Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar arrived in New York on Saturday night to lead Pakistan’s delegation to the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, which is set to debate next week the looming crises from conflicts to climate change and development issues.
Hina assumed the leadership of the delegation, which includes Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, after Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani decided to stay back in Pakistan to oversee relief operations in the flood-devastated areas of Sindh and Balochistan.
During her 11-day visit, the foreign minister will address the 193-member assembly on a date yet to be fixed and have bilateral meetings with a number of her counterparts from around the world, including those from the permanent members of UN Security Council.
She was scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday.
Her meeting with Clinton comes at a critical time for the region as well as Pakistan-US relations, considered key to successful outcome of decade-old Afghan conflict. Ten years on since 9/11 terrorist attacks, Pakistan has paid much price – in terms of both human and economic losses – in the fight against al Qaeda and Taliban militants.
But oft-repeated demands by Washington coupled with frequent blames for failings in Afghanistan on Pakistan make Islamabad’s counter-terror task more difficult. Additionally, Islamabad feels its sacrifices and crucial anti-terror contributions have not been genuinely recognised.
More than 120 heads of state and government are to participate in the general debate beginning on Wednesday. A series of high-level meetings on issues ranging from non-communicable diseases and nutrition to nuclear safety and desertification will also be held.
Hina will also take part in various other meetings on the sidelines of the assembly such as that of the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir, informal SAARC ministerial session, high-level round tables to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and a meeting of the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group on UN Security Council reform.
The General Assembly session is being held in the backdrop of the raging controversy over Palestine’s bid to seek recognition of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem – occupied by Israel in 1967 – after the breakdown of peace negotiations between Israelis and the Palestinians.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in Ramallah this week that he intended to submit a request for full UN membership. But the United States, which supports Israel, said it will veto the request if submitted to the UN Security Council, in which permanent members can veto resolutions.
President Abbas is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 23. The assembly got underway on Tuesday with a spirited call for the peaceful settlement of outstanding disputes as part of four-point working agenda guiding the UN main deliberative body.
Security in New York has been beefed up ahead of the arrival of world leaders. A number of police check points has been established and the area around the UN building will be virtually sealed off next week.
Elaborating his emphasis on peaceful settlement of dispute in his opening speech earlier this week, Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser said, “History has shown that peaceful settlements, including those brokered through mediated efforts, provide the most cost-effective and long-lasting solution for disputes. “It is my intention to actively pursue this issue in the 66th session with a view not to only sustaining the work that has come before, but also to increasing this momentum.”
Believe me, UN and its Security Council are uselss, useless totally useless. America and its so-called European allies whatever they think fits their own needs they get it approved by hook or crook. Otherwise, we know there are issues which is still unsettled after decades and decades like Kashmir where every day so many human rights violations are being darely done? Where is democracy and where are human rights?? If daughter of any head of state is raped what will happen?? but everyday heinous crimes are being carried out against my mothers and sisters in Kashmir. I sent so many curses and all the bad words to America, it so-called allied and on those who can do something but just watching the horror scenes as silent spectators. I again send lot of curses on them. But I am hopeful the only Creator – Allah the Al-mighty is the best Judge. Now, you can see the deteriorating financial position of the only Super Power?? God Willing, soon America will become a very poor country of the world because it is going against the will of God. God is Great, he will help us. Thanks.
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