Global institutions need reforms to reflect present reality ...
Snip ~ "Brazil is bidding for a permanent seat in the UN security council, along with India, Japan and Germany"
February 25, 2011
Global institutions need reforms to reflect present reality
PARIS: Former Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said global institutions need to be reformed in order to better reflect today's realities.
With the revolutions currently taking place in the Arab world, the former diplomat is hoping change will take place in international institutions as well.
For a start, Mr Amorim has called for a G20 type body that deals with political issues.
The group of 20 nations managed to reach a compromise deal over the weekend on a set of economic indicators to prevent future financial crises.
The group was created as a response to the financial crises of the late 1990s.
It was also formed to include emerging economies that were not previously involved in global economic discussion and governance.
Mr Amorim felt it is time to expand the G20's scope.
"I think the most immediate thing that could be done would be to have a political G20. That would already be a big progress. It would be a forum in which countries not only like Brazil and India, but also countries like Turkey, maybe some other African countries besides South Africa discussing subjects that are of interest to the whole of mankind."
Apart from expanding the G20'S scope, Mr Amorim felt the United Nations Security Council needs to be updated to reflect present reality.
"The security council of the UN is a reflection of the 1945 reality and its totally in disconnection with the present reality. I think the most important thing is to have the real structure of power and influence today reflected in the security council.
"If you have a problem in Latin America, and maybe even in Africa, you will have to listen to Brazil. You have to listen to India [when] you have a problem in Asia. There is no point in them being part of the measures that have to be taken, but not part of the decisions."
Mr Amorim also warned those who stand in the way of change.
"It would be to their detriment because you can stick to old ideas and hope that the reality will adapt to old ideas, but what is happening now in the Middle East shows very clearly that is not the way."
Brazil is bidding for a permanent seat in the UN security council, along with India, Japan and Germany.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1112957/1/.html
Global institutions need reforms to reflect present reality
PARIS: Former Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said global institutions need to be reformed in order to better reflect today's realities.
With the revolutions currently taking place in the Arab world, the former diplomat is hoping change will take place in international institutions as well.
For a start, Mr Amorim has called for a G20 type body that deals with political issues.
The group of 20 nations managed to reach a compromise deal over the weekend on a set of economic indicators to prevent future financial crises.
The group was created as a response to the financial crises of the late 1990s.
It was also formed to include emerging economies that were not previously involved in global economic discussion and governance.
Mr Amorim felt it is time to expand the G20's scope.
"I think the most immediate thing that could be done would be to have a political G20. That would already be a big progress. It would be a forum in which countries not only like Brazil and India, but also countries like Turkey, maybe some other African countries besides South Africa discussing subjects that are of interest to the whole of mankind."
Apart from expanding the G20'S scope, Mr Amorim felt the United Nations Security Council needs to be updated to reflect present reality.
"The security council of the UN is a reflection of the 1945 reality and its totally in disconnection with the present reality. I think the most important thing is to have the real structure of power and influence today reflected in the security council.
"If you have a problem in Latin America, and maybe even in Africa, you will have to listen to Brazil. You have to listen to India [when] you have a problem in Asia. There is no point in them being part of the measures that have to be taken, but not part of the decisions."
Mr Amorim also warned those who stand in the way of change.
"It would be to their detriment because you can stick to old ideas and hope that the reality will adapt to old ideas, but what is happening now in the Middle East shows very clearly that is not the way."
Brazil is bidding for a permanent seat in the UN security council, along with India, Japan and Germany.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1112957/1/.html
