As the national capital gears up for the biggest international gathering of world leaders, ironing out the last-minute hitches, the sherpas are busy trying to get everyone on the same page. The question that looms large is if that will actually happen.
So far, there has been no joint communique in the ministerial meetings of the G20. China and Russia have both refused to accept the compromise that was reached in Bali.
“The Bali declaration cannot be repeated. It prevented the peace process between Russia and Ukraine,’’ Russian Ambassador Alipov said at the Foreign Correspondent Club press interaction. “The impact of sanctions was reflected in the Bali formula. If the West wants to resolve the conflict, they should be open to changing the Bali paragraphs, which we do not agree with.”
China has maintained that the outcome of the meeting should not refer to the Ukraine situation. India had played an important role in trying to help negotiate a joint statement. But since then, the positions have hardened. And finding a way for everyone to be on the same page will not be easy.
“We will support India’s ambition to get a joint communique, given the issues the world is facing at the moment. Obviously, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but also some of of the issues around food security, sustainability, global health," British High Commissioner Alex Ellis said.
“Putin has made it that much harder but we want the world to to come together. We have an eye on efforts to get a text which will support global progress but it will be tough,” Ellis told The Times of India in an interview.
From March, at the foreign ministers' G20 meeting, it was apparent that the battle would be an uphill one. In an effort to find common ground, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged the leaders to ‘rise above their differences', but the meeting ended without a joint statement. India, however, has been aware that geopolitics will certainly loom large in the discussion. And there has been an effort to find areas of cooperation that go beyond the conflict.
“Our belief is that it's important to bring developmental issues right in the forefront and keep the Ukraine issue at the back,’’ said Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa to THE WEEK. “That is what our pursuit has been.” The question is whether it will work?
So far, there has been no joint communique in the ministerial meetings of the G20. China and Russia have both refused to accept the compromise that was reached in Bali.
“The Bali declaration cannot be repeated. It prevented the peace process between Russia and Ukraine,’’ Russian Ambassador Alipov said at the Foreign Correspondent Club press interaction. “The impact of sanctions was reflected in the Bali formula. If the West wants to resolve the conflict, they should be open to changing the Bali paragraphs, which we do not agree with.”
China has maintained that the outcome of the meeting should not refer to the Ukraine situation. India had played an important role in trying to help negotiate a joint statement. But since then, the positions have hardened. And finding a way for everyone to be on the same page will not be easy.
“We will support India’s ambition to get a joint communique, given the issues the world is facing at the moment. Obviously, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but also some of of the issues around food security, sustainability, global health," British High Commissioner Alex Ellis said.
“Putin has made it that much harder but we want the world to to come together. We have an eye on efforts to get a text which will support global progress but it will be tough,” Ellis told The Times of India in an interview.
From March, at the foreign ministers' G20 meeting, it was apparent that the battle would be an uphill one. In an effort to find common ground, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged the leaders to ‘rise above their differences', but the meeting ended without a joint statement. India, however, has been aware that geopolitics will certainly loom large in the discussion. And there has been an effort to find areas of cooperation that go beyond the conflict.
“Our belief is that it's important to bring developmental issues right in the forefront and keep the Ukraine issue at the back,’’ said Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa to THE WEEK. “That is what our pursuit has been.” The question is whether it will work?
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