|
|
BISMILLAH IR-REHMAN AR-RAHIM
Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary General,
Excellencies and distinguished colleagues,
ASSALAM-O-ALAIKUM
We thank you for convening the Annual Coordination Meeting. Let me reiterate our confidence in the leadership of Kazakhstan in guiding the work of our Organization. I assure you full support and cooperation of my delegation in facilitating your work.
I would also like to thank the OIC Secretary-General Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, for his commendable work in raising the profile of the organization globally.
Mr. Chairman,
The Muslim World is currently passing through a moment of unprecedented political awakening and reckoning. One can discern signs of new Islamic renaissance in the 21st Century. We are confident that our brothers and sisters in the concerned countries would make the right choices to serve their best national interest.
Pakistan’s relations with the Muslim countries are rooted in strong religious, cultural and historical affinities. We will continue to extend our support to our brothers and sisters in realizing their national aspirations.
Mr. Chairman,
We are meeting here at a time when the Palestinian aspirations for a national homeland appear to be entering a decisive phase. Pakistan believes that a just and peaceful settlement of the Middle East issue is an indispensible imperative in the interest of peace in the broader Middle Eastern region. The prolongation of prevailing stalemate is no more sustainable. Pakistan has steadfastly supported Palestinian people’s legitimate quest for the realization of their right to self-determination. At this critical juncture, we stand with our Palestinian brethren for their legitimate demand for an independent State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, and its recognition by the United Nations.
Mr. Chairman,
Together with Palestine, Jammu & Kashmir remains the oldest unresolved dispute on the UN agenda. Kashmiri people have been struggling for their right to self-determination for more than six decades. Self-determination is a basic human right which cannot be applied selectively.
The prospect of a lasting peace in South Asia is directly linked with a just and durable solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Pakistan has repeatedly underlined this fundamental reality in our engagement with India. Pakistan also supports associating the True Representatives of the Kashmiri people with the Pakistan-India dialogue process to find a durable solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan greatly appreciates OIC’s support for the Kashmir cause. We were happy to receive Secretary-General’s Special Envoy Ambassador Abdullah Abdurahman Alim in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir in May this year. We hope he will be able to visit IOK to assess the human rights situation in the Occupied State.
The people of Jammu and Kashmir are grateful to the OIC for its consistent support for their just struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, and for the promotion and protection of their human rights. The Kashmiri people are hopeful that the OIC will raise its voice in support of the Kashmiri people’s demand for an international investigation into the unmarked mass graves discovered in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir.
Mr. Chairman,
Pakistan is deeply concerned over continued strife and instability in Afghanistan. Our vision of regional peace, stability and prosperity cannot be realized without peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Pakistan, therefore, is closely working with the Afghan Government and the international community for early return of peace and stability in the war torn country. We fully support President Karzai’s initiative for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation process. Pakistan also supports OIC’s engagement with the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
We are deeply saddened over the assassination of former President Prof. Burhan-Uddin Rabbani in a terrorist attack in Kabul on 20 September. We strongly condemn this dastardly act and convey our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to his family and the people of Afghanistan.
Mr. Chairman,
Terrorism has emerged as the most serious challenge of our times. Pakistan has suffered enormously, both in human and material terms, from terrorism. More than 35,000 Pakistani men, women and children including 5,000 personnel of security forces have lost their lives over the past 10 years. Our economic losses exceed US$ 68 billion.
Notwithstanding the huge losses, we remain un-wavered in our resolve to eliminate terrorism from our country and beyond. We are determined to pursue terrorists to the very end.
Mr. Chairman,
It is extremely unfortunate that more often than not Islam and Muslims are linked with terrorism. Islam is a religion of peace and preaches brotherhood, understanding and forgiveness. We, therefore, strongly reject the canard of “Islamic terrorism”. The recent incident in Norway is a clear manifestation that terrorists have no religion, no nationality and no values. They are blood thirsty criminals and should be treated as such universally.
Another issue of deep concern pertains to increasing incidents of Islamophobia and negative stereotyping of Islam, its scriptures and holy personalities. In certain countries, anti-Islam and anti-Muslim rhetoric has become a favorite pass time to expand electoral gains. These hate mongers must not be allowed to pursue their evil agendas under the garb of freedom of expression.
We greatly appreciate the positive initiative by the OIC to craft and present the consensus resolution on “Combating intolerance, discrimination and violence based on religion or belief” in the Human Rights Council in Geneva. We hope this initiative could be replicated in New York during the 66th Session of the General Assembly.
Mr. Chairman,
The UN as the only universally representative organization is an embodiment of our common aspirations for peace, economic development and human rights. Accordingly, we all need to invest more to adapt, equip, reform and strengthen the UN to enable it to fulfill our dreams and aspirations.
There is also a need for comprehensive reform of the Security Council to make it more democratic, effective, transparent and accountable. As the second largest inter-governmental organization, the OIC must play a pro-active role in the reform process and seek adequate representation in the reformed Security Council as laid down in numerous OIC resolutions.
Mr. Chairman,
The Muslim Ummah has been endowed with enormous human and natural resources. However, we have been unable to leverage these strengths for the well-being and development of our people due to deficiencies in human resource development and science & technology.
In order to excel in the knowledge based economies of the 21st Century, the OIC member states must join hands to build synergies and to channelize this in-built strength for the progress and prosperity of our peoples. Pakistan would be happy to play its role in this joint endeavour.
May Allah Almighty bless us with success.
I thank you.