PR No. 55 Press release Pakistan’s traditional resolution on the “Right of Peoples to Self – determination” adopted by consensus in the Third Committee Islamabad: November 09, 2011 The Third Committee of the General Assembly on Tuesday adopted Pakistan’s traditional resolution on the “Right of Peoples to Self Determination”. Repeated adoption of this resolution by acclamation ever since its introduction in the 1980’s, epitomizes the General Assembly’s consistent reaffirmation of this central principle of the UN Charter. This year the resolution was co-sponsored by a record number of seventy-one countries, says a press release received here today from United Nations, New York. In his introductory statement, Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Mr. Raza Bashir Tarar, highlighted the importance of this right that enjoys primacy in international law as well as is the corner stone of the UN Charter and two international Covenants. He also thanked the growing number of co-sponsors that reflected the continuing importance this fundamental right enjoys among the comity of nations. Annual adoption of this resolution by the Third Committee that deals with the issues of human rights and humanitarian questions sends a strong message of the international community’s opposition to all acts of foreign aggression and occupation, which are contrary to International human rights and humanitarian laws. PR No. 56 Press release Islamabad: November 09, 2011 The Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani held a very important and detailed bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia on the side lines of the SCO Heads of Government meeting on 7th November, 2011 in St. Petersburg. In the meeting a wide range of subjects pertaining to bilateral relations and regional situation came under discussion. Prime Minister Putin, while welcoming Prime Minister Gilani underscored the importance of Pakistan, for peace and stability in the region. He also conveyed Russia’s willingness to build broad based and close ties with Pakistan. In this regard, he offered Russia’s assistance in fields like energy and electricity supply, infrastructure building and metallurgy. He also stated that Pakistan and Russia could identify new areas for collaboration such as in science and technology, education, civil aviation in the inter Governmental Commission’s Meeting that is scheduled to take place in the second half of December this year. Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani thanked Prime Minister Putin for extending very warm and cordial welcome to him and his delegation. He underlined that Pakistan and Russia were located in the same extended neighborhood and their cooperation in economic and commercial fields will have added significance during the times when the world is facing global economic and financial crisis. In this situation inter and intra regional cooperation is of critical importance. Prime Minister Gilani also emphasized the great importance that Pakistan attached to the SCO.  He remarked that notwithstanding the fact that the SCO meeting fell on the day of Eid-Ul-Azha, he even then decided to come to Saint Petersburg to attend it. It also gave him an opportunity to celebrate Eid-Ul-Azha with the members of Pakistan community and Russian friends. He specially thanked Prime Minister Putin for Russia’s support to Pakistan’s bid for full membership of SCO that Prime Minister Putin had earlier declared in the SCO’s Heads of Government Meeting. Prime Minister Gilani underscored that in Pakistan’s view Russia’s enhanced role in the region is a factor of stability and will have positive bearing on the security situation and economic well being of the entire region. In this context he welcomed Russia’s offer of US$ half a billion assistance for building CASA-1000 project, Gazprom’s interest in participating in the energy projects of Pakistan specially in the coal exploration of Pakistan’s coal deposits. Moreover he welcomed Gazprom’s willingness to participate in projects like TAPI and IP. In the bilateral field the two leaders mostly discussed mega projects. Russia reiterated its offer of assistance for expansion and modernization of Pakistan Steel Mills, exploitation and gasification of Thar Coal deposits, and upgradation of Guddu and Muzaffar Garh Power Plants. Prime Minister Putin specifically renewed the offer of Russia’s technical assistance and US$ 500 million (as creditor loan) for the expansion of Pakistan Steel Mills capacity. In the areas of trade and banking the two sides discussed “special arrangements” for augmenting their cooperation. Prime Minister Gilani particularly mentioned Pakistan’s interest in Currency Swap Arrangements between the two countries. Prime Minister Putin accepted the proposal. Possible collaboration in some other areas, such as Civil Aviation was also discussed.  On the various aspects of the regional security situation, there was complete convergence of views between Prime Minister Gilani and Prime Minister Putin. Both the sides renewed their commitments to counter terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking and agreed, that, the reconciliation process and establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan has to be Afghan led and Afghan owned. The meeting between the two Prime Ministers took place in extremely warm and cordial atmosphere. It has further strengthened the new understanding between the two countries to build broad based partnership. PR No. 57 Press release Pakistan won UNSC seat despite many challenges, negative media campaign: speakers Islamabad: November 09, 2011 Speakers at a function on Tuesday underscored the significance of Pakistan’s election to the UN Security Council, saying it materialized despite a host of challenges compounded by western media’s smear campaign against the country, says a press release received here today from Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nation. The occasion was a celebration of Pakistan’s victory at the world stage by SoudeView Broadcasting, a modern Pakistani-owned facility for launching international ethnic television channels in the United States and Canada. A large number of Pakistani expatriates attended the function at which former Federal Minister and ex-Senator Javed Jabbar was the guest of honour and Pakistan’s acting permanent representative, Raza Bashir Tarar was the chief guest. Also participating was Pakistan’s Consul General in New York, Faqir Asif Hussain. Welcoming the guests, Shafqat Chaudhry, president of SoudeView Broadcasting, extended his congratulations to the Pakistan Mission to the United Nations for its dedication and hard work that resulted in securing a non-permanent seat on the powerful 15-member Council. He referred to a number of setbacks Pakistan had suffered over the years, but said the country and its people were resilient and would turn it around. Jabbar, who also introduced his new book: “Pakistan - Unique Origins; Unique Destiny” on the occasion, said Pakistan’s victory was a tribute to the State of Pakistan and its hardworking people. “We are proud of this achievement.” He said the success was the result of the independent foreign policy Pakistan has all along followed. Pakistan had defied pressures and forged close relations with China at a time when the People’s Republic was being isolated by western powers. Pakistan had also extended full support to the Palestinians without any much reciprocity from several and Islamic and Arab countries on the Kashmir issue. The country had also played a leading role in the struggle to get a better international deal for developing countries. Jabbar urged his compatriots not to be affected by the negative media campaign against Pakistan and to try to look at the total picture. A lot of progress was being made in various field and he was confident that Pakistan would overcome its difficulties. Tarar, the acting permanent representative, recounted Pakistan’s role from the day it joined the world body. Pakistan had not only won elections to the Security Council several times, but also served at top positions in other parts of the UN system. Pakistan was also the highest contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations around the globe. As a member of the Security Council, Pakistan would not only make its contribution in advancing peace and security in the world, but will also strive for pacific settlements of long-standing inter-state disputes. Consul General Asif Hussain also congratulated the Pakistan’s Mission for its intense lobbying to secure a seat on UN’s high table. He said the victory was result of a team effort. PR No. 58 Press release At UN, Pakistan’s draft reaffirming peoples’ self-determination right adopted Islamabad: November 09, 2011 A committee of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted a Pakistan-sponsored resolution reaffirming that the universal realization of the right of peoples to self-determination was a fundamental condition for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, says a press release received here today from United Nations. The resolution, co-sponsored by a record number of 70 countries, also declared the 193-member body’s firm opposition to acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since these have resulted in the suppression of the right of peoples to self-determination and other human rights in certain parts of the world. The text was approved by consensus in the Assembly’s Third Committee, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural issues. Diplomatic observers said the resolution, which Pakistan has been tabling since 1981, serves to focus the world’s attention on struggle by peoples for their inalienable right to self-determination, including those in Kashmir and Palestine. The resolution also called on those States responsible to cease immediately their military intervention in and occupation of foreign countries and territories, as well as all acts of repression, discrimination, exploitation and maltreatment. By further terms, the Assembly deplored the plight of millions of refugees and displaced persons who have been uprooted as a result of these acts and reaffirms their right to return to their homes voluntarily in safety and honour. It also requested the Human Rights Council to give special attention to the violation of human rights, especially the right to self-determination, resulting from foreign military intervention, aggression or occupation. It also requests the Secretary-General to report to the next Session of the General Assembly on this question. Introducing the draft, Raza Bashir Tarar, Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan, highlighted the importance of this rights that enjoys primacy in international law as well as is the cornerstone of the UN Charter and two international Covenants. He also thanked the growing number of co-sponsors that reflected the continuing importance this fundamental right enjoys among the comity of nations. PR No. 59 Press release Israel must stop building settlements on occupied lands: Pakistan Islamabad: November 09, 2011 Reiterating its support to the Palestinians’ right to self-determination, Pakistan Tuesday called on Israel to cease all settlement activity on occupied Palestinian territories to promote peace in the Middle East, says a press release received here today from United Nations. “We also call for complete lifting of the blockade in Gaza,” Tahir Hussain Andrabi, the Pakistani delegate, to told the General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, which deals with special political decolonization matters. He was speaking in a debate on the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories. The Pakistani delegate said that the report had documented the state of human rights of the Palestinians and other Arab peoples in the occupied territories.  The situation was characterized by violation of the Palestinian people’s rights to self‑determination, freedom of movement, education, commerce, and religion. The Special Committee, he said, had also detected an alarmingly high level of impunity enjoyed by the occupation forces.  The brunt of that impunity was especially felt by the vulnerable segments of the society like women, children, and refugees, and ending it was important for building an environment of trust and confidence. Andrabi said Palestinian heritage was also being destroyed by changing the status of age‑old cemeteries, mosques and churches.  Pakistan called on the Israeli authorities to meet their international obligations and cease all settlement activity. He said that denial of the Palestinian’s right to self‑determination was at the heart of the Arab‑Israeli conflict.  The application of the United Nations membership was an expression of the inalienable right to self‑determination, and Pakistan supported Palestine in that endeavour. For lasting peace in the Middle East, he said, progress on Syria‑Israel and Lebanon‑Israel tracks was also necessary.  Living conditions in the occupied Syrian Golan had been affected by inequitable water distribution, discrimination against local workers and high rates of taxation. Israel must withdraw completely from Lebanese land and the Syrian Golan in compliance with relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, the Pakistani delegate said.  Pakistan wanted peace for all inhabitants of the Middle East, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or nationality. PR No. 60 Press release All set to organize Pakistan Embroidery and Photo exhibition at Jakarta----Inaugural on 18th November ASEAN Plus Food Festival at Bali-10-14 November----- Pak Mission at Jakarta to represent country Islamabad: November 09, 2011 Exquisite pieces of embroidery work carved by women artisans from the desert areas and photographs depicting, people, landscape and culture of Pakistan would be on display from 18-28 November 2011 at the exhibition being organized by the Pakistan Embassy in collaboration with the Indonesia National Gallery, Jakarta. Indonesian Minister of Coordination for People’s Welfare, Mr. Agung Laksono along with Pakistan Ambassador to Indonesia, Sanaullah, will inaugurate the 11-day exhibition at the National Gallery premises. The Inaugural ceremony on 18th November, will also feature a cultural performance choreographed by known Pakistani, Ms Feriyal and the Pakistani food corner set for all the invitees. After the Pakistan-Indonesia painting expo and the Pakistan-ASEAN photo exhibition, this is the third major event being organized by the Embassy for cultural projection of Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the ASEAN Sectt have finalized all arrangements to host the ASEAN and Dialogue Partners Culinary and Music Festival/Expo at the world fame Indonesian tourist resort of Bali from 10-14 November. Seeing popularity of its cuisine at the previous edition of the food festival, Pakistan has been specially invited to participate in the Bali event. Pakistan Embassy, Jakarta is setting up its food stall catering typical Pakistani cuisine.