Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara wherein both the leaders vowed to collectively raise the Palestine issue at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. The Turkish foreign minister lauded Qureshi’s address at the foreign ministerial level emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) wherein the latter had reiterated Pakistan’s continued and fullest support for the people of Palestine. Foreign Minister Qureshi also appreciated the firm and categorical stance of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish government on the issue of Palestine. He said the whole Muslim world was hurt due to the Israeli attacks and incidents of violence during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr. Both the foreign ministers strongly condemned the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and their forced eviction. From Turkey, the foreign minister left for New York along with Turkish, Sudanese and Palestinian foreign ministers. In New York, he spoke at the UNGA session, met various dignitaries and held talks with local and international media representatives and present Pakistan’s views on the situation in Palestine.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Speech at UNGA
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to issue a call for an end to Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinians in Gaza, saying “it is time to say enough.” He further said, “It is time to say enough. The voice of the Palestinian people cannot and will not be silenced.We, the representatives of the Islamic world, are here to speak with them and for them.” It is pertinent to mention, he said that it is imperative to initiate bold steps to secure the implementation of the Security Council and General Assembly resolutions calling for the establishment of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. Mr. Qureshi called for an international force to be deployed for protection and for Israel to open all access points to Gaza so aid could reach the enclave. He has also added that if the Security Council cannot agree to send the protection force, a coalition of
the willing can be formed to provide at least civilian observers to monitor a cessation of hostilities and supervise the provision of humanitarian help to the Palestinians.He also asked the UNGA to secure unconditional implementation of Resolution 242 in which the UNSC demanded that Israel withdraw its armed forces from territories occupied in the 1967 war.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the situation in the State of Palestine – General Assembly Me- dia Stakeout Foreign Minister Meets with the President of UNGA
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi today held a meeting with the President of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Volkan Bozkir, and thanked the President for his proactive leadership in convening the UN General Assembly Session to discuss the situation in Palestine.
Foreign Minister Qureshi Meets with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on the side-lines of the special meeting of the UN General Assembly being held at the UN headquarters to discuss the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.