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12 Apr

India’s monthly purchase of Russian oil less than what Europe does in an afternoon: Jaishankar

At the India-US 2+2 ministerial dialogue at Washington’s State Department on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken urged India not to buy additional Russian oil.

He said, “When it comes to oil purchases, sanctions, et cetera, I just note that there are carve-outs for energy purchases. Of course, we’re encouraging countries not to purchase additional energy supplies from Russia. Every country is differently situated, has different needs, requirements, but we’re looking to allies and partners not to increase their purchases of Russian energy.”

Jaishankar said that India’s total purchase of oil from Russia in a month is probably less than what Europe does in an afternoon.

He said, “I noticed you refer to oil purchases. If you are looking at energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest that your attention should be focused on Europe, which probably – we do buy some energy which is necessary for our energy security, but I suspect looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon.”

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08 Apr

United Nations Suspends Russia From Human Rights Council; India Abstains From Voting

Continuing its emergency special session on Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that suspended the Russian Federation’s membership in the Human Rights Council.

The Assembly adopted the draft resolution by a recorded vote of 93 in favour to 24 against, with 58 abstentions.

India abstained in the vote for reasons of “both substance and process.”

Permanent Representative of India to United Nations TS Tirumurti reiterated India’s stand for peace, dialogue and diplomacy. He further said that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood.

“Since the inception of the Ukrainian conflict, India has stood for peace, dialogue and diplomacy. We believe that no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood and at the cost of innocent lives. If India has chosen any side, it is the side of peace and it is for an immediate end to violence,” said Tirumurti.

Tirumurti then condemned the recent civilian killings in Buchaa and called for an independent investigation.

“Recent reports of civilian killings in Bucha are deeply disturbing. We have unequivocally condemned these killings and support the call for an independent investigation,” said Tirumurti

He added that it is in the global community’s collective interest to work constructively both inside the United Nations and outside towards an early resolution to the conflict.

“The impact of the crisis has also been felt beyond the region with increasing food and energy costs, especially for many developing countries. It is in our collective interest to work constructively, both inside the United Nations and outside, towards seeking an early resolution to the conflict,” Tirumurti said.

He stressed that all decisions should be taken with full respect for due process, adding that this principle also applies to international organizations such as the United Nations.

“India has been at the forefront of protecting human rights, right from the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We firmly believe that all decisions should be taken fully respecting due process, as all our democratic polity and structures enjoin us to do. This applies to international organisations as well, particularly the United Nations,” Tirumurti added.

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06 Apr

‘Deeply Disturbing’: India Condemns Killings In Ukraine’s Bucha At UNSC, Seeks Independent Investigation

On Tuesday India condemned the killings of civilians in Bucha and called the incident ‘deeply disturbing’. India also supported the call for an independent investigation on the matter.

“The situation in Ukraine has not shown any significant improvement since the Council last discussed the issue. The security situation has only deteriorated, as well as its humanitarian consequences. Recent reports of civilian killings in Bucha are deeply disturbing. We unequivocally condemn these killings and support the call for an independent investigation,” said India’s UN Permanent Representative T S Tirumurti.

Tirumurti said that India has been sending humanitarian supplies to Ukraine including medicine and other essential relief material and is ready to provide more medical supplies to Ukraine.

“Keeping in view the dire humanitarian situation in Ukraine, India has been sending humanitarian supplies to Ukraine and its neighbours, which include medicines and other essential relief material. We stand ready to provide more medical supplies to Ukraine in the coming days,” said Tirumurti.

Tirumurti reiterated India’s call for peace and immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities.

“India continues to remain deeply concerned at the worsening situation and reiterates its call for immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities. We have emphasized right from the beginning of the conflict the need to pursue the path of diplomacy and dialogue. When innocent human lives are at stake, diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option,” Said Tirumurti.

He said that the impact of the crisis is being felt beyond the region with increasing food and energy price and emphasized on seeking an early resolution to the conflict.

“The impact of the crisis is being felt beyond the region with increasing food and energy costs, especially for many developing countries. It is in our collective interest to work constructively, both inside the United Nations and outside, towards seeking an early resolution to the conflict,” Tirumurti said.

“We continue to emphasize to all member states of the UN that the global order is anchored on international law, UN Charter and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states,” he added.

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01 Apr

External affairs minister Jaishankar defends India on Russian oil import

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday defended India’s decision to import energy supplies from Russia in a conversation with his British counterpart Liz Truss at the India-UK Strategic Futures Forum.

When Truss was asked about UK’s reaction on India purchasing discounted Russian oil, she said, “India is a sovereign nation; I am not going to tell India what to do what I have said is as a member of the UK government that is signed up to the Budapest Memorandum I feel a strong responsibility on behalf of the united kingdom to take all the action we can for the people of Ukraine and that is not the same as going around and telling other countries what to do.”

Jaishankar said that in the month of March Europe has bought 15 per cent more oil and gas from Russia than it did the month before.

Jaishankar said, “I was reading a report that in the month of March Europe has bought, I think 15 per cent more oil and gas from Russia than it did the month before. If you look at the major buyers of oil and gas from Russia, I think you will find most of them in Europe.”

He added, “We ourselves get the bulk of our energy supplies from the Middle East, about 7.5 – 8 per cent oil from the US and in the past maybe less than a per cent from Russia earlier.”

He further added that it’s natural for any country to look for a good deal when the oil prices go up.

“When oil prices go up its natural for a country to go out into the market and look for what are good deals for their people but I am pretty sure if we wait two or three months and actually look who are the big buyers of Russian gas and oil I suspect the list won’t be very different than it used to be and I suspect we won’t be in the top10 in that list,” Jaishankar further added.

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24 Mar

India, 12 others abstain in UNSC on vote on Russia’s draft resolution on Ukraine

India, along with 12 other UN Security Council members, abstained on a resolution tabled by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Belarus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Syria joined the Russian Federation in submitting the text.

The draft resolution was defeated by a vote of 2 in favour to none against, with 13 abstentions, it would have needed nine votes in favour with no veto to pass.

Russia and China voted in favour of the resolution while India and the remaining Security Council members abstained.

The draft resolution by Russia demanded civilian protection in Ukraine and called for unhindered access for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

It was the Council’s third vote since 24 February and India abstained all of them. Twice in the Security Council and once in the General Assembly on resolutions on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

After the vote on the resolution, other council members made statements, however, India did not.

United States said Russia is using the Council to provide cover for its brutal actions.  It is “unconscionable” that Russia has the audacity to submit a draft resolution requesting that the international community resolve a humanitarian crisis that Russia alone created.

Explaining that the United States will abstain from voting, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said:  “To state the obvious, Russia does not care about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions and the millions of lives and dreams the war has shattered. Russia is the aggressor, the attacker, the invader, the sole party in Ukraine engaged in a campaign of brutality against the people of Ukraine.”

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22 Mar

India, US discuss mutual regional issues including Indo-Pacific, Ukraine situation

On Monday Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland co-chaired India-US Foreign Office Consultations (FOC).

Two sides followed up on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s discussions with President Joseph R. Biden in Washington D.C in September 2021, the two sides reviewed progress in various domains under the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.

In the consultation both sides discussed issues regarding the situation in Ukraine. Developments in the South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, West Asia were also discussed.

Both sides welcomed regular high-level dialogue and engagement, including productive meetings of bilateral mechanisms which led to intensifying of cooperation across all pillars of the bilateral agenda.

“The FOC provided a valuable opportunity to discuss contemporary regional issues pertaining to South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, West Asia, and the situation in Ukraine, among others. Foreign Secretary Shringla and Under Secretary of State Nuland agreed to maintain regular dialogue and consultations on regional issues,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. They also followed up on Quad Leaders’ meeting and are eager to implement Quad’s positive and constructive agenda in Indo-Pacific region.

“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Following up on the Quad Leaders’ Meetings, they expressed a keen desire to implement quickly the Quad’s positive and constructive agenda to deliver for countries in the Indo-Pacific region,” the statement said.

Both sides agreed to work together to strengthen the India-US partnership regarding health security, climate actions and terrorism.

“Given their shared democratic values and convergences of strategic interests, Foreign Secretary Shringla and Under Secretary Nuland agreed to work together to strengthen the India-US global partnership regarding supply chains, critical technologies, health security, climate actions & clean energy and terrorism,” it said.

The statement said they noted the close cooperation between their two delegations at the UN Security Council, where India is currently a non-permanent member, and reiterated their desire to intensify cooperation in multilateral fora and international organisations, including the UN.

The statement further said, “Both sides looked forward to the India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Meeting in Washington D.C. They agreed to hold the next FOC at a mutually convenient date in Washington D.C.”

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17 Mar

At ICJ, Indian judge votes against Russia’s military operation in Ukraine

On 16th March the International Court of Justice has asked Russia to immediately stop its military operation in Ukraine. 13 voters were in favour of the direction to stop Russia, while 2 were against. Indian judge at the UN court Justice Dalveer Bhandari voted in favour of the majority, against Russia.

“The Russian Federation shall immediately suspend the military operations that it commenced on 24 February 2022 in the territory of Ukraine,” said the ICJ order on Wednesday.

Though there are no direct means of enforcing ICJ orders and there have been cases where countries have ignored them.

The judges who voted in favour of the order were President of the ICJ Judge Joan E Donoghue (USA), Judge Peter Tomka (Slovakia), Judge Ronny Abraham (France), Judge Mohamed Bennouna (Morocco), Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (Somalia), Judge Julia Sebutinde (Uganda), Judge Dalveer Bhandari (India), Judge Patrick Lipton Robinson (Jamaica), Judge Nawaf Salam (Lebanon), Judge Iwasawa Yuji (Japan), Judge Georg Nolte (Germany), Judge Hilary Charlesworth (Australia), Judge ad hoc Daudet voted in favour of the direction.

Indian judge voting against Russia comes after India abstained from UN resolution against Russia.

The two ICJ judges who voted against the orders to Russia to stop its military activities in Ukraine were Vice-President Kirill Gevorgian from Russia and China’s Xue Hanqin.

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