India’s envoy underscores the enduring relevance of the UN Charter ahead of the organisation’s annual commemoration….reports Asian Lite News Desk
India has reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, describing the founding document of the world body as a symbol of “hope” for its 1.4 billion citizens ahead of the commemoration of UN Charter Day later this month.
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, P Harish, made the remarks after symbolically signing the Preamble of the UN Charter on Tuesday as part of a ceremony marking the approaching anniversary of the document’s signing in 1945.
The initiative, proposed by Annalena Baerbock, aims to reaffirm member states’ commitment to the Charter’s principles and purposes ahead of UN Charter Day on June 26.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Harish said the significance of the Charter for India could be summed up in a single word: “ummeed”, meaning hope.
“The UN Charter’s significance for 1.4 billion citizens of India is, in one word, ‘ummeed’, meaning hope,” he said.
The United Nations Charter was signed in San Francisco on June 26, 1945, laying the foundation for the establishment of the UN. India was among the 50 founding members of the organisation, despite still being under British colonial rule at the time.
India’s delegation was led by A Ramaswami Mudaliar, who signed the original Charter on behalf of the country on June 25, 1945.
India’s participation as a founding member reflected its early commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation and the principles that would later shape its engagement with the global community after independence.
Addressing the ceremony, Baerbock described the symbolic signing as a renewed demonstration of support for the UN Charter.
“It is a renewed expression of our collective commitment to the purpose and principle of the Charter,” she said.
In a note issued ahead of this year’s commemoration, Baerbock’s office stressed the need to reaffirm support for the Charter at a time when the United Nations is facing mounting challenges.
“Eighty one years after the signing of the Charter, we are standing at the crossroads. The United Nations is not only under political and financial pressure, but under attack,” the note said.
It added that this year’s observance of UN Charter Day should serve as more than a moment of reflection.
“This year’s commemoration of the UN Charter Day is, therefore, not only a memento of reflection, it is a call to action,” the statement said.
The symbolic signing ceremony forms part of a broader effort by UN member states to reaffirm their commitment to the Charter’s principles of peace, cooperation, sovereign equality and international law as the organisation approaches another milestone in its history
