By KUNA
New Delhi : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Monday unveiled his vision for a new global society that hinges on the renewal of the IMF, World Bank, and the United Nations into dynamic entities to address present day problems of international terrorism, climate change and nuclear proliferation.
Addressing Indian and British business leaders at Delhi today, Brown said: “Just as the problems bedevilling the economy and security of the environment are trans-national, so the solutions must transcend borders. Only with international institutions that promote cooperation out of shared interest and predictability and accountability, can large numbers of states consistently work together to the benefit of all.” Brown arrived here Sunday on a two-day crucial visit to further expand bilateral ties with South Asias biggest country. Brown called for setting a new and ambitious agenda to prevent conflict and stabilise and reconstruct failing and failed states. In this context, he called for a strategy to ensure rapid reconstruction on the ground once conflicts are over, and combine traditional peacekeeping with stabilisation, recovery and development. Britain was prepared to utilise its expertise to help determine the requirements for the verifiable elimination of nuclear warheads, Brown said, adding, “I pledge that in the run-up to the non-proliferation treat review conference in 2010, we will be at the forefront of the international campaign to accelerate disarmament among possessor states, to prevent proliferation “and to ultimately achieve a world free from nuclear weapons.” Britain would press for an early agreement to a new IAEA-led international system to help non-nuclear states acquire the new sources of energy they need, including through an enrichment bond, the British PM said.
“But this offer must be made only in return for firm commitments to the highest non-proliferation standards,” he declared.
Brown called for defeating terrorism and said “and our task is to defeat it – not only in our own countries, but as an international community .. all countries should “strengthen networks of global law enforcement authorities, intelligence agents, police and financial regulators”.
While supporting India’s bid for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council, the British PM pledged his support to changes to the IMF, World Bank and the G8 to reflect the rise of Asia and India.
“While we strengthen the World Bank’s focus on poverty reduction, its capacity and global reach should make it also a bank for the environment .. ensuring that its development programmes provide an integrated approach to both poverty eradication and climate change,” Brown stressed.
He proposed the creation of a global climate change fund, a mutli-billion pound fund operating within the World Bank Clean Energy Investment Framework that will finance low carbon investment, sustainable forestry programmes, adaptation and climate-resilient development in the poorest countries.
The British premier also proposed that the IMF should focus on surveillance of the global economic and financial system and help prevent crises, not just resolve them. Besides, the IMF should look to develop a financial instrument able to provide insurance to well managed economies against sudden reversals of capital flows.