Kofi Anan is dead. Finis. No more. In that case is India being offered a sop to compensate for that?
The point is that it is not traditional for the UNSG to be from a permanent member as it would be conflict of interest and concentration of power. So atleast for the term of Mr Tharoor, India can kiss the UNSC reforms goodbye.
Also there was trial balloon of offering Manmohan Singh the same UNSG position. What happened?
2)Have the mandrins in MEA considered the consequences in case Mr Tharoor does not realize the position? Not only the image will be diminished but he will have to quit his current #2 spot which would be a loss. The MEA since JLN had built up its personnel in the UN secretariat. Is it worth losing that spot?
To date very few initiatives that India has started have been realized in the UN. Most of the NAM desert Indian positions. It is with utmost reluctance these folks have supported India for the UNSC seat. Will have to start with square one.
Also is this another morgantic arrangement like the J18 deal? Seek a lesser temporary postion at UN instead of teh UNSC seat?
Then coming to Mr Tharoor, he has often spoken at SAJA and other johlawala gatherings. Is he truly representing all India or just the internationalist fringe in India? Again from his resume he has been very much an outsider for most of his formative years - education, living etc., The only thing Indian about him is his passport. What are his antecedents? We know atleast Fareed bhai's.
Again why did the MEA spring this out of its cap/hat without preparing opinion at least in India? Is there a vacuum at the MEA? A whole bunch of adhoc policy measures have been implemented since the death of JN Dixit.
All in all good luck to him and may the force be with him.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->