New York:
Former Indian envoy to the United Nations Nirupam Sen has been appointed Special Senior Advisor to the President of the 192-member General Assembly on world financial and economic crisis.
Announcing the appointment, President Miguel D Escoto Brockmann spoke of Sen's experience and expertise which, he said, would provide "valuable support" to his office.
New Delhi has yet to name his replacement. Sen's appointment comes at crucial time when Escoto is preparing for a high level UN conference on financial and economic crisis on June 9 which is expected to, among other things, suggest changes in the structure of the international financial institutions.
Sen, who retired as Indian Ambassador to UN on March 31, is expected to play a major role in drawing up the final recommendations that the conference is expected to issue.
As Indian Ambassador, Sen had played an active role in the General Assembly discussions on the Stiglitz Commission which had recommended, among other things, introducing double majority voting in the IMF.
The Commission was appointed by Escoto to give recommendation on dealing the global financial crisis.
Sen pointed out that while this may prevent developed countries from opposing developing states agenda, they would still be able to block, in the absence of other reforms, any proposal they do not like.
This could entrench existing policies based on western dominance and even risk legitimizing them.
In the Assembly, Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize Winner in Economics, later admitted Sen's argument was correct.
During Sen's tenure, India had won every election to the UN bodies it fought by overwhelming margins.
A highly popular figure, he often spoke extempore and had penchant for quoting Shakespeare and other classical writer to make a point.
His scholarly presentations, interspersed with humour, were so much liked that mostly it was difficult to find a vacant seat when he took the stand.
Announcing the appointment, President Miguel D Escoto Brockmann spoke of Sen's experience and expertise which, he said, would provide "valuable support" to his office.
New Delhi has yet to name his replacement. Sen's appointment comes at crucial time when Escoto is preparing for a high level UN conference on financial and economic crisis on June 9 which is expected to, among other things, suggest changes in the structure of the international financial institutions.
Sen, who retired as Indian Ambassador to UN on March 31, is expected to play a major role in drawing up the final recommendations that the conference is expected to issue.
As Indian Ambassador, Sen had played an active role in the General Assembly discussions on the Stiglitz Commission which had recommended, among other things, introducing double majority voting in the IMF.
The Commission was appointed by Escoto to give recommendation on dealing the global financial crisis.
Sen pointed out that while this may prevent developed countries from opposing developing states agenda, they would still be able to block, in the absence of other reforms, any proposal they do not like.
This could entrench existing policies based on western dominance and even risk legitimizing them.
In the Assembly, Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize Winner in Economics, later admitted Sen's argument was correct.
During Sen's tenure, India had won every election to the UN bodies it fought by overwhelming margins.
A highly popular figure, he often spoke extempore and had penchant for quoting Shakespeare and other classical writer to make a point.
His scholarly presentations, interspersed with humour, were so much liked that mostly it was difficult to find a vacant seat when he took the stand.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
