The French Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago has called for responsible and collective action from the global community to avoid creating further disaster for the next generation.
During a diplomatic dialogue focused on climate change, regional stability, peace, and security hosted by the University of the West Indies’ Institute of International Relations, Ambassador Didier Chabert emphasised the urgent need to revitalise and reform global multilateralism, noting that its effectiveness has never been more critical than it is today.
“Why would wealthier states give a lesson to fragile states by explaining that they should respect the climate and therefore forget economic development opportunities? It’s not acceptable. It’s not audible. We must therefore build an agenda that at the same time allows us to move forward in the fight against inequality and economic development for education, climate, biodiversity, and global health.”
He said France proposed reform which aimed to fundamentally change the structure and operational rules of the United Nations Security Council, particularly through the expansion of its permanent membership, allotting two permanent seats to African countries.
“France, together with Mexico, is proposing that in the event of mass atrocities such as genocide or large-scale war crimes, permanent members voluntarily relinquish their right of veto. This is a political proposal, not legally binding but supported by over a hundred states.”
According to Acting Director of the UWI Institute of International Relations, Dr. Dave Seerattan, the Institute continues to be overwhelmed by various stakeholders from T&T and the region on issues relating to multilateralism as traditional alliances and arrangements are dismantled.
“The solutions to these problems is a genuine effort by the international community to recognise the flaws in the system and to begin the difficult process of comprehensive reform of the multilateral process, processes and institution.”
The discussions were held on Monday at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine campus, and attended by members of the diplomatic corps, the `university, and secondary school students.