Featured UNGA president-elect to arrive in Pakistan on Sunday on visit postponed earlier

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UNGA president-elect to arrive in Pakistan on Sunday on visit postponed earlier

Naveed Siddiqui
08 Aug 2020

Turkish diplomat Volkan Bozkir was elected president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly last month. — AFP


The incoming president of the United Nations General Assembly will arrive in Pakistan on Sunday for a two-trip visit, the Foreign Office announced on Saturday, after his visit to the country last month was postponed due to some “technical flight problems”.

Volkan Bozkir will undertake the August 9-10 visit on the invitation of the Pakistani government, the FO said in a statement.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will have wide-ranging talks with Bozkir on issues relating to the three main pillars of the UN’s work — peace and security, development, and human rights.

The UNGA president-elect will also call on Prime Minister Imran Khan.

His visit is an important opportunity to "highlight Pakistan’s strong and substantive contributions to the United Nations efforts in the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security, especially through our contribution to the UN peacekeeping operations around the world", the FO observed.

It said Pakistan remains committed to supporting the role of the UNGA on the questions relating to international peace and security, economic and social development, promotion and protection of human rights, peaceful settlement of international disputes, refraining from the threat of use of force, and developing friendly relations among nations.

In a tweet on Saturday, Bozkir said as the president-elect, he was visiting a number of countries "per usual practice".

"Within this scope, I will fly to Islamabad tomorrow, to pay my earlier postponed visit to Pakistan," he wrote, adding that he will exchange views on issues and priorities of the agenda of the 75th session of the UNGA with the Pakistani leadership.

Turkish diplomat Bozkir was elected president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in June and was originally scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on July 26.

But in a tweet the same day, he said the visit to Pakistan would have to wait. “I am hoping to visit Pakistan in the near future and looking forward to a fruitful exchange with the Pakistani authorities, regarding the issues & priorities on the United Nations 75th General Assembly agenda,” he wrote.

Foreign Minister Qureshi while tweeting in response to Bozkir said that “I look forward to welcoming you to Pakistan soon for a constructive and fruitful visit.”

Earlier, Qureshi, while announcing the visit, had hoped he would discuss a range of issues with the UN official, including Kashmir.

Qureshi said he would present to Bozkir Pakistan's position on Indian-occupied Kashmir, which he said was suffering the "worst human rights situation" in the world.

The foreign minister had added that he would also inform Bozkir about the atrocities committed by the Indian army in occupied Kashmir.

Pakistan wants the UN to play its role in resolving the issue of Kashmir under its resolutions by allowing people living in the disputed region to decide whether they want to merge with India, with Pakistan or whether they prefer independence.


https://www.dawn.com/news/1573290/u...pakistan-on-sunday-on-visit-postponed-earlier

 

[ghazi52]

[URL='https://twitter.com/volkan_bozkir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1291959976320274438%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1573290']Volkan BOZKIR
@volkan_bozkir[/URL]
1) As the President-Elect of the 75th Session of the UNGA, per usual practice, I continue to visit a number of countries upon their invitations. Within this scope, I will fly to Islamabad tomorrow, to pay my earlier postponed visit to Pakistan.

12:50 AM · Aug 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/intent/like?ref...com/news/1573290&tweet_id=1291959976320274438

 

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PM Imran meets UNGA president-elect, urges UN to play its role in Indian occupied Kashmir

10 Aug 2020

Prime Minister Imran meets with United Nations General Assembly President-elect Volkan Bozkir on Monday, August 10 in Islamabad. — APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged the United Nations to play its role in addressing the "grave" situation in Indian occupied Kashmir and to ensure that the people of the valley exercise their right to self-determination as promised under the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

The premier expressed these views during a meeting with the United Nations General Assembly President-elect Volkan Bozkir who called on him in Islamabad. Bozkir is currently visiting the capital on a two-day visit to the country on the invitation of the government.


According to a press release by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the premier extended warm felicitations to Bozkir on his election as president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

During the meeting, the premier informed the president-elect about the serious situation in occupied Kashmir, an issue that has been on the UNSC agenda for over seven decades.

"The prime minister highlighted the dire rights and humanitarian situation in occupied Kashmir since August 5, 2019, as well as the ongoing gross and systematic violations of human rights and attempts to change the demographic structure of the occupied territory."

The prime minister also informed the president-elect of the government's initiative to mitigate and suppress the socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and its focus on saving lives, securing livelihoods and stimulating the economy.

He also informed him that his government had deployed a stimulus package worth $8 billion for the poor and the needy, the "highest social security coverage by any government in the history of Pakistan".

He highlighted his initiative for global debt relief and stressed the need for providing greater fiscal space to developing countries to overcome the socio-economic impact of the pandemic.

"The premier also highlighted the importance he attached to addressing climate change, countering Islamophobia, and combating illicit financial flows from developing countries."

PM Imran expressed the hope that the 75th Session of the UNGA would accord priority to these issues, which affect billions around the world, the press release said.

Turkish diplomat Bozkir was elected president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in June and was originally scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on July 26.

But in a tweet the same day, he had said the visit to Pakistan would have to wait. “I am hoping to visit Pakistan in the near future and looking forward to a fruitful exchange with the Pakistani authorities, regarding the issues & priorities on the United Nations 75th General Assembly agenda."

A few days later, the Foreign Office had announced that Bozkir would arrive in Pakistan on Sunday (August 9) for a two-day visit to Islamabad.

 

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https://twitter.com/x/status/1292770583860711425

 

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President-elect meets Qureshi

Earlier today, the president-elect also met with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office where the latter sought "the effective role of the UNGA to end human rights violations in occupied Kashmir", Radio Pakistan reported.

Qureshi said that Pakistan had apprised all international forums, including the UN, about India's nefarious designs, adding that India's unilateral decision to revoke the region's special autonomy in August last year was in clear violation of UN resolutions and international laws.

He stated that the extra-judicial killing of Kashmiris, firing at innocent civilians and violence had become a matter of routine in occupied Kashmir, the publication reported.

The two leaders also exchanged views about efforts for peace and stability in the region, including the Afghan peace process.

 

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Bozkir planted a sapling at the Foreign Office and "contributed to the prime minister's largest tree plantation drive to save future generations from the impact of global warming," the spokesperson for the ministry said in a tweet.

 

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Addressing a press conference later in the day alongside the foreign minister, the Turkish diplomat recognised Pakistan's efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, calling them a "good example for the world".

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and UNGA President-elect Volkan Bozkir address a press conference in Islamabad. — DawnNewsTV


Expressing his condolences over the country's Covid-19 deaths and wishing those currently ill a swift recovery, he said: "Pakistan has been a good example for the world with its pandemic-related policies. The figures show that Pakistan has done better than other countries in the world and I am happy to observe it with my own eyes.

"I think the pandemic proved once again that common problems require common responses. In our collective response to the pandemic we must focus on the special needs of the most vulnerable."

Commenting on his meeting with the prime minister, Bozkir stated that he was "impressed" with Imran.

“He is a well-known political figure [...] and has a clear vision for the region, for world peace, security and other important issues the world is dealing with." He also called the foreign minister a "brother" and an "able statesman".

Responding to a question from a reporter, Bozkir said that the president-elect represented the UN as a whole. "Turkey's position regarding the issue of Kashmir is well-known and expressed at every level by the Turkish government.

"However, the position of the UN on this region is governed by its charter and applicable Security Council resolutions as was previously expressed by the UN secretary general on different occasions."

He stated that solving the Kashmir issue was key to sustainable peace in South Asia. "Regional security should be maintained through political and diplomatic solutions. Difficult challenges can be resolved through meaningful, mutual engagement."

He stated that both the prime minister and the foreign minister had presented their approach to the issue during today's meetings. "Even from this perspective it was worth coming here to hear from my own ears and to see with my own eyes how the situation is and to understand it better so that when it comes to the UN level, it will not be by reading notes.

"So if my assistance as the president of the General Assembly is requested by the parties, I will be ready to provide contributions within my mandate."

 

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Is he any value or ceremonial?
Of only sceretrey general of any value.