ISLAMABAD, Oct 24: China has called upon the United Nations to play a greater role in finding a solution to the Afghan crisis.
Talking to newsmen at a flag-raising ceremony on the occasion of the 56th United Nations Day here on Wednesday, China’s Ambassador to Pakistan Lu Shulin said that the UN could play a greater role and even a more qualitative role in the formation of a broad-based government in Afghanistan, representing all ethnic groups of the country.
Reiterating China’s support to the UN Security Council resolutions, the ambassador said the people of Afghanistan had been suffering too much.
PAKISTAN CALL: Earlier, raising the UN flag, Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar called upon the world community to analyze causes that led people to desperation, fury and irrationality.
He said it was hoped that the UN Security Council would ensure implementation of its resolutions on other issues also.
Terming festering injustices as one of the major causes of terrorism, Mr Sattar said: “The strategy for precluding calamitous consequences is implicit in the UN Charter and the world body has the mandate to promote peaceful settlement of disputes in conformity with the principles of justice and international law.”
Regretting the fact that the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan had been obstructed and the resolutions of the Security Council, pledging self-determination to the people of Kashmir, had remained unimplemented, Mr Sattar said that more than 75,000 Kashmiris had been killed by occupation forces over the last 12 years.
Terming terrorism in all forms as a scourge the world community had to eradicate, the foreign minister said that all members of the UN and the Organization of Islamic Conference had unanimously condemned the terrorist outrage of Sept 11 and voted for cooperation to bring perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the terrorist attack to justice. Pakistan was implementing its obligations under the Security Council resolution of Sept 12, he added.
Expressing concern over the influx of refugees, Mr Sattar said: “ Although our capacity is limited and stamina strained, Pakistan is trying its best to lend services for the temporary care of the displaced persons from Afghanistan”. He said that it was hoped that the UN would be able to mobilize adequate funds for the maintenance of the unfortunate persons for the duration of their stay and ensure their return to Afghanistan.
Referring to the 56th UN anniversary celebrations world wide, the foreign minister said the world body was conceived in the midst of history’s most destructive war as a repository of humanity’s deepest hopes for the preservation of international peace and security. “The people of the world also look upto the United Nations for fulfilment of the Charter pledge to promote social progress and better standard of life in larger freedom.”
Calling upon the community of states to extend cooperation to the UN to discharge its duty effectively, Mr Sattar said Pakistan had always dreamt that the UN would become an effective organization in order to ensure international peace and security.
On the occasion, reading a message of the UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan, UN resident coordinator Onder Yucer said that, as the world confronted a new challenge, the old ones remained. The UN was more central than ever to creating a better and safer world for all, he said, adding that the UN had to work harder than ever to alleviate suffering in every part of the world.
