PRESS BRIEFING BY BRENDEN VARMA, SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT VOLKAN BOZKIR

United Nations Headquarters, New York

27 May 2021

 

PRESIDENT MEETS WITH PAKISTANI LEADERSHIP IN ISLAMABAD, COMMENDS PAKISTAN’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO U.N. PEACEKEEPING

  • The President is currently in Islamabad, Pakistan.
  • Today, as part of his official visit there, he was received by H.E. Mr. Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan. During their meeting, the President thanked the Prime Minister for Pakistan’s substantial contributions to the work of the 75th session, its commitment to the 2030 Agenda, its leadership on climate change and the dedication of its UN peacekeeping personnel.
  • The President also met separately with H.E. Mr. Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Minister of Foreign Affairs. During that meeting, the President thanked the Foreign Minister for his recent participation in the General Assembly’s meeting on the question of Palestine and applauded Pakistan’s able leadership of the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). They also discussed issues on the UN and General Assembly agendas and regional developments.
  • Additional topics of discussion in both bilateral meetings included Palestine, Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir, COVID-19 vaccines, and Security Council reform.
  • President Bozkır was also received by H.E. Mr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan, who hosted an official dinner in his honour. There, President Bozkır received the “Hilal-e-Pakistan” award on behalf of the United Nations.
  • While in Islamabad, the President delivered a wide-ranging speech at the National Defence University.
  • He said, “The multilateral system has suffered a great trauma as a result of this pandemic. Business as usual will not put us on the road to recovery. Now is the time for the defibrillator. We need to shock the system.”
  • He also commended the professionalism and dedication of the 4,732 Pakistani men and women currently serving in nine UN peacekeeping operations around the world, noting that they were “putting their lives at risk to secure a better future for the most vulnerable people on this earth.”
  • In conclusion, he said, “The future of multilateralism lies in an agile, effective and responsive General Assembly, that is underpinned by political will, to uphold the rights of everyone, everywhere.”
  • President Bozkır also met with the UN Country Team, led by Resident Coordinator Julien Harneis. He was briefed on the work that the UN is doing on the ground to support the people and Government of Pakistan.
  • The President will depart Pakistan early tomorrow morning and be back in the office on Tuesday.
  • Asked for more information on what the President had said in Islamabad about Afghanistan, the Spokesperson referred the journalist to the President’s speech, in which he had spoken about the importance of peace in Afghanistan.

 

HIGH-LEVEL OCEAN MEETING TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK

  • Looking ahead to next week, the President will convene a High-Level Thematic Debate on the Ocean on Tuesday, 1 June.
  • This event aims to refocus the global narrative around environmental concerns, which have been sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is being supported by the Governments of Portugal and Kenya, as well as the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson.
  • In-person speakers will include the President, Portugal’s Minister of the Sea and Peter Thomson.
  • There will also be video messages from Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, actress Maggie Q, and actor and musician Cody Simpson.