On September
27, 2014
delivering
his maiden
address to
69th session
of UNGA, in
Hindi, and
at times
extempore,
Modi
launched
into a
remarkably
candid
exposition
of key
issues
confronting
world and
what India
and other
nations
should do
about them.
Let me first
congratulate
you on your
election as
the
President of
the 69th
session of
United
Nations
General
Assembly.
It is a
truly a
great honour
to address
you for the
first time
as the Prime
Minister of
India. I
stand here
conscious of
the hopes
and
expectations
of the
people of
India.
I am also
mindful of
the
expectations
of the world
from 1.25
billion
people.
India is a
country that
constitutes
one-sixth of
humanity; a
nation
experiencing
economic and
social
transformation
on a scale
rarely seen
in history.
Every
nation`s
world view
is shaped by
its
civilization
and
philosophical
tradition.
India`s
ancient
wisdom sees
the world as
one family.
It is
reflected in
a tradition
of openness
and
diversity;
co-existence
and
cooperation.
This is why
India speaks
not just for
itself, but
also for the
cause of
justice,
dignity,
opportunity
and
prosperity
around the
world.
It is also
because of
this
timeless
current of
thought that
India has an
unwavering
belief in
multilateralism.
Today, as I
stand here,
I am equally
aware of the
hopes that
are pinned
on this
great
assembly. I
am struck by
the sacred
belief that
brought us
together.
An
extraordinary
vision and a
clear
recognition
of our
shared
destiny
brought us
together to
build this
institution
for
advancing
peace and
security,
the rights
of every
human being
and economic
development
for all.
From 51
nations
then, today
193
sovereign
flags fly
at this
building.
Each nation,
born into
freedom, has
sought a
place here
with the
same belief
and hope.
We have
achieved
much in the
past six
decades in
our mission
in ending
wars,
preventing
conflict,
maintaining
peace,
feeding the
hungry,
striving to
save our
planet and
creating
opportunities
for
children.
69 UN
peacekeeping
missions
since 1948
have made
the blue
helmet the
colour of
peace.
Today, there
is a surge
to democracy
across the
world;
including in
South Asia;
-
in
Afghanistan,
we are
at a
historic
moment
of
democratic
transition
and
affirmation
of
unity.
Afghans
are
showing
that
their
desire
for a
peaceful
and
democratic
future
will
prevail
over
violence.
-
Nepal
has
moved
from
violence
to peace
and
democracy;
-
Bhutan`s
young
democracy
is
flourishing.
Democracy
is
trying
to find
a voice
in West
Asia and
North
Africa;
-
Tunisia`s
success
makes us
believe
that it
is
possible.
There is a
new stirring
for
stability,
progress and
progress in
Africa.
There is
unprecedented
spread of
prosperity
in Asia and
beyond,
rising on
the strength
of peace and
stability.
Latin
America, a
continent of
enormous
potential,
is coming
together in
shared
pursuit of
stability
and
prosperity,
which could
make it an
important
anchor of
the world.
India
desires a
peaceful and
stable
environment
for its
development.
A nation`s
destiny is
linked to
its
neighbourhood.
That is why
my
Government
has placed
the highest
priority on
advancing
friendship
and
cooperation
with her
neighbours.
This
includes
Pakistan. I
am
prepared to
engage in a
serious
bilateral
dialogue
with
Pakistan in
a peaceful
atmosphere,
without the
shadow of
terrorism,
to promote
our
friendship
and
cooperation.
However,
Pakistan
must also
take its
responsibility
seriously to
create an
appropriate
environment
for it.
Raising
issues in
this forum
will derail
the efforts
to resolve
the issues
between our
two
countries.
Instead,
today, we
should be
thinking
about the
victims of
floods in
Jammu and
Kashmir. In
India, we
have
organized
massive
flood relief
operations
and have
also offered
assistance
for Pakistan
Occupied
Kashmir.
India is
part of the
developing
world, but
we are
prepared to
share our
modest
resources
with those
countries
that need
this
assistance
as much as
we do.
This is a
time of
great flux
and change.
The world is
witnessing
tensions and
turmoil on a
scale rarely
seen in
recent
history.
There are no
major wars,
but tensions
and
conflicts
abound; and,
there is
absence of
real peace
and
uncertainty
about the
future. An
integrating
Asia Pacific
region is
still
concerned
about
maritime
security
that is
fundamental
to its
future.
Europe faces
risk of new
division. In
West Asia,
extremism
and fault
lines are
growing. Our
own region
continues to
face the
destabilizing
threat of
terrorism.
Africa faces
the twin
threat of
rising
terrorism
and a health
crisis.
Terrorism
is taking
new shape
and new name.
No country,
big or
small, in
the north or
the south,
east or
west, is
free from
its threat.
Are we
really
making
concerted
international
efforts to
fight these
forces, or
are we still
hobbled by
our
politics,
our
divisions,
our
discrimination
between
countries,
distinction
between good
and bad
terrorists?
Even
today,
states allow
terrorist
sanctuaries
on their
territory or
use
terrorism as
instruments
of their
policy.
We welcome
efforts to
combat
terrorism`s
resurgence
in West
Asia, which
is affecting
countries
near and
far. The
effort
should
involve the
support of
all
countries in
the region.
Today, even
as seas,
space and
cyber space
have become
new
instruments
of
prosperity,
they could
also become
a new
theatre of
conflicts.
Today, more
than ever,
the need for
international
compact,
which is the
foundation
of the
United
Nations, is
stronger
than before.
While we
speak of an
interdependent
world, have
we become
more united
as nations?
Today, we
still
operate in
various Gs
with
different
numbers.
India, too,
is involved
in several.
But, how
much are we
able to work
together as
G1 or G-All.
On the one
side, we say
that our
destinies
are
inter-linked,
on the other
hand we
still think
in terms of
zero sum
game. If the
other
benefits, I
stand to
lose.
It is easy
to be
cynical and
say nothing
will change;
but if we do
that, we run
the risk of
shirking our
responsibilities
and we put
our
collective
future in
danger. Let
us bring
ourselves in
tune with
the call of
our times.
First,
let us work
for genuine
peace.
No one
country or
group of
countries
can
determine
the course
of this
world. There
has to be a
genuine
international
partnership.
This is not
just a moral
position,
but a
practical
reality.
We need a
genuine
dialogue and
engagement
between
countries. I
say this
from the
conviction
of the
philosophical
tradition
that I come
from.
Our efforts
must begin
here - in
the United
Nations.
We must
reform the
United
Nations,
including
the Security
Council,
and make it
more
democratic
and
participative.
Institutions
that reflect
the
imperatives
of 20th
century
won`t be
effective in
the 21st. It
would face
the risk of
irrelevance;
and we will
face the
risk of
continuing
turbulence
with no one
capable of
addressing
it.
-
We
should
put
aside
our
differences
and
mount a
concerted
international
effort
to
combat
terrorism
and
extremism.
As a
symbol
of this
effort,
I urge
you to
adopt
the
Comprehensive
Convention
on
International
Terrorism.
-
We
should
ensure
that
there
will be
peace,
stability
and
order in
the
outer
space
and
cyber
space.
-
We
should
work
together
to
ensure
that all
countries
observe
international
rules
and
norms.
-
We
should
energise
the
noble
task of
UN
Peacekeeping;
we
should
involve
troop
contributing
countries
in the
process
of
decision
making
-
Let us
continue
redouble
our
efforts
to
pursue
universal
global
disarmament
and
non-proliferation.
-
We
should
ensure
that
there
will be
peace,
stability
and
order in
the
outer
space
and
cyber
space.
Globalisation
has created
new poles of
growth; new
industries;
and new
source of
employment.
At the same
time,
billions
live on the
edge of
poverty and
want;
countries
that are
barely able
to survive a
global
economic
storm.
There has
never been a
time when it
has seemed
more
possible
than now to
change this.
Technology
has made
things
possible;
the cost of
providing it
has reduced.
We no longer
are totally
dependent on
bricks and
mortars.
If you think
of the speed
with which
Facebook or
Twitter has
spread
around the
world, if
you think of
the speed
with which
cell phones
have spread,
then you
must also
believe that
development
and
empowerment
can spread
with the
same speed.
Each country
must of
course take
its own
national
measures;
each
government
must fulfil
its
responsibility
to support
growth and
development.
At the same
time, we
also require
a genuine
international
partnership.
At one
level, it
means a
better
coordination
of policy so
that our
efforts
becomes
mutually
supportive,
not mutually
damaging.
It also
means that
when we
craft
agreements
on
international
trade, we
accommodate
each other`s
concerns and
interests.
When we
think of the
scale of
want in the
world –
-
2.5
billion
people
without
access
to basic
sanitation;
-
1.3
billion
people
without
access
to
electricity;
or
-
1.1
billion
people
without
access
to
drinking
water,
we need
a more
comprehensive
and
concerted
direct
international
action.
In India,
the most
important
aspects of
my
development
agenda are
precisely to
focus on
these issues
and address
them in a
definite
time frame.
The
eradication
of poverty
must remain
at the core
of the
Post-2015
Development
Agenda and
command our
fullest
attention.
Third, we
must seek a
more
habitable
and
sustainable
world
There are
debates and
documents on
these
issues. But,
we see many
things
around us
that should
cause us
alarm. And,
also many
things that
we no longer
see –
forests,
birds and
animals,
clean rivers
and lakes
and blue
skies.
I want to
say three
things.
One, we
should be
honest in
shouldering
our
responsibilities
in meeting
the
challenges.
The world
had agreed
on a
beautiful
balance of
collective
action –
common but
differentiated
responsibilities.
That should
form the
basis of
continued
action.
This also
means that
the
developed
countries
must fulfill
their
commitments
for funding
and
technology
transfer.
Second,
national
action is
imperative.
Technology
has made
many things
possible. We
need
imagination
and
commitment.
India is
prepared to
share its
technology
and
capabilities,
just as we
have
announced a
free
satellite
for the
SAARC
countries.
Third, we
need to
change our
lifestyles.
Energy not
consumed is
the cleanest
energy.
We can
achieve the
same level
of
development,
prosperity
and well
being
without
necessarily
going down
the path of
reckless
consumption.
It doesn`t
mean that
economies
will suffer;
it will mean
that our
economies
will take on
a different
character.
For us in
India,
respect for
nature is an
integral
part of
spiritualism.
We treat
nature`s
bounties as
sacred.
Yoga is
an
invaluable
gift of our
ancient
tradition.
Yoga
embodies
unity of
mind and
body;
thought and
action;
restraint
and
fulfillment;
harmony
between man
and nature;
a holistic
approach to
health and
well being.
It is not
about
exercise but
to discover
the sense of
oneness with
yourself,
the world
and the
nature. By
changing our
lifestyle
and creating
consciousness,
it can help
us deal with
climate
change.
Let us work
towards
adopting an
International
Yoga Day.
Finally,
We are at a
historic
moment
Every age is
defined by
its
character;
and, each
generation
is
remembered
for how it
rose
together to
meet its
challenges.
We have that
responsibility
to rise to
our
challenges
now. Nowhere
is this more
pronounced
than in this
great
assembly.
Next year we
will be
seventy. We
should ask
ourselves
whether we
should wait
until we are
80 or 100.
-
Let us
fulfill
our
promise
to
reform
the
United
Nations
Security
Council.
-
Let us
fulfill
our
pledge
on a
Post-2015
Development
Agenda
so that
there is
new hope
and
belief
in us
around
the
world.
-
Let us
make
2015
also a
new
watershed
for a
sustainable
world.
-
Let it
be the
beginning
of a new
journey
together.
Thank you.
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