ISLAMABAD, Oct 19: United Nations system in Pakistan on Thursday celebrated the United Nations Day marking the sixty- first anniversary of the world body.

The UN used the occasion to honour the innumerable volunteers, who contributed selflessly to the relief operation in the aftermath of last year’s October 8 earthquake that left over 73000 dead, 120,000 injured and more than 3 million internally displaced; and to express solidarity with the victims of the worst natural calamity in the history of Pakistan.

UN Resident Coordinator Mr Jan Vandemoortele gave away UN Recognition Awards to four volunteers for their exceptional dedication and contribution in the earthquake relief effort. The recipients were Javed Ahmed, Awais Kalil Abbasi, Iram Gillani and Prof Mugheesud Din Sheikh.

A book titled “No Ordinary Success Story” mentioning the massive relief effort undertaken by the UN, government and humanitarian community was also launched. A photographic exhibition highlighting UN relief operations was inaugurated. Acknowledging the contribution of the United Nations and the humanitarian community, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said Pakistan could not have achieved half of what it has been able to do in terms of relief, recovery and rehabilitation without the active support and contribution of the international community and the United Nations.

“We count on the support of the UN,” he said and recalled that the world body launched flash appeal for quake victims, helped in generating international momentum for relief activities and continues to assist in rehabilitation and reconstruction process.

The foreign minister reiterated Pakistan’s stance on Security Council reform saying Pakistan favours UNSC reform on the basis of consensus or broadest possible agreement. He said Pakistan was opposed to increase in the permanent membership of UNSC since this amounts to creating more centres of privilege.

Regarding the newly formed UN Human Rights Council, of which Pakistan is also a member, Mr Kasuri said: “We believe the Council should work on the basis of cooperative and problem solving approach.”

He also spoke about Pakistan’s contribution to the UN. Pakistan, the FM said, had constantly striven to maintain peace and stability and promote prosperity in a spirit of cooperation and consensus building.

Pakistan, he said, is the oldest, largest and most consistent troop contributors to the UN peace keeping missions. Presently 9,920 Pakistani personnel are deployed in 11 peace operations. Pakistan has also been elected as member of the Peace Building Commission. Pakistan also hosts military observers (UNMOGIP). He mentioned Pakistan’s services for strengthening the UN system as the co-chair of high level panel on system wide coherence and the working group on management reform.

UN Resident Coordinator Mr Jan Vandemoortele read out the message of the Secretary General Mr Kofi Anan on this occasion.

Mr Anan, in his message mentioned, increase in aid and debt relief, scaled up response to HIV/AIDS, decrease in wars between states and end to many civil wars, increase in number of elected governments and acknowledgment by all states to protect people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity as big successes over the past 10 years.

Mr Anan saw continuing gap between rich and poor, very few countries on track to achieve all 8 MDGs by 2015, continued atrocities, repression and brutal conflicts, urgent need for strengthening nuclear non-proliferation regime and growth of fear and suspicion in response to terrorism and the reaction to it as some of the major challenges that lie ahead for the world.

Mr Vandemoortele reaffirmed UN’s support to the Pakistani people in

the rehabilitation and reconstruction effort.