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Singaporean Ambassador Hosts Working Lunch for Students of UN Studies Program
By Karina Chez*
Ambassador Vanu Gopala Menon, Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations in New York, hosted a working lunch at the Consulate of the Republic of Singapore on Thursday, February 11, 2010. The meeting was made possible through the initiative of Prof. Elisabeth Lindenmayer, Director of the UN Studies Program. The students received a warm welcome from Ambassador Menon, who candidly discussed issues surrounding the topic “The G20 and the UN ‘Global Governance’”. The conversations centered on the impact of the G20 on less powerful countries, the significance of such an establishment for the UN, and the Global Governance Group (3G), a group organized by Singapore in order to gain UN attention and serve as a pressure group to the G20 by representing the interests of the non-members.
The luncheon started with a discussion about the structure of the G20. Ambassador Menon admitted a shared lack of understanding amongst countries excluded from the G20 as to the selection criteria for G20 membership. Considering that Singapore, who has been an exemplary leader on the economic front and, is often considered a role model, was excluded from the group, the Ambassador asked: “What could we possibly learn from Argentina in terms of managing our economy, for example?” This assertion provokes one to question the role of some countries in the G20.
Despite the apparent re-balancing of power from the G5 to the G20, it is evident that today worldwide decisions are solely made by the G2 (China and the United States). Many European countries, especially France and the UK, are wary of their position in the world given China and India’s current prominent role, and exhibit resistance to their emergence. Nonetheless, Ambassador Menon stated that every country must acknowledge the G20, which shall stand to strengthen, not undermine or substitute, the UN.
Regarding implications for the UN and citing Copenhagen as a recent example, the Ambassador stressed the need for the UN to “get its act together- it has institutions, which are working very well, development and peacekeeping among them. But the perception of the UN is that it is ineffective. It is difficult to reach a consensus.”
Ambassador Menon emphasized the need for the 3G, which currently includes 28 countries from South East Asia, the Middle East, EU, non-EU, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. The idea is for the 3G to impress upon the G20 the need to consider the non-G20 in the UN. One way to do this is by issuing a public statement on important issues before and after G20 summits.
At this point more countries wish to join the group, but Ambassador Menon admits that if too many people are involved, the influence is lost. Bringing a regional group together has been helpful but the same cannot be replicated at an international level—the process needs to be consolidated before other members may join. The 3G speak on behalf of small and medium countries concerned with UN issues and act as a bridge between the UN and the G20. The view brought forth is the collective voice on economic issues, not watered down by individual group interests. The message being sent is “we are watching you”- and that is a good thing.
When asked about Singapore’s economic success and how the ASEAN experience could be replicated, Ambassador Menon humbly replied that the reasons people respect Singapore are due to its economic success, the continuous flow of initiatives that impact global and regional institutions, and the persistence needed paired with a good team where everyone makes a contribution. Singapore values participation and believes that they can make a difference on many issues, regardless of their size: “You can do nothing or fight back so that they acknowledge you, that they understand that their decisions have an impact on these other countries”, explained the Ambassador.
It is essential that a country engage in participation and become politically active at the UN, otherwise it is very easy to become marginalized. Despite the outcome of present discussions, this engagement guarantees that you will be taken into consideration on future issues.
Singapore feels the 21st century will be an “Asian century”. ASEAN has created linkages within Asia and between Asia and the rest of the world in the pursuit of increasing outreach and not relying on a single body for the entire decision-making process.
Professor Lindenmayer pointed to the power dynamics at play as a lesson in world politics. She vividly recounted Singapore’s impressive participation during a mission with former Secretary General Kofi Annan and asserted: “Never let a member state tell you that they are small. A small country can have a huge place in the UN.”
*Karina Chez is a second year MIA student concentrating in EPD