'UNSC influenced by interests of P5': Canadian High Commissioner

Varanasi, Nov 22 (UNI) Canadian High Commissioner to India David M Malone, who has represented his country at the United Nations, today said the Security Council is influenced more by its five permanent members (P5) and less by other member nations.

Interacting with students after delivering a special lecture on 'UN Security Council: Boom or Bust,' at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) here, Dr Malone said the five permanent members -- USA, China, France, Russian Federation and Britain -- have concentrated majority of powers in their hands. The interests of the non-permanent members at the UNSC are often overidden by concerns of P5.

Queried about the UN being a puppet in the hands of the US, Dr Malone said if such had been the case, why did the American move to use force in Iraq fail in getting the support.

About the quest of India, Japan, Brazil and South Africa to obtain a permanent seat on the UNSC, Dr Malone said neither the P5 nor the other member nations, especially the small countries, are very supportive of the entire idea.

''The four countries aspiring to become permanent UNSC members must first contemplate what stops the small nations from supporting their quest before seriously embarking on the exercise,'' she added.

Speaking about the transition in the UN in the post cold war era, Dr Malone said the emergence of round-the-clock news channels and their proactive coverage of conflicts in various parts of the globe has compelled the UN to intervene in these conflicts.

Terming the emergence of these news channels as the ''CNN effect,'' Dr Malone said by beaming graphic details of destruction, suffering and human right violations in the conflict-torn nations, the news channels are doing what Florence Nightingale did during the Crimean War.

The Canadian High Commssioner also said that at least 25 NGOs were providing the ambassadors of various countries to UN with information on various global issues.

''During the 1990s, the UN was hardly bothered about what the NGOs were lobbying for, but as things stand now, it is not able to ignore these organisations,'' he claimed.

Dr Malone also praised India for taking the lead and doing an exceptional job in the UN peace keeping operations in conflict-torn nations, but suggested the country take measures to strengthen the SAARC, which is not a very active regional organisational.

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