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WORLD NEWS Monday 26 SepteMber 2022

‘Multilateral’? Global South’s leaders question solidarity

Associated Press for the common benefit.
By Krista Larson “Broken humanity can-
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — not be fixed by wonderful
The United Nations was es- speeches, meetings, reso-
tablished on one simple no- lutions, nor international in-
tion above all others: Work- struments, but by an inter-
ing together is better than play of greater compassion
going it alone. But while and solidarity,” he added.
the term “multilateralism” Mohammad Niamat Ela-
might be trending at this hee, an international busi-
year’s U.N. General Assem- ness professor at Quinni-
bly, some leaders are call- piac University in Connecti-
ing out the heads of richer cut, said most rich countries
nations. are giving lip service to mul-
Whether it’s the global re- tilateralism but are, in real-
sponse to the COVID-19 President of Malawi Lazarus Chakwera addresses the 77th ses- ity, acting otherwise.
pandemic or climate sion of the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquar- “When we try to solve it our-
change, developing coun- ters, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. selves, maybe in the short
tries say it seems that rich- term we gain some benefits
er nations are thinking of even more blunt. He said Kiribati President Taneti only for a limited number of
themselves first and not the that “unilateralism driven Maamau Beretitenti re- people. But in the long run,
world’s most vulnerable. by greed is leading us — minded member states it becomes worse for every-
“The global economy is rich and poor, strong and last week that the United one,” he said, pointing to
now a house on fire, yet we weak — to a catastrophe.” Nations’ founders wanted the COVID-19 variants that
continue to use evacuation When the United Nations to not only prevent future emerged in developing
methods that rush some was established in 1945, wars but also “improve the countries after rich coun-
nations out to safety while world leaders hoped it standard of living for all.” tries initially hoarded vac-
leaving the rest of us be- would make sure that “Today, we take stock of cine supplies.
hind to fend for ourselves in something like World War the progress made towards “For multilateralism to
the burning building,” said II never happened again. those goals along with new work, we need coopera-
Malawi’s president, Lazarus Over the years its mandate commitments and to re- tion across the board. If
Chakwera. “But if we are has tackled everything flect and assess if we have some countries follow multi-
truly one U.N. family, then from nuclear proliferation truly lived up those values,” lateralism and some coun-
leaving no one behind has to protecting refugees. But he said. Regionalism and tries don’t, then it doesn’t
to be practiced, not just that high-minded notion of solidarity, he said, “are at work,” Elahee said. “Big
preached.” multilateralism has never risk of being increasingly countries have a dispropor-
Tanzania’s Vice President wavered — even if the re- used to serve specific na- tionately high influence in
Philip Isdor Mpango was ality sometimes has. tional interests” rather than the world,” he said. q

South Korea says North Korea test-fired missile

toward sea

Associated Press denounced the launch as
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — a clear violation of U.N. Se-
North Korea fired a short- curity Council resolutions
range ballistic missile Sun- and accused the North of
day toward its eastern seas, raising tensions in the re-
extending a provocative gion.
streak in weapons testing The U.S. Indo-Pacific Com-
as a U.S. aircraft carrier visits mand said the launch did
South Korea for joint military not pose an “immediate
exercises in response to the threat to U.S. personnel or
North’s growing nuclear territory, or to our allies,”
threat. but still highlighted the de-
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs stabilizing impact of North
of Staff said the missile Korea’s illicit nuclear weap-
launched from the west- ons and missile programs.
ern inland town of Taechon The launch came as the People watch a news program showing a file image of a mis-
flew 600 kilometers (370 nuclear-powered aircraft sile launch by North Korea at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul,
miles) cross-country on a carrier USS Ronald Reagan South Korea, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022.
maximum altitude of 60 ki- and its strike group arrived
lometers (37 miles) before in South Korea for the two President Joe Biden’s spe- Japanese Prime Minister Fu-
landing in waters off North countries’ joint military ex- cial representative for North mio Kishida said in a state-
Korea’s eastern coast. ercises that aim to show Korea, and Funakoshi Take- ment Tokyo is “doing its ut-
South Korea’s presidential their strength against grow- hiro, director-general for most” to gather information
office said National Se- ing North Korean threats. Asian and Oceanian affairs on North Korea’s launch
curity Director Kim Sung- South Korea’s Foreign Min- at Japan’s Foreign Ministry, and confirm the safety of
han called an emergency istry said its nuclear envoy to discuss trilateral coop- ships and aircraft, although
National Security Council Kim Gunn held telephone eration in face of North Ko- there were no immediate
meeting where members calls with Sung Kim, U.S. rean threats. reports of damages.q