PESHAWAR, Aug 31: Speakers at a symposium here observed that the United States was responsible for the growing imbalance in world politics, terming the new proposals of United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan tilted towards major powers.
The United Nations System in Pakistan and the University of Peshawar jointly organized the symposium on the UN secretary general’s report entitled “In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security, and Human Rights for All” on Aug 31.
The discussion was held at the Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Conference Hall, University of Peshawar. It was the fourth in a series of symposiums organized to introduce the secretary general’s proposals for an informed debate in Pakistan.
Dr Abdul Mateen Khan, former vice-chancellor, Peshawar University, termed the secretary general’s report as imbalanced and tilted towards the major powers. “It does not address the fears of the Muslim world regarding problems such as pre-emptive strikes,” he said citing US attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq.
He said the Muslim world could only support such proposals which they deemed fair, just and equal.
Mr Mateen said the UN should have the same standard for all countries across the globe.
Educationist Salma Masood said a lot has been taken care of in the secretary general’s report but still much was left out.
She said the report overlooked the Muslim world. She said Muslim’s understanding over the issues faced by the world community should also be accommodated.
Prof Ahmad Ali, however, termed the report practical and achievable. He said the UN should now come up with a clear definition of the word “terrorism”.
He said proposed model A or B for the UN Security Council would not make any difference until the UN resolves political disputes round the globe.
Earlier, Prof Dr Adnan Sarwar Khan, Chairman, Department of International Relations, delivered the welcome address.
Tetsuo Meximilien Ohno, representative of the United Nations System in Pakistan, gave a presentation highlighting the major points of the report as well as proposing an agenda to be acted upon.
Prominent writer Saad S. Khan in conjunction with Ms Ishrat Rizvi, Information Coordinator of the United Nations Information Centre, Islamabad, conducted the session.
Media and NGO representatives, academia, intellectuals, eminent scholars, former officials of the government of Pakistan attended the roundtable discussion from the NWFP.
There was a lively debate on wide aspects of the report. It started at 11am and lasted for two and a half hours, including a question and answer session.
A number of speakers referred to the domination of certain powers in the present global system and the expansion of the Security Council.
Lt Gen (retd) Mumtaz Gul, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, delivered the concluding address.
