ISLAMABAD, July 1: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has expressed satisfaction over decisions made at the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting of foreign ministers in Sana on Friday and said the OIC had endorsed Pakistan’s position on the United Nations reforms and Security Council expansion. Talking to journalists in Dubai while returning to Islamabad after attending the meeting, he said the decisions would have an impact on the summit of heads of states and governments at the UN in September and the African Summit to be held in Libya on July 4 and 5, regarding the UN reforms.

Mr Kasuri said apart from Muslim countries, the African, Asian and other developing countries had a vital stake in the UN reforms as they wanted to ensure a fairer dispensation based on consensus of the international community.

Answering a question on UN reforms, he reiterated Pakistan’s stand that emphasised holistic and broad reforms in the UN, instead of focusing on UNSC expansion.

He said the foreign ministers stressed in the Sana Declaration that the expansion of the Security Council must lead to a fairer representation of the OIC states.

Mr Kasuri said any expansion in the Security Council should be on regional basis.

He said the OIC foreign ministers meeting had decided to adopt President Pervez Musharraf’s concept of enlightened moderation and to support his idea of reforms in the OIC.

Mr Kasuri expressed satisfaction over the adoption of Pakistan’s resolutions on Kashmir with a report of the Kashmir contact group of the OIC at the meeting.

The foreign minister said the meting had taken cognizance of the plight of people of Kashmir and denial of human rights to them.

He stressed a just resolution of the Kashmir dispute and involvement of the Kashmiris in the dialogue between India and Pakistan.

Answering a question on the grant of OIC observer status to Russian Federation, he stated the decision was unanimous and an exceptional case.

He added applications for observer status by other countries would be considered in accordance with the rules to be framed through consensus.

Mr Kasuri expressed concern at the latest defence agreement between India and the United States, saying it would introduce a new weapon system in South Asia which would disturb the balance of power in the region and lead to an arms race there.

He further said Pakistan would do its best to maintain the balance and deterrence to ensure stability and peace in the region. —-APP