Divided Group of 20 was unacceptable, consensus was the only way forward: Amitabh Kant (IANS Interview)

New Delhi, Sep 26 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian government was steadfast in its view that a divided Group of 20 was unacceptable, and that consensus was the only way forward, Amitabh Kant, India’s nodal official for the G20 Summit in Delhi, said this in an interview with IANS.

Excerpts of interview:

IANS: The Group of 20 reached a consensus on the “leaders’ declaration” by the first day of the summit in New Delhi, defying predictions to the contrary. The text does not mention “Russian aggression against Ukraine” or the “demand for Russian withdrawal from Ukrainian territory” unlike last year’s Bali declaration. Can this year’s G20 communique be interpreted as a major concession to Russia with regard to the war?

Amitabh Kant: The language adopted in the New Delhi leaders’ declaration goes beyond Bali. We have reaffirmed that all states must act in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN charter in its entirety. Furthermore, inline with the UN charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state.

We have reiterated that G20 is not the forum to resolve geopolitical and security issues. Yet, we also acknowledged that geopolitical issues could have significant consequences for the global economy and highlighted the human suffering of the war in Ukraine, with regard to global food and energy security, and inflation and growth, especially in developing and the least-developed countries.

The language welcomes all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just and durable peace in Ukraine that upholds all the purposes and principles of the UN charter.

IANS: The document seems to be in line with China’s position - one, that Russia is not called the aggressor; and two, the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. Is the communique a gain for the two countries even as their top leaders were absent at the summit and a step back for theWest?

Amitabh Kant: The New Delhi leaders’ declaration is not just a gain for a few countries, but rather all G20 countries, and indeed the world. It contains balanced paragraphs that are not divisive and should be seen in the global context. It addresses conflicts across the world and the human suffering and economic impact they cause.

The issue of Ukraine is addressed front and centre. In fact, the issue is addressed in much stronger language than Bali.

We have brought to the fore issues of great concern to the global south, whether around growth, the sustainable development goals (of the United Nations), energy transitions and climate finance, among others. These are transformative actions, with the potential to lift millions out of poverty, while driving climate action. Even though the leaders of China and Russia sent their representatives to the summit, both countries were actively involved in the 200-plus meetings in the run-up to the summit. As with other countries, the views of China and Russia have been reflected in the document.

IANS: How did the Group of Seven countries, the European Union and other G20 members (besides China and Russia) come around to accept the document’s wording on Ukraine after their long-held positions on Russia since the invasion in February 2022?

Amitabh Kant: As I mentioned earlier, all countries agree that G20 is not the forum to resolve geopolitical and security issues. But the impact is being felt globally through food and energy prices. Being the premier forum for global economic cooperation, our language points out clearly the impact of the war on the global economy, especially on developing and the least-developed countries. We have also called for full, timely and effective implementation of initiatives to ensure unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuff, fertilizers or inputs from both Russia and Ukraine.

IANS: Some analysts said earlier that China-led forums such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation would become more appealing to countries -- especially with regard to financing in the developing world -- than G20 if divisions within were not resolved? Was that why the US and its Western allies supported India on the overall summit success? 

Amitabh Kant: Developing countries working together was crucial in driving a consensus at the G20 summit. As the president of G20 (currently India), we were also steadfast in our view that a divided G20 was unacceptable, and consensus was the only way forward. China is a multilateral player and very much supported us in this endeavour.

IANS: Some see the newly announced India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor as a potential alternative to China’s decade-old Belt and Road Initiative. Would India still have been onboard the West Asia project if the US and the European countries had not agreed to the G20 leaders’ declaration in a way that was also acceptable to China and Russia?

Amitabh Kant: Multilateral negotiations such as these happen in parallel, with countries keeping national priorities and interests in mind. But issues such as development, job creation, infrastructure development and sustainability are goals common across governments. Through boosting connectivity and trade, the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor can have a transformative impact, which is why countries have signed on to it. It is a long-term visionary project and will have a transformative impact. As were the negotiations at G20, on for instance, the green development pact. Action on issues such as energy transition, ecosystem restoration and climate finance, among others, form a core part of the New Delhi leaders’ declaration. Through negotiations, we aimed to align incentives, creating scenarios acceptable to all countries.

IANS: Did the Ukrainian government make any request to the Indian government to enable Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to deliver a speech at the Delhi summit (via video) as he had done at the G20 Bali meeting or his government’s participation as an invitee to this year’s summit?

Amitabh Kant: Participation at G20 (summits) is for members of the G20, along with invitee countries and international organisations. We issued invitations to the countries and IOs as soon as we assumed the G20 presidency in December. We were very clear that we wanted to focus on growth and development issues which impact the global south.

Source: IANS