Bali, November 16
The G20’s Bali Declaration Wednesday acknowledged differences among members on the Russia-Ukraine war but stressed that it was essential to adhere to international law, including protection of civilians caught in conflicts.
The members of the grouping made it clear that they were against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and sought “peaceful resolution of conflicts.”
But the “G20 Bali Leaders’ Declaration” also reflected the contentious debate that went into drafting it, with Indonesian President Joko Widodo acknowledging this at his press conference at the end of the two-day summit here.
“Today’s era must not be of war,” the declaration said, echoing the remark made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the margins of the SCO summit in September.
Talking to reporters, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the Indian delegation, guided by Prime Minister Modi, played a key role in bringing about the “consensus”.
As the summit ended, India took over G20 presidency for the coming year with Modi promising an “inclusive” and “ambitious” agenda for the group that includes the world’s major economies.
Reflecting the divisions within the G20, the Bali Declaration said the member nations “reiterated our national positions” as expressed at the UN Security Council and the General Assembly.
“Most” members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine, it said but noted that there were “other views and assessments” of the situation.
The declaration welcomed the Turkey and UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative that secured a Russia Guarantee to allow the export of Ukrainian grain, but is lapsing in the next few days. Russia is now seeking concessions from the West to let the deal continue.
Though the section on the war was the toughest for the delegations to draft, the 52-para declaration covered a range of issues, from climate change to corruption, and from Covid vaccination to imparting computer skills to women.
But some of them too indirectly referred to the impact of war.
“We are deeply concerned by the challenges to global food security exacerbated by current conflicts and tensions,” it said, committing itself to taking urgent action to “save lives, prevent hunger and malnutrition”.
It pushed for “sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems and supply chains.”
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