India, Brazil and South Africa have expressed concern at “persistent attacks on multilateralism” and the continued escalation of tensions in West Asia and called for protecting civilians and civil infrastructure in line with international law and the UN Charter.
The need to reform global governance institutions, the situation in West Asia and the priorities of developing countries figured in a meeting of the foreign ministers of the three countries on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York. The meeting came close on the heels of India and Brazil joining hands with other key players such as Australia and the European Union (EU) to launch the Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) initiative in New York. The three countries also expressed concern at the continued escalation of tensions in the West Asia and emphasised that actions outside the established frameworks of dialogue, diplomacy and international law “risk further undermining of regional peace, security and stability. The three ministers emphasised the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in line with international law and the UN Charter, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the region. They backed a two-state solution with an independent and viable State of Palestine side by side with Israel, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The three countries emphasised the need for developing countries to strengthen efforts to promote dialogue and consultations for more just and equitable global governance amid contemporary realities of the multipolar world.
A joint statement issued after the meeting of external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Brazil’s foreign minister Mauro Vieira and South African foreign minister Ronald Lamola said the three sides expressed growing concern over the “persistent attacks on multilateralism and grave violations” of the UN Charter and rejected the use of force against the territorial integrity or the political independence of any state. They also encouraged increasing efforts, through dialogue and diplomacy, to restore peace and expressed concern at renewed threats of military action that will “only serve to jeopardise ongoing dialogue, mediation and confidence-building efforts”. The three countries reiterated that a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict “can only be achieved by peaceful means and depends on the fulfilment of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people”. Multipolarity can expand opportunities for developing countries to enhance inclusive, sustainable and equitable economic globalisation and cooperation, the joint statement said. The Global South should act as a driver for positive change amid deepening geopolitical tensions, rapid economic downturns and technological changes, protectionist measures, migratory challenges and climate change, the three countries said.
