UNITED NATIONS, Sept 23: President Asif Ali Zardari who was to arrive here late on Sunday night to lead the Pakistan’s delegation to the 67th session of the UN General Assembly is expected to raise the issue of Muslim nation’s concerns over the profane film and cartoons disrespecting the Holy Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).
President Zardari will address the 193-member assembly on Tuesday when the high-level debate begins on various issues, particularly the conflict in Syria.
The session is shaping up to be one of the busiest general debates ever–with 123 heads of states and governments in attendance and around 50 separate side events.The Syrian conflict has bitterly divided the most powerful members of the Security Council, paralysing the only UN body that can impose global sanctions and authorise military action.
It frustrated former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, who quit his high-profile role as special envoy to the country last month, giving reasons that amounted to scathing criticism of world powers for failing to unite to stop the chaos in the Arab state.
There will be a flurry of meetings on the sidelines of the VIP gathering at the General Assembly that begins on Sept 25, including a ministerial meeting of the Security Council’s five veto-wielding members and lots of behind-the-scenes discussions among the heads of state and government. But frustrated diplomats don’t expect any breakthrough on Syria, and outside observers agree.
During his four-day stay here, President Zardari is expected to confer, among others, with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
