Peace and security: Speakers laud UN’s contributions, urge reflection

Says world representative body also failed in numerous ways


Our Correspondent December 02, 2015
PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a symposium said the United Nations (UN) has made significant contributions to peace and security in conflict zones worldwide. At the same time, however, it has also failed in numerous ways, which called for reflection.

They were speaking at a seminar titled ‘The 70th Anniversary of the United Nations: Challenges for Peace, Security and Development’ and organised by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy on Saturday. The seminar was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the UN with a focus to analyze its achievements and failures along with its future role.

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ISSI Director-General Masood Khan said the 70th anniversary of the UN was a time for both celebration and reflection. Seventy years ago, the UN was founded as the most devastating war in the history of the world was still raging.

“Its charter was inspired by the principles of universal peace, equal rights, and self-determination of peoples,” he said, adding that the UN took successful measures to avert another major war, make peace, and support economic and social development around the globe.

Khan said the UN had become a symbol of hope for the oppressed and people caught in conflicts, while being a custodian and promoter of international rule of law and vehicle for social and economic development. He, however, adds, “but our quest for peace remains elusive”.

“Clouds of conflict and tensions sweep across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and threaten to engulf the Asia-Pacific region. Terrorism remains a potent threat to international peace and security,” Khan said.

“Abject poverty is the fate of billions of people; our fragile planet is being exploited irresponsibly,” he said, questioning if these developments were a precursor to another global crisis or even a war.

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Former foreign minister Inamul Haq said the UN could be as strong or as weak as its members want it to be. He said the UN had made significant contributions to peace and security, but it had also failed in numerous ways. “Great powers’ interests and their veto power was a major factor that had prevented the UN from being successful on many counts,” Haq said.

Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong highlighted China’s role in the UN and its vision about the organisation’s future, including greater Chinese participation in the UN peacekeeping system.

Weidong said that China was a strong supporter of the respect for each other’s sovereignty, the principle of non-confrontation and equality within the UN. China, he further said, firmly believes that smaller countries must be treated equally, and strongly appeals to the world to abandon the Cold War mentality. “China supports peaceful resolution of all disputes and urges the important powers to shun double standards in order to effectively tackle the threat of terrorism,” he said

UNHCR resident representative Indrika Ratwatte said there were more than 3,000 UN staff members working across Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th,  2015.

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